Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you don’t.

Washington Post’s Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

American History and Black History can not be separated.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Elections aren’t won by handwringing, cowering, and/or bashing your own candidates.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

Never forget that he train is barreling down on Trump, even as he dances on the tracks.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

He imagines himself as The Big Bad, Who Is Universally Feared… instead of The Big Jagoff, Who Is Universally Mocked.

It’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.

Come on, man.

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Dog Blogging / Lily Update- “And there is only one thing we say to Death- Not Today!”

Lily Update- “And there is only one thing we say to Death- Not Today!”

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Got to the vet at noon as planned, and immediately went into a consultation room to wait for Dr. Dickinson, because today was a big day from a blood test numbers standpoint. Dr. Dickinson (who I already told you is just AMAZING and whom I am so clearly in love with that Tammy is disgusted with me every time I talk about her and rolls her eyes- “Really Cole, can you try to control yourself?”) has a lot of wonderful aspects, but she does NOT have a poker face at all. When she came in carrying Lily, she was just beaming so I knew it was good news.

According to the doctor, her red blood cell count is improving and at 33, and her platelet count is up to 160k. If you remember, her platelet count didn’t even register on Tuesday at my vet’s, on Wednesday and Thursday were at virtually nonexistent (I think they were 2 and 4), and normal is 200k. So far, she is showing no side effects from the chemo, is still eating, drinking, pooping, peeing, etc., and was perky and alert. In fact, as soon as Dr. Dickinson put her on the floor, she lay down with her back legs flayed (we call it froggy dog) and her front paws crossed (because she is a lady). She wasn’t on the floor for long because a fat man scooped her up:

I can’t tell you how much better she is acting. She’s alert, perky, much more like her normal self. Again, we’re in a critical phase and all this could change, but dogs live in the here and now and so am I, and for the short term she is doing really well. Dr. Dickinson stated that she has met every criteria she needed to see and did not hesitate to send her home.

We were originally supposed to see the oncologist tomorrow for a consultation and to discuss the longer term treatment, but since she is not going to get any more chemo for another week anyway and is going to be on the prednisone for the next week, there is really no reason, so we will be going a week from Monday to see the doctor. So right now it is all on me and Lily- she’s got to keep eating, resting, drinking, pooping, and fighting, and I have to keep on top of her and make sure she gets her meds and is treated like the queen that she is. Here are some great picks from the ride home:

I love how she is looking at Tammy in that picture. And this picture is amazing:

When we got home, we put her in the grass in the front and she immediately took a long potty break, and then walked around and sniffed a bit. She came inside, everybody sniffed each other for a bit, and she pranced around the house and was clearly excited to be home. After a little bit, she went upstairs to her dog bed in my office, where she perched for a little bit

Someone may or may not be have been handfeeding her pieces of meat every few seconds. So, we’re home, and we’re both exhausted (I can hear her snoring behind me as I type this- the other picture was from about ten minutes ago), and I think we are both going to take a well deserved nap.

I’m just so relieved and happy and grateful and still concerned, but mostly just happy. My girl is home. I’m going to let Tammy tell Thurston his battlefield promotion didn’t go through.

Reader Interactions

196Comments

  1. 1.

    RedDirtGirl

    All day, walking around Brooklyn, I saw dogs that resembled Lily. She has been on my mind. So glad to see pictures of her back in your lap. YAY!

  3. 3.

    Schlemazel

    l’chaim!

    glad to get a bit of happy news. Here is to many more years between you two.

  8. 8.

    RedDirtGirl

    And have a great nap! I bet it will be the soundest sleep you will have had in days!

  9. 9.

    nicdanger

    That’s fantastic John.She looks very happy in those pics…could be the company she’s in lol Anyway,glad things are going so well .Whew! What a week this has been .

  10. 10.

    Just one more canuck

    The first picture of the car ride set shows the bliss she’s feeling because she knows she’s going home – this is wonderful news, John

  13. 13.

    HeleninEire

    So, so, so glad she is home. My heart. My heart.

    You go, Miss Lily. You do your damndest and we will all be right behind you.

    Love, HiE.

  15. 15.

