Odysseus the Wheaten Terrier

20/04/2024

Three months today. Odyss and I always shared a heartbeat and soul — no one told me that this connection would continue after we were physically separated.

It’s like he is lodged inside of me, and gives me these flashes of himself — like the desire to go to the beach together on a sunny day after work. Or the tickling feeling that I used to get when he would excitedly move toward me. He also leads me off-trail to huge piles of sticks. When I see a stick in the middle of the path, I know it’s him trying to lead me toward joy.

Whatever this is — I’m grateful for it and to see and feel him everywhere. Mostly because he’s supper happy, complete with his big smile and wheatie stomps. And I get to keep him for forever.

Picture is from Spring a few years ago 🫶.

16/04/2024

If I could bottle your smile, I would 🫶. It is brighter than the sunniest day.

02/02/2024

14/01/2024

Had a beautiful sleepy day today, visiting the dog park to watch the pooches and took a sweet nap after.

This guy is exhausted and hu-mum is too 😴. I’m not sure if it’s his little body fighting, prednisone side effects or sleeping badly lately. Maybe a mix of all three.

So we’ll keep filling our bodies & hearts with healthy things, and aim to sleep a lot better as it’s super healing and essential for his system 🫶.

14/01/2024

Furrrriends, we’ve spent the last day getting super educated about cancer, including reading The Dog Cancer Survival guide 📚.

When Odyss was diagnosed in November, the neuro vet gave us the news and did not follow up with any sort of treatment plan aside from throwing prednisone at it. I pushed for what I knew was an option — a radiation treatment referral.

After Odyss was treated by a radiation oncologist, we didn’t receive any advice on ongoing care, except for throwing prednisone at it 👻.

There is a big hole in the system that pet parents have to fill, and we’re not experts. And we’re in the middle of a huge emotionally reactive situation, just getting through the day.

There has been no one vet to hold our paws and guide us through this. So two months later, I’m exploring alternative medicine and full spectrum treatment that no one has offered yet. 🍃

We’re digging deep into apoptosis, adaptogens, diet and brain chemistry. Learning how we can bring everything to the table to make life amazing.

At the end of the day, nature has its own plans. Making our journey a beautiful and supportive one matters. Doing this research is also helping me to process grief and be more in the moment which is good for both of us. 🤗

I’m also excited to share what I learn with you. Cancer is by far the leading cause of death for our fur-friends. And we have control over some of that.

13/01/2024

A message from us after a super hard week…

Aside from weak legs, Odyss is very much here and alive. He loves to eat, be outside, play sea monster, he just gets around differently. And we’ll adapt.

Your grief matters to us 🤗. We love you. It takes such strength to light up joy in a dark time. Where someone might see a struggling dog, I see strength, poochie smiles, resilience and my boy who is very alive, aside from having sea legs (we’re working on it).

Please hold love and joy for us 🫶

One day, when Odyss again joins the stars (there is no timeline btw), I’ll know that we shared big joy every day and didn’t sit in a puddle of grief for long. ‘Now’ matters. He’s here and he’s beautiful in his current form 🫶.

So if you see me running in the opposite direction at top sp*ed, when someone says, “Oh, that’s so sad. Poor dog” like Odyss is on his death bed, hand me an energy gel and cheer me on 🥳. We have some living to do!

12/01/2024

Happy Furrriday friends. Someone woke me up to go p*e-p*e at 4am in -15C 🥶, and even tried to get himself out of bed!

Odyss is in a super sassy mood. We decided to make this a great day, because terrier-ists cannot be denied. Also it’s so important to make space for pockets of grief, and then move forward and be in the moment 😄.

In that spirit, I contacted a holistic-hybrid vet this morning to get Odyss assessed for continued quality of life, nutrition, and therapies that vet hospitals typically don’t offer, like laser therapy.

The prednisone is also on my mind and what the plan is for short term and long term use. A higher dose hasn’t helped Odyss’ mobility, so something is odd there.

We’ll find out about next steps from the neurologist soon and if they recommend rehab (think underwater treadmill).

This morning I tweaked Odyss diet to better follow The Dog Cancer Diet and purchased The Dog Cancer Survival guide to get some super holistic advice. One of the biggest challenges of this journey is stitching so many pieces together when the specialists don’t communicate between vet practices and there are holes in the guidance (e.g. nutrition, rehab & more).

