Bosco's story, Part II (back to NY)

Back in Brooklyn and tired, Sept. 2010. (front leg shaved from an i.v.)

Our flight back to NY was early the next day and Bosco and I stayed the night with a friend in Oakland. Bosco was on the new medication regimen prescribed by his neurologist Dr. Campbell at VCA - prednisone, a steroid to reduce swelling in the brain and phenobarbital to control seizures - and just as she had warned, he was peeing frequently and drinking more water. Because the prednisone causes the increased urination he was restless all night and I was up with him at 1:30, 3:00, 4:15 and 6 am, taking him in and out of the house to let him pee. But even with the frequent in and out he had "accidents" in the house. He seemed to have lost all of his house training, the drugs making him incontinent.

It was difficult enough having him urinate in a friend's house on an overnight stay but I began to dread returning to Brooklyn where I was sharing a house that belonged to a friend. I knew Bosco's illness and new requirements would complicate our housemate routine.

Bosco's behavior also began to change - he no longer lifted his leg to pee or mark a tree or squirt a hydrant like he'd always done - he now only squatted. And he seemed distant and low energy, no  more happy greeting dance when I'd come through the door. Where had my playful, affectionate little boy gone? What was this disease doing to his personality? Had his brain been damaged permanently by the swelling or were these changes side effects of the medications?

Over the next several days I would get the results of the spinal tap and blood panel from UC Davis Veterinary School - all tests for bacterial or viral causes were negative, leaving only a tumor as the possible cause for the seizures and swelling in his brain. Not at all what I wanted to hear - a diagnosis yes, but one with no cure or clear treatment. A glioma, the same type of brain cancer that struck Senator Ted Kennedy. So what now? What course would this disease take?