    Villago Delenda Est

    It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Tracktown, USA, made only more sunny and beautiful by what I’ve just looked at on my monitor!

    I am so glad Lily is on the mend. More news to come, of course, but still, lookin’ good, good good dog!

  17. 17.

    Lottirose

    I have checked in more times than is reasonable. Home at last. Restful night and a good tomorrow. And then repeat …… Lily, if being adored is healing you are on the way.

  18. 18.

    Death Panel Truck

    @schrodingers_cat: I’d wear overalls were it not for the fact that from the shoulders on down I’d look somewhat like Junior Samples, so no.

    Great to see Lily come home. She’s too tough to die.

  19. 19.

    Betty Cracker

    So wonderful to see sweet Lily looking happy. Great idea to take your cues from her and live in the moment.

  20. 20.

    singing truth to power

    Your little girl has the softest expression – and a lot of love in her eyes. Wishing you both one happy day after another!

  26. 26.

    mai naem mobile

    This post made me laugh. She looks so happy and you sound just as happy. Yays all around .

  29. 29.

    trollhattan

    Get a load of that happy lap dog grin. Wow, what a turnaround! And also, too, get a load of Cole, breaking out his fancy eatin’ overalls. :-)

    This is the best Sunday news imaginable.

  31. 31.

    MomSense

    I’m so happy about Lily and relieved for John and the bunch. Wow this has been an emotional few days for our jackal pack.

    BTW the term for “froggy dog” is sploot.

  36. 36.

    Ryan

    ” I’m going to let Tammy tell Thurston his battlefield promotion didn’t go through.”

    Fucker dodged a bullet there didn’t he?

  40. 40.

    JeanneT

    Yay Lily! I wish for comfortable and peaceful days for you and your human. Each good day from here on out is a gift!

  43. 43.

    HRA

    I love the Lily I am going home smiling photos! Very happy for all of you Coles in the home.
    Hope

  44. 44.

    AndyG

    I appear to have something in my eye. Both eyes in fact.

    Sending lots of love Lily’s way…….

  45. 45.

    WaterGirl

    Oh my gosh, that last photo! Does she love you more than life itself, or the meat that you may or may not be holding in your hand as the photo was taken?

    Oh my gosh #2, Lily is home!!! One day at a time, but we are oh so grateful for these last 3 days. Lily is home!

  46. 46.

    zhena gogolia

    Great news. So glad to see Lily home where she belongs. Sending all good thoughts.

  48. 48.

    spudgun

    Wonderful, fabulous news – yay, Lily!!

    (She really has the sweetest face I’ve ever seen on a dog – it’s amazing.)

  50. 50.

    Patricia Kayden

    YAY LILY!! She’s a scrappy little fighter and she’s going to be around for a while. Wonderful news to start a new week.

  51. 51.

    Shell

    Oh man, oh man, John, Im so happy for you. Love that last pic of Lily; its like “Whats the matter? Im back where I should be, my fuzzy bed in your office. Whats everybody fussing about? Oh, but keep going with the meat,…”

  54. 54.

    WaterGirl

    @JPL: Sometimes those pretty girls are mean, but not Lily. She really is such a sweet, pretty girl!

  55. 55.

    zhena gogolia

    My husband just exclaimed when he saw how good she looked. He wants an apron with that picture on it to go with the other one.

  57. 57.

    geg6

    Oh, this is a beautiful thing and Lily is a beautiful doggy and life is beautiful at Chez Cole! YAY!!!!!!

    I was showing Lovey the pictures of Thurston you posted earlier and telling her to notice how svelte he is. In major contrast to her. She was not amused.

  60. 60.

    MazeDancer

    In the Here and Now, this is so beautiful and wonderful.

    Her happy, happy face is such a splendid sight.

    As I told my Kip cat when he was miraculously found after 7 weeks missing, “Every day is a gift.” (And told him that, every day for the 3 big gift years after that)

    Clearly, Lily is a gift day with a bow on top. Yay! (And knocking wood for more.)

  63. 63.

    SiubhanDuinne

    She looks SO HAPPY! Cherish every moment, John. She is such a little trouper.

    I am weeping from happy.

  64. 64.

