Caroline McCormick

I came across this site through a friend.I added our dog,Charlie,it helps a lot coming on here and putting my thoughts down.We lost Charlie to a very aggressive cancer in March 2008,it still seems hard to believe he's not around,but he's free from pain now.We now have another dog called Oscar who's a completely different character,he keeps us on our toes!
Thanks from the bottom of my heart to everyone who continue to write tributes & light candles for our Charlie,the messages mean so much to me and help a lot.I cant thank you all enough.I miss my beautiful boy so much,so thanks again to all you lovely people out there,you know who you are!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

-----♥♥------Put This
----♥♥-♥♥--- -On Your
---♥♥---♥♥-- -profile If
---♥♥---♥♥-- -You Know
---♥♥---♥♥-- -Someone
----♥♥-♥♥--- -Who Died
-----♥♥♥------ Of
----♥♥-♥♥--- -cancer And
---♥♥---♥♥-- --You Love
--♥♥-----♥♥- --Very Much



































Charlie’s Story
Everything was going well for Charlie,he was happy,healthy,his epilepsy was under control.
Then in January 2008,he was constantly licking at something at the top of his back leg.We kept trying to stop him doing this.One night i tried to get a look at what he was licking at & thought i saw a red spot,trying to look again it was if it had disappeared, I tried to look again & found a small red lump.We decided to take him to the vet in the morning,thinking that it was just a bite or something.
Next morning our vet had a look & she said she wasn’t sure what it was & would have to take a biopsy.Im sure that she had a good idea what it was,but wanted to be sure before she said anything.We were told to phone back in a week for the results.We were given medication to stop the irritation.
The following Friday we waited for the vet calling,eventually i called,Charlie’s results were back,but the receptionist said that our vet wanted to speak to us herself,i knew then that it was bad news.The vet called back & said that Charlie’s results weren’t good news,he had a mast cell tumour,she started talking about removal of the tumour,then chemo,but to be honest I didn’t take much of it in.She said because he was so fit,then an operation was the next step,but it would have to be soon.Charlie would then be referred to the Glasgow Vetenary Hospital,because it was too big an operation for her to do.I could hardly speak when I came off the phone,Billy was upset,mum & dad were crying & there was Charlie looking fit & healthy with this horrible lump growing by the day.
Charlie wasn’t suffering any symptoms as such,except for the itching,the tumour was releasing histamine & that’s what was annoying him,he wasn’t tired,being sick or losing his appetite,so we were sure we had caught this early.
Anyway we got an appointment in for the hospital for the 2nd February.Until then i had to take Charlie back to the vet to get Antihistamine tablets & a collar to stop him from licking the lump,it was a shame,it was driving him mad.
When we took him to the hospital,we saw the Oncology Doctor,Monica who would be helping with the operation,she said they would need to check to see if the cancer had spread,if it had,then they would need to remove a larger area,she asked if we realised that Charlie would be undertaking reconstructive surgery,talking about skin flaps,hydrotherapy afterwards,to be honest my head was bursting,I couldn’t take it all in.I asked her if Charlie’s chances were good & she said yes,they wouldn’t be taking him on if they didn’t think it wouldn’t be successful.Charlie had to stay overnight to get a scan,it was heartbraking,it was the first time in his 8 years that we had left him,he trotted away looking bewildered.
We went to pick him up the next morning,his left side was shaved & a wee bit on his front paw.Unfortunately the scan showed that the cancer had spread,meaning that a larger area would have to be removed,plus Charlie would need to be castrated to give them room to deal with the tumour.We had to sign loads of forms,& show proof that we were insured,& would be libel for any expenses that our insurance didn’t cover.Charlie’s operation was set for 13thFebruary.
We spoilt Charlie rotten for the next week,taking him to his favourite places & feeding him his favourite food.Emotions were running high,I changed my mind & didn’t want him to have the operation,I thought it was too much for him,but everyone kept saying he deserved this chance.
We said goodbye on the 13th February,the nurses were great,telling us he would be fine & well looked after.Before heading home we spoke to Monica again,she told us that they would have to remove Charlie’s lymph nodes as well & hopefully all traces of the cancer.Waiting for news that day was torture.Eventually Charlie’s surgeon ( Catherine) called to say that everything went well & that she was delighted with him,she said that he had even been outside for a wee stroll.The relief was immense,Charlie was expected to be in for a maximum of 5 days.
We phoned every day to see how Charlie was doing,everything was great.But Charlie was in more than a week now.A skin doctor called Damien was now looking after Charlie,I kept asking when can we get Charlie home,eventually he told me that there was a problem with one of Charlie’s wounds & they were waiting on results from the lab.He also quickly told me that a few dogs at the hospital had contracted kennel cough.Without saying so,he was practically telling me that Charlie had it too.Charlie’s results came back from the lab,he now had an e-coli infection in one of his wounds & did have kennel cough.Damien called & asked us for our permission to give Charlie superstrength antibiotics,he had to ask for our permission,because the tablets were very expensive,of course we said yes.