Lastly, Odyss and I are hatching a plan to get him more mobile, using hu-mum’s product design know how and a lot of creative bacon. I would love to get our little buddy on his feet and moving more regularly, as it’s great for digestion, cardio, and quality of life.

Thanks for all of the love 🫶 and comments this week. I read them all out loud for Odyss and your support means everything.

12/01/2024

Dear furrrriends, we’re on the struggle bus 🚌.

Odyss was doing so great in the two weeks after radiation treatment and had even gained mobility in his rear left leg. He was back to walking, marking and finding his feet.

It had been a month since he got radiation treatment. In the past couple of weeks, his strength and mobility have declined to the point where he cannot get up or stand on his own. It makes so little sense to me.

I cannot describe the worry of watching this happen. The oncologist has him on a bigger prednisone dose. We’re in contact with the neurologist to see if Odyss should be re-examined or if we should try some rehab.

Dr. Google for once doesn’t have a lot of answers. One possibility is that the radiotherapy had some unexpected side effects on nearby nerves. Nerves can grow back, but we just don’t have an answer yet.

Two things that I’ve learned fighting for Odyss — having an answer is better than none, even if it’s bad news. And there is no limit to the level of grief, strength or love when it comes to caring for our loved ones.

⭐️ Our boy is still smiling, eating, wanting to play and oh-so-sweet. He misses his furrriends and his freedom. This is why hu-mum fights, even if the bank and everything else hurts.

I’ll keep you up to date. If we’re a little quiet over here, just know that both of my arms are busy holding him close and spoiling him.

We appreciate you 🤗. Send luck for his recovery 🤞.

09/01/2024

Update from us 🫶. Recovery is slower than expected. The sleep isn’t great. There’s p*e on everything and endless laundry! We’re moving through it with love & patience and hope to share more updates soon.

31/12/2023

Another vet visit for some funny eye stuff. And I thought that we’d make it to the New Year! 👀

He will be fine and isn’t in any pain, just has an inflamed system after radiation treatment. Eye readings are normal.🔥

All of the vets that meet Odyss comment on how well he is doing, considering what his body has been through. And this is why we work so hard to keep those furry smiles going.

I strongly believe that diet influences health directly. We are feeding fresh whole foods throughout Odyss’ recovery, and giving him all of the good fuel that he needs to expel the bad cells 💪💪💪.

Thanks for the 🫶.

—————-

25/12/2023

Happy Howl-i-days from our home to yours 🫶. We have so much to be grateful for 🎄. There were many cookies given 😂.

24/12/2023

Day 1 of a new life 🫶

We woke up at 4am to get ready and catch a ferry to Victoria, BC for cancer treatment 🥳.

Can you believe that we didn’t need paw-fee, it was that exciting and special. ☕️

At 9:15am, Odyss was checked in at VCA to get a CT scan and meet his care team. He was the BRAVEST boy for this procedure and getting a line placed for treatment 💉.

The CT scan is essential for the Radiation Oncology team to determine how and where the treatment should be applied, with the tumour sitting near Odyss’ spine.

I picked up the BRAVEST boy after a big first day, and we checked into our Airbnb for a night of snugs and snacks ahead of Day 2.

This journey has been fueled by love. It’s way stronger than coffee 💓. Thank you for supporting this sweet boy 🤗. Please like & share his story.

To contribute to his GoFundMe (link in bio)
https://gofund.me/5e6b0926

—————

06/12/2023

This little advent calendar has been the highlight of our week 🎄.

I wasn’t sure what Christmas would look like this year. Would Odyss be here to celebrate? Would this be the biggest season of heartbreak… And that totally put me in freeze-mode.

Odyss has shown me just how strong and resilient he is. Silly, sassy and absolutely full of life. He’s been doing good. Whether that’s prednisone magic, a great immune supporting diet or the cancer is on vacation, I’m not going to ask.

The tree is in storage, Odyss’ gift is in the trunk of the car still (hint: it’s a Costco blankie) 🫣. We’re slowly working up to the holiday one small move at a time.

Day 3,337 of being . I’m grateful for him, for you, our wonderful furrrriends, and this advent calendar stuffed with stanky fish treats.