    VeniceRiley

    How wonderful! I know you’re trying to dial expectations down, but this is just lovely to see. She looks very happy. Which is what I would be if being fed love and meat.

  67. 67.

    Anne Laurie

    I’m going to let Tammy tell Thurston his battlefield promotion didn’t go through.

    Comments like these are why we love you, JGC.

    L’chaim to Lily, and to all our household companions!

  76. 76.

    Nicole

    Oh my goodness, this is the best news today. So, so glad to read this. Thank you for the update.

  78. 78.

    Mary G

    Am I the first person to get the “Game of Thrones” reference? Silvio Forel would be proud. So happy to see that little Lily’s happy, healthy-ish face and know that she is home with her pack.

  79. 79.

    bluefish

    Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Let there be rejoicing in the kingdom! Lily looks so good–clear-eyed and definitely in the now. You must feel like one big, angry fist is no longer clutching at your heart while the others rips at your innards . Whatever comes next, you two will have gone through this together — and apart, which is also important, no? She must be so very happy to be back home! Puts a little spring in one’s step out here in Arlington. Chuckled with at your being able to read the doctor, the beaming face, before a word was spoken. I’ll bet that vet feels pretty happy and proud tonight — of all three of you. Seize the happiness, man, and hold on extra tight.

  80. 80.

    Aleta

    wow.
    She looks more beautiful in these recent pics than I ever remember. (I guess she’s in love with the guy who’s taking her home.)

  81. 81.

    Chat Noir

    Yay, Lily! She is such a beautiful angel. Keeping fingers crossed for continued progress on her treatment.

  87. 87.

    ellielou

    Thank you, John, for reminding me to BE GRATEFUL today. Yes, dogs live in the here-and-now. And it’s one of the daily lessons they teach me. Cherish the day. Cherish the moment. Lily is here right here and right now. Just gave my two dogs extra ear skritches and smooches.

  90. 90.

    Another Scott

    Thanks for the good news. Enjoy!

    I kicked some more into the pot – we know chemo is spendy. Let us know if you need more.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  93. 93.

    gammyjill

    Good, great news, Cole. By the way, in our family we call that pose on the back with the limbs apart, “medical specimen” or “medical spec”.

    Enjoy your animals, Cole. All of them.

  95. 95.

    low-tech cyclist

    Yay! So happy for you and Lily!

    I’d say more, but the browser must be having problems – the screen’s gone real blurry all of a sudden.

  98. 98.

    Shell

    down with her back legs flayed (we call it froggy dog)

    If its one of the first balmy days of Spring, we assumed it was warming the nether regions.

  101. 101.

    RedDirtGirl

    @trollhattan: You mock. But the ones I have fall into the formal wear category. I sure as hell don’t work job sites in them. I have dungarees for that.

  102. 102.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Geeno:

    I like getting my life affirmation at a political blog.

    Balloon Juice is all things to all people:

    Good old Balloon Juice,
    As good as it gets:
    Come for the POLITICS,
    Stay for the PETS.

    Balloon Juice will serve you,
    Whatever your mood:
    Come for the ANIMALS,
    Stay for the FOOD.

    Most of us love Cole’s
    Emotional rants:
    Come for the RECIPES,
    Stay for the PLANTS.

    The kittehs meow,
    And the puppehs do bark.
    Come for the GARDENING,
    Stay for the SNARK.

    We make fun of Huckabee-
    Sanders’s looks:
    Come for the NASTINESS,
    Stay for the BOOKS.

    We’re few of us burdened
    With riches or wealth.
    But come for the WRITERS’ THREADS,
    Stay for the HEALTH.

    I’m by no means a lawyer,
    Don’t know about torts;
    But I came for OBAMACARE,
    Stayed for the SPORTS.

    You may care not for music,
    Nor skull-fucking goats;
    But come for the FOOTBALL,
    And stay for the VOTES.

  109. 109.

    JaneE

    Wonderful news. And Lily looks so very happy to be going home. Here’s to a full remission.

  110. 110.

