Goodbye Good Friends!

Joan & Bill before casting off

We arrived on the scene earlier today to say goodbye to our friends who were headed into the Chesapeake Bay for the rest of the summer/fall.  It seems they have been working on their boat for the better part of 8 years to strive to get it where they can enjoy being onboard.  Joan Meadows and Bill Derry have been involved in boating almost their entire lifetime, but haven't lately been able to get Windborne going enough to enjoy.  These are the times that we look forward to and to remember.  First going to Langford Bay Marina for a month and then down to explore the Southern Chesapeake Bay.

 

Windborne moving toward the Delaware River and C&D Canal

 

We see a Change...

Yesterday both Sue and I have been on the go since 7 AM.  Oil change, workout, lunch with WSPS, shopping in North Wilmington, a run to Verizon to check on wireless phones, RiverCross Fellowship Food Closet....and home to Pix. We had planned to see Pitch Perfect 2 which is playing at some nearby theatres, but I suggested we stay home and coddle Pixie instead.  We noticed a difference in her almost immediately when we arrived home last night.  She was walking more, wagging her tail, wanting to be with us and a much more happy girl.  Dr. Schofield changed her medication on Tuesday to docxycycline to kill the staph infection that she saw in Pixie's jaw area.  She wanted to delay the surgery until this infection was resolved. Perhaps next week?

Lately we invested in (4) HD cameras and placed them around the house to watch Pix and to pickup some of her habits and where she likes to go.  These cameras give us some emotional stability seeing Pixie either sleeping or walking around the house when we aren't able to be with her.

We all know that a happy dog is one that eats and enjoys their food.  Our girl loves to eat and looks forward to breakfast and dinner time.  Either Sue or I wrap her pills in ham and then we wash her mouth/throat area. Afterwards the key is to spend time with her and tell her how beautiful she is and how we love her. 

A return to the Swing

In wanting to get going to the boat (lotsa work) but not wanting to neglect Pix, we found a happy medium of spending time on the swing on the sales room porch.

Gotta Get the Boat Ready Part 2

We really didn't have much help today, just the two of us!

We cleaned the deck area free from whirlygigs and much left over winter dirt & dust.  Don moved the all chain rode to a nearby cart and brought the Chesapeake rode (50' of chain and 100' of 5/8" nylon) into the anchor well.  He cleaned everything and lubed the windless for another season.  The 300+lbs. chain rode weighed down the wagon quite a bit on the way home.  Sue was the happy hoser washing the entire deck. Together we cleaned out the quarterberth locker and found items we thought we lost.  We removed from the engine area most of the old crumbing sound deadening material and tomorrow we'll mount new stuff.  We have to take a run at sanding some of the areas of the bottom and painting spots before a full coat.  Don will install the feathering propeller that was rebuilt over the winter months.  We had great weather the last few days to get working on Jubilee.

Friday/Saturday Wrapup

After Pixie's fifth treatment at Dr. Riddle's hyperbaric chamber in Cecil County, we left her at home to relax and the three of us headed to the boat to complete some projects.  Oh, did I mention three? 
Why yes, Savannah, #2 granddaughter joined us for the day early so she could feed the horses on the farm; yes, we brought carrots.  Luanne Riddle is so easy to get to know and Savannah asked right away to check out the horses, ponies, and a miniature donkey. So while Pix was in the chamber, Mimi and Savannah headed out to the pasture.




We did accomplish a lot on the boat and Savannah was very helpful taking care not to let grandpop do too much walking.  We placed the boom on the gooseneck, connected the hydraulic boom vang, bled it, and brought all the halyards out from hiding from the winter.  Savannah swept the decks and Sue went over all the paneling in the cabin.  The last winter cover was removed, folded and the framework taken down.  All of this in a couple of hours....just in time for dinner!

Sue holding the larger cabin top cover
 

 

Pixie's fourth treatment plus 1

We were scheduled to meet Luanne at 9 AM at her hyperbaric chamber building.  We were early enough, ready for the day and had Geri Walker with us too!  I think Pix is enjoying the oxygen because when the 45 minute treatment is over, and she comes out of the chamber, she is so friendly walking around and visiting with everyone.  I know when this ordeal is finished she will be immensely happy.

Pixie is inside and Geri is photographing the console

Today we were so fortunate to have Luanne call Pixie's surgeon, Dr. Dina Schofield who has a practice in Oxford, PA and asked for her to see Pix.  She was just a short 15 minute ride from Canvasback Farms and Dina wanted to look over Pixie's jawline to see if the tissue has healed enough for surgery. We were elated to hear her schedule a May 26 closing of Pixie's jawline and to lessen any more bacterial exposure. This was met with a huge Horray!



Dr. Schofield taking a culture of Pixie's exposed jawline

Dr. Dina Schofield smiling for the camera

Thank you so much Luanne for making this happen!!

Geri Walker is always helpful and great to have around






Time for Jubilee...

Between Pixie's treatments, Sue and I have been trying to get Jubilee in shape for the water.


Not a stranger to cleaning up the cockpit

The sign of pink water running into the sink is a good one.  Actually, we only used slightly less than 3 gallons of antifreeze to winterize Jubilee last November.  The pink shown here quickly disappeared and just clear water was visible.


