Update on Callie

I was never one, at least when it came to parenting styles/choices, to go all one way or another, on just about anything.  We did cloth diapers during the day, disposable at night.  Skittle ate homemade baby food, organic store bought and did Baby Led Weaning.  I breastfed, pumped, and she got formula.  And while we didn't co-sleep because I always thought I was going to smother her, I see why people do it.  When she was little, I probably leaned more towards the western way for medicine/care but still saw the value in trying holistic methods, at least when it came to my daughter.  I would say now however, it's the opposite. 

Slowly, over the past several years, we've been trying to adopt a more natural/holistic approach to our health, food, and environment.  I like the results I've been seeing. 

I am all for informed consent, whether that be for our children or for our pets.  I'm frustrated by the vets I've seen, (4 of them by the way) for Callie, that it is one way or nothing with them.  I want to try a more holistic approach to her treatment and it's been a roadblock so far.  I absolutely do not want to try anything that could hurt Callie's kidneys but there has to be something out there that can help her body try and fight the remaining cancer cells .  I think we will still try the IL-2 injections (even though they are double the price that we were originally quoted, which put a strain on our decision making process) but maybe if she's already going to be having routine blood work, then maybe I can get her general oncologist on board with trying other more non-conventional treatments.  I've read that CBD oil could be of benefit to her, topically and/or orally.  Her general oncologist did like that I've been giving her L-Lysine (her surgical oncologist was a complete skeptic of the benefits) and suggested I continue to give it to her daily, and not only when she's having cold like symptoms/Herpes flare up. 

I've successfully changed her wet food to a non-GMO, mostly organic, no fillers product and she actually LIKES it.  (She's a SUPPPPPPER picky eater!!!  When we first adopted her, our vet in MD wanted her on only wet food and I tried over 15 different brands/flavors/styles and she would ONLY occasionally eat Friskies)  In my opinion, her dry food wasn't all that terrible but I've been decreasing it and upping her new wet food.  Amazingly, she's completely tolerating it. 

We've been told over and over that this cancer is a death sentence for her.  Please, if you have any other suggestions for her, I'd love to hear them.

One Month Post Op:

 

Hair is growing back!