Btw, I have an initial call with the oncologist on Thursday. Send us all of the good vibes 😘.

25/11/2023

Furrrriends! Help us reach $3k toward Odyss’ cancer treatment and you can help choose his haircut!

Happening this weekend 💇‍♂️😍 please like and share!

https://gofund.me/5e6b0926

25/11/2023

Hoo-mum posted a cancer treatment PUP-DATE to our GoFundMe — check it out! 🩵

Odyss is a sassy wheaten terrier rescue with the happiest smile and sweetest heart. A few w… Jolie Godin needs your support for Odyss needs cancer treatment

20/11/2023

Odyss insisted on climbing a mini mountain at the park today for day 3,321 of being ✨

We went walkies off of schedule and met so many kind humans! 🫶

Everyone asks about Odyss and how he ‘hurt his leg’ ….furrriends, using the ‘C’ word isn’t difficult, seeing their faces fall is.

For Odyss and I, cancer isn’t a sentence, it’s a path. Would we have chosen it? Not at all yet it reminds me that we have a choice every day to lean toward the light (or not). Odyss has always been a fluffy ball of sunshine, so that is decided.

Thanks for being here and leaning into the hard stuff with us 🤗. We appreciate you every day.

Donate to Odyss GoFundMe for cancer treatment (link in bio)
https://gofund.me/5e6b0926

——————

15/11/2023

Some snaps from today, including the King of Bedhead! We are so blown away by your generosity these past few days 🫶😘.

Hearing the ‘C’ word is terrifying. How could that be inside of this beautiful fluffy boy? When did it start, we did everything right?! How can I slow it down?

It has been a rough few days to say the least. Odyss has been teaching me so much — that ‘now’ matters more than anything; we have the power to inject joy into every day, moment, and interaction. Moving through the world with empathy, and finding brightness in the darkest corners is a super power that should be used and celebrated.

Thank you from our home and hearts 🫶.

It is 3,316 days since being and we’re optimistic for many, many more.

Support Odyss cancer treatment at https://gofund.me/5e6b0926

➡️ Link in bio ⬅️

———————-

13/11/2023

WE DID IT!!! ⭐️ 2k of 9.5k ⭐️

We are one massive step closer to funding Odyss’ cancer treatment thanks to you 🥹🩷.

This furry ball of sunshine and I are forever grateful to those who have contributed and shared our campaign so far 🤗.

When the call came on Thursday, my heart dropped. The big ‘C’?! Who, us?! …Cancer has touched so many lives and hearts.

I’m grateful that we have treatment options for pets to keep spreading their love and sunshine, and that we’re on this journey together.

Please like and share this video 🙏🫶

Help us reach as many people as possible 🤗

➡️ Link in bio ⬅️
https://gofund.me/5e6b0926

uxd

—————

12/11/2023

We are dispelling some myths today! 💡 Chemo & radiation treatment for dogs is very different than for humans. It’s much gentler, shorter and they don’t experience the same side effects.

Treatment can kick cancer into remission, giving them more happy pain-free months and years with their humans 🫶.

Help us get Odyss there by contributing to our GoFundMe and please share!

Thanks to our amazing friends who have helped us so far, we’re eternally grateful 🤗.

https://gofund.me/12fac02e

11/11/2023

Odyss bunny hopping like a pro 🐰. The cancer is pressing on a nerve leading down from his spine into his psoas. He can’t feel his toes but treatment could change that.

Check out our GoFundMe and please share!

https://gofund.me/12fac02e

11/11/2023

We had some somber news this week — our boy Odyss is fighting cancer.

What started as hip pain became progressively worse over a few weeks time. After $9,000 in diagnostic tests, including X-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI and spinal tap, cancer was discovered in the nerve running down his rear left leg.

The vets are optimistic that Odyss has many happy and pain free days ahead with targeted treatment. The treatment is going to cost up to $12,000 on top of the diagnostics.

We love our beautiful sweet boy and want to give him the best chance at a long happy life and to continue spreading smiles to all of his furrrrriends.

I have started a GoFundMe for his treatment. 100% of the funds will go toward Odyss cancer treatment.

Swipe to see some of our bills so far. Please share 🫶.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/odyss-needs-cancer-treatment