As you can see the 140 watt solar panel has been charging our battery bank most of the winter/spring.  In just a few more days Jubilee will be her stunning self again, however let's wait for cooler 70 degree weather before we attack the bottom.

Day 2 Visit to Canvasback Farm's Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber

Adding the time to Pixie's exposure to oxygen

Pixie's second visit to the hyperbaric chamber on Dr. Riddle's farm.  Luanne met me at the building that houses the chamber and looked over Pixie.  I told her that there doesn't seem to be much change and she reassured me that we won't see that change in Pixie for a couple of weeks, but believe me, there is a change taking place.  Luanne said, "all of the old damaged tissue from the radiation is and will become healthy red growing tissue/skin that will fill that hole in her face."  I felt she was correct, but until the skin shows a rebirth, I will wait.
Both Sue and I are faithful folks, waiting to believe.

Our visit to Canvasback Hyperbaric Hospital

Luanne and Sue talking about treatment dates

Today was an interesting drive down to Rising Sun, MD and thru the beautiful lush green countryside.  We visited Dr. Riddle's horse farm and his hyperbaric oxygen chamber.  His wife, Luanne Riddle, was the good will ambassador of the farm and handled the chamber like the expert that she is.  Pixie was in the "chamber" for about an hour.  When she came out she seemed very nervous & was quite anxious to be with us.  Luanne explained that each of the high pressure treatments will reduce the size of the slit in her right cheek and help prepare the tissue inside her mouth as well as outside for healthy growth. 

Luanne adding pressure and oxygen

We could watch Pix through the porthole in the massive chamber.  This chamber is big enough for three horses, since it was built exclusively for their racing horse patients, but it works well for even little Pix. We expect to return again tomorrow for another treatment since having them close together seems to guarantee more success with her radiation fallout.

Pixie in the chamber with the video monitor watching her

Preparing Pixie for the hyperbaric oxygen chamber

On our last visit to the West Chester Oncologists we were told that Pixie's chances for recovery would be greater if we visited a veterinary hyperbaric oxygen chamber.  We found one in Cecil County, MD near Port Deposit; so we have an appointment tomorrow to see if this treatment will help our little girl.

I know she is tired of us washing her mouth and treating her open area around her right lower jawbone area. We wash it with doggie antiseptic two and sometimes three times a days to keep bacteria from forming. I have attached an image so you can see how the radiation has hurt her.

Treating the Pix!

Isn't it wonderful that she fits nicely into the kitchen sink!

We returned on Friday, 8 May from the MARS School week to find our Pixie well cared for by Geri Walker. 

We also now know that the antibiotic Baytril has been determined to fight her infection since the culture came back on Tuesday.  Pixie will have her appointment tomorrow with Dr. Schofield, the surgeon at West Chester Oncology.  We are preparing her with a bath and later today, a trim to make her feel better.



Not all that happy with the hair dryer

Pixie's Health - April 27th - May 2nd

This has been a horrible week for all of us.  On Monday we visited our Veterinarian Oncology Hospital in West Chester to get some definitive action on Pixie's cellulitis.  It seems to have grown and thickened on her neck and near her jawbone.  Dr. Jeglum examined her and felt the two prescriptions seemed to be working well.   Neither Sue or I felt this way, but we persisted and kept the same dosages.  On Tuesday evening just as I was watching the Spurs game (11:45 PM) Pixie came to me and showed me blood coming from her mouth area.  I immediately asked Sue to call the local veterinarian hospital that was open 24 hrs.  We left and drove the short 6 minutes to them and soon Pixie was being cared for there.  The doctor this evening wanted to look into Pixie's mouth and see where the blood was coming from.  They swabbed it and kept the bleeding at a minimum, but she wanted us to leave and promised to call around 4 am when she would have some results. We hardly slept at all and were awake when the phone rang at 3:30.  She said the bleeding had stopped, but wanted to located the reason for the flow.  She asked if we could wait until 6 to pick her up; she would have more info about her then.  When we arrived at 6 the nurse brought Pixie into the room where we were waiting.  She was breathing heavy and shaking!  I asked how long has this been going on.
The nurse explained that the doctor would be in to see us momentarily.   I tried to calm Pix, but found she needed to be held.   When the doctor arrived she explained that the two blood clots were removed and cleaned out and most of her mouth irrigated.  She had found a small piece of broccoli that was forced into her gum line.  This was how soft and damaged her mouth was.  We paid the bill and ran out the door with Pix.  Once at home, and in about 2 hrs., she was asleep & rested most of the day on Wednesday.   All of us got to bed early on Wednesday - and it was a good thing too, because on Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were at the VO Hospital in West Chester. 

The final prognoses 
We have found the radiation for Pixie's melanoma that took place in Sept/Oct. of 2014 has had repeating loss of gum tissue and some bone loss.  She is presently (May 2nd) seeing a surgeon to replace some of the tissue in her mouth and gums.   The doctors have taken a culture of her bacterial infection and should have a treatment within a few days. Pix received intravenous antibiotics on two days to fight this infection.  We are waiting for the results of the culture and then perhaps select the proper antibody to fight it.
The saga continues...and we love our girl!

At VORC-West Chester, PA



At home - August -2014, before melanoma happened

 

Celebration of uncovering the boat

Yes, it's true!  We have taken the cockpit and bow covers off the boat and left the cabin still covered for tentative rain and to allow us to work on insulating the refrigerator.