Charlie was now in hospital 3 weeks,we hadn’t visited because we didn’t want to upset him,but eventually without telling anyone I went up to see Charlie.I was so nervous.I took toys & treats for him.When he came into the room he was so puzzled looking,he ran up to me & kept nudging me,then stood at the door that he had just been brought through,our boy was changed.I could hardly see for the tears.His back leg & his abdomen were covered in bandages,but he looked great,much better than I had thought.Eventually he settled down & had a wee play together.The nurse came back for him & he went away quite happily.I spoke to the nurse & she said that Charlie’s wound was healing at last & he would be home in the next couple of days.
We got Charlie home on the Saturday of that week,that’s when the nightmare began.
The hospital gave us a few bandages for him & a letter telling us what to do & how to give him his medication.It stressed that Charlie wasn’t allowed to jump or have any walks or his wounds would open.That night his wound that hadn’t healed well was leaking,so Billy decided to change his bandages.He was such a good boy letting us change him,I held him whilst Billy changed his bandages,I saw the look on his face & said does it look ok,Billy’s words were he looks as if he’s been butchered.The bandages the hospital had given us wouldn’t last for another day,so we were frantic the next day trying to get him proper dressings & bandages,got a lot off the internet too.Billy was brilliant,so gentle with him.
That Saturday night Charlie slept well,the next day he was very sick.I called the hospital & they said to serve him bland food,we did this.He was sick for the next 2 days.We took him to our own vet on the Tuesday,the head vet,Neil examined him & hesitated when he touched the area where Charlie had the surgery,I asked him was something wrong,he said he thought he felt a lump,but could be to do with the surgery.Charlie was given an injection to stop the sickness & more pills to calm his tummy.It worked for several days,then the sickness started again.I said to Billy the cancer’s back,he said don’t be silly,there’s no way it can be.Took him back to the vet,again he was given an injection,the sickness stopped,we were now giving Charlie prescription dog food,he was eating very little now.We had an appointment with another Oncology doctor at the hospital,whilst there Charlie was sick again,she said we were feeding him too rich food,I told her that we had been back & forwards to the vet with him & were feeding him bland food.She felt Charlie’s abdomen,then started talking about Charlie’s course of chemo that would be starting the following week,that was on the Tuesday.
Being honest it was a nightmare,Charlie wasn’t eating,he was weakening,I had to handfeed him.The next morning he went downstairs & he couldn’t get back up them again.All we were all doing was crying & trying to convince ourselves that this horrible disease hadn’t come back.That day i felt a lump on Charlie’s head,my dad could feel it too.
On the Thursday I was at work & dad called to say that Charlie had been sick again,I thought enough’s enough,i called the hospital & told them we were bringing Charlie up now.Another doctor Claire examined him,he was sick everywhere,i knew by the look on her face that she had felt something,she said that Charlie was dehydrated & would need to be put on a drip overnight.She said that she felt a lump & to find out what it was a scan would need to be done,but we would have to sign a consent form,because the scan would cost £1000.We had to agree,we had to find out what was wrong with our poor boy.
I called the next morning,Claire told me that there was a large mass in Charlie’s abdomen & there was nothing more that we could do.She advised us to do something now rather than later.
I called our vet,I could hardly speak for crying,the receptionist was crying too,she said we were doing the right thing.An appointment was booked for 11 in the morning.
We took Charlie home for his last night,mum was crying because he looked ok.My aunt & uncle came up to say goodbye,we all lay beside him on the floor,when they were going away,he ran right up the street,was like he had a last burst of energy!That night he couldn’t wee,his tummy was really extended & he started whimpering.We were holding him & cuddling him,i could then feel wee lumps all over his body,how had this disease taken hold so quick?I went to bed & put the pillow over my head,I swear I could hear him whimpering.Billy,mum & dad stayed up with him all night.In the morning I had to call the vet’s to see if we could bring Charlie in earlier,he was suffering & it wasn’t fair to him.My mum said goodbye to him at home.Me & my dad went in with Charlie,Billy couldn’t.It wasn’t our usual vet,she couldn’t do it.The vet kept saying it wasn’t fair & what a beautiful boy Charlie was,she said we were doing the kindest thing for him.She told me to keep talking to Charlie because he would still hear us,as the injection took hold,I told him he didn’t deserve this,that we loved him so much & that he was the best boy ever,within seconds he was gone.A single tear fell from my dad’s eye & plopped right onto Charlie’s face,we stayed with him for a while to say our goodbyes.
Charlie went to sleep on the 29thMarch 2008.
On Monday 31st March,Charlie’s bill from the hospital came through the door,his final bill was £7200,totally insensitive,we did get an apology.
If Charlie hadn’t contracted e-coli,he may have survived,but it’s an infection that sometimes cant be prevented.
I had to write this down,i still feel guilty for putting him through so much & always will.