    TomatoQueen

    *wipes onions from eyes again*
    Go Lily Go Overalls Go Doggy Docs Go Friends and Jackals

  112. 112.

    cbear

    Good work, Lily!!!! What a beautiful sight it is to see her heading home where she belongs.
    Wear a tie or cravat with the overalls next time you visit the lovely doctor, Cole. She’ll be impressed with your sophistication and sense of style.

  113. 113.

    orchid moon

    Yay, so glad everything is looking up, John. The pictures are wonderful! Will keep fingers crossed that her health/numbers keep going up.

  122. 122.

    JMG

    Excellent! I have no idea how many days you and Lily have left together, hopefully a very great many, but the days that remain between you will be all the more joyful and meaningful because of these last few days.

  123. 123.

    BanditQueen

    Yes!!11! Good girl! You did it again Lily!
    (I think you can sneak Lily’s meds in her meat treats.)

  127. 127.

    Davey C

    I’m so happy that Lily is continuing to do well. She is such a beautiful dog, and she seems very happy to be back home.
    When I first heard the bad news last week, I was devastated because it was very reminiscent of what happened to my dog Heidi last fall (which did not have a happy ending). I really hope that you and Lily have a lot of time left together! I would give almost anything for another day with Heidi.

  128. 128.

    Unabogie

    Cole, I am so happy for Lily. She’s just a bundle of love and that’s thanks to you guys. Here’s hoping for the best, but for now, thank you for bringing a little bit of hope to all of us.

  132. 132.

    mario

    This is GREAT news of course!

    But I am concerned that the photographic record appears to show that both Cole AND Tammy are wearing overalls.

    That may be a bridge too far.

  134. 134.

    Lizzy L

    SUCH a happy dog! So glad to read this, John. Glad you get to have more time with your best girl.

  135. 135.

    Skepticat

    This is indeed happy news, and we all can use the reminder to live in the moment. It’s so fortunate that animals don’t seem to have the horrible reactions to chemo that humans do. My cat with colon cancer had quite a bit of good-quality extra life thanks to chemo. However, I may have let him go a bit too early because prednisone, which they seem to consider a chemo adjunct, caused such severe thirst; please be alert for that later on. And we all hope it’s very, very, very much later. I’m off to hug my cats now …

  136. 136.

    Amir Khalid

    May you have many more years of health, happiness, and cuddles with John Cole, Lily. All the best from Sister, The Girl, Bianca, and me.

  139. 139.

    Original Lee

    I’ve been out of the loop for two days and wow! I’m so happy for you and Lily, JC. This news made my day.

  140. 140.

    la caterina

    I don’t know if I’ve ever seen another dog look so completely blissed out as Lily does in those photos. So glad she’s home. Enjoy!

  141. 141.

    Ohio Mom

    Another wildly happy reader here.

    I want to add a big thank you to Tammy, for being such a rock of support to our blog host. We wouldn’t know what to do with ourselves without him, we appreciate all the ways you are keeping him going through all of this.

  142. 142.

    Miss Bianca

    so glad for you and Lily, John. those photos are wonderful.

    Death didn’t have time for Lily today because he was, sadly, very occupied with my Stella. His angel, in the form of the visiting vet, came up the mountain today. Just got done burying herin a lovely spot, a little oak qnd aspen grove. Tomorrow I will get around to putting away her things. Tonight, I am just going to raise a glass to darling Stella and Lily.

  144. 144.

    Elizabelle

    Caption for those photos: “I knew you were going to come for me, John.” She’s a smart one.

    ===

    @Miss Bianca: Sorry to hear that. Best to you.

  145. 145.

    RedDirtGirl

    @mario: I went back and looked and I think she has a jean jacket on over a teeshirt.

    ETA
    Also, too, overalls are the bomb. I sort of think of them like a turtle shell, carrying my safe place along with me.

  150. 150.

    Ruckus

    @Miss Bianca:
    Sorry that it went that way.
    Sounds like you are doing right by Stella.
    A good ending to a good life and a celebration of having lived well.

  154. 154.

    skyweaver

    I’ve had an incredibly long weekend. Basically I wound up working through nearly all of it and I’m finally about to go home from my office and feeling really sorry for myself. But this really helped, John. Welcome home, Lily. Today isn’t your day. Today is your day for snoring and helping someone in Virginia feel a litle more perspective tonight. Congratulations on this, so very happy for both of you.

  157. 157.

    MoxieM

    @Miss Bianca: Ah so very sorry to hear. Life takes with one hand, and gives with another, often not at the same time. Sympathies.

    Thus — Happy Lily Day (April 22nd). Terrific news on the Lily front.

  158. 158.

    Anne Laurie

    @Miss Bianca: So sorry to hear this. Condolences to you & yours.

    As Joe Biden says, May the day soon come when the thought of her brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eyes.

  161. 161.

    Miss Bianca

    thank you, friends. and darling Lily will remain in my heart, however long she has left, as The Girl Who Lived. (ha. I see your GoT reference and raise you a Harry Potter!!)

  166. 166.

    Wolvesvalley

    @Miss Bianca: In the midst of rejoicing for Lily’s reprieve and homecoming, I am so sorry for your loss of Stella. May the light shine on her and you.

  170. 170.

    Sis

    John, that’s such great news. What a roller coaster you’ve been on! I hope that you and Lily have a great week. (And I’ll bet Thurston and Rosie and Steve are thrilled that their big sis is home.)

  171. 171.

    Murmeltier

    @Geeno:
    You’re slacking off. You didn’t tell me that there was an update. I even cooked you a yummy dinner.

    John, So glad to hear that your sweet girl got to go home today!

  186. 186.

    shirk

    I broke down and cried telling my wife about the first post when things looked bad for Lily.
    I started crying on the bus home when I read the post about her maybe, just maybe, turning the corner.
    And here I am tearing up at every post since as she’s gotten better, and the outpouring of love and support continues unabated.
    Lurker or not, I’m so grateful to have this community play a part in restoring a small piece of my faith in humanity, day after day.
    Thank you, Lily.
    Thank you, John.

  188. 188.

    Elie

    @Miss Bianca:
    My deepest condolences to you Miss Bianca. So wonderful to have loved. Nothing will take that away though you will miss her tons. Hugs to you. I lost my Buddy after 19!years a couple of months ago. I still look for him

  191. 191.

    Ohio Mom

    @RedDirtGirl: No, not a Quaker, just think that “holding in the light” makes perfect sense. I mean, “thoughts and prayers”? You wouldn’t want to be in the jumble that is my “thoughts”: part to-do list, part unsaid snide comments, part running self-pep talk along the lines of, “Calm down, this will be okay.” It’s a hot mess, my ongoing stream of consciousness “thoughts.”

    And “prayers” just sound like a long whine to me: “God, can you please do this, and this and this?” Too much like a kid begging his mom for a candy bar while in the supermarket check-out line.

    But holding in the light? Taking moments to truly think of someone else, consider what they are going through, experience empathy for them, imagine what a good outcome would be, hope for strength, clarity and the best for them? Letting them know that you stand with them? Yes.

  192. 192.

    satby

    @Ohio Mom:

    But holding in the light? Taking moments to truly think of someone else, consider what they are going through, experience empathy for them, imagine what a good outcome would be, hope for strength, clarity and the best for them? Letting them know that you stand with them? Yes.

    Beautiful!

  193. 193.

    Aurona

    @Miss Bianca: So sorry for your loss of your best friend Stella. My best girl Gracie passed last year; we took 1/4 of her ashes, along with three other long past friends’ ashes and spread them along her favorite paths on our daily hike at the dog park. Her sister, Kali and her not-then-known brother, Gambit, walk these paths daily as a way to remember. With Stella resting by your tree where you can smile, pull up a chair and remember, priceless.

  196. 196.

    Ella in New Mexico

    @Miss Bianca: I’m so sorry to hear you lost her. So glad you were able to arrange for a peaceful transition into her beautiful new world. What a lovely resting place she’s in now, too.

    I’ve been there, nursing a pet overnight on a holiday weekend with absolutely no pain meds to comfort her passing. I literally ended up giving her dozens of medicine droppers of vodka and cream to try and soothe her. Had we had access to CBD or Marijuana I would have gladly “overdosed” her on it, too. The pain of helplessly witnessing her pain will never leave me.

    “When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” – Khalil Gibran

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