Pulling for Max, My Best Friend
“So fluffy!”
“That head!”
“What a big puppy!”
“He can hold three?!”
Variations of these words always seem to blurt out of people as they encounter the one-and-only, life-loving Maximus Sloan. Those of you who know Max adore him. Today, friends, he needs your support.
Among neighbors, it’s no secret that he’s had a lump growing on his back. It’s also no secret how much I love Max and how much he just wants to be a part of things, to be at my side for whatever, wherever, whenever, even as I jabber away to seemingly nobody in my home office.
Special note: Max is Romeo’s son. I’ve paid homage to Romeo here previously.
Well, today is a big day for Maxie. On his behalf, I am asking each of you to send your positive energy and most supportive and powerful thoughts across the universe to him in Rohnert Park north of San Francisco where he will undergo surgery.
Here are some photos for those of you who don’t know him in person and after the photos, my special request:
at 6 weeks
drifting off on summer vacation
contemplating the next stunt
throw some more balls in!
a couple of weeks ago
He’s going in to have a hemangiosarcoma cancer tumor removed that recently aggressively returned. It’s located along his lumbar in front of his left hip. You can see it, actually, in the last photo. His doctor, Lisa Alexander, an experienced surgeon, believes there are reasonable odds for a fully functional recovery and significant extension of his life at a high quality level.
(My brother and I tried to eradicate these kinds of hereditary diseases by creating the business plan for and funding VetGen but the development of cancer diagnostics to be used for preventative breeding has still eluded the researchers there.)
Max and I talked last night after his last pre-op meal, which included his regular dog food heaped with some homemade dark meat turkey with broccoli and spinach in a vegetable broth. His appetite for this meal was much like his appetite for life. He devoured it.
Laying in the grass afterward, we talked quietly about things. I kept both of my hands on him softly with no movement during this time, eyes closed. He laid there, relaxed but alert like a sphinx, swishing his tail in the grass occasionally to acknowledge my voice and my tone. We talked about what we wanted to happen, how tough he would have to be, how much his friends love him, and what fun lay ahead if he could go in today, go under, come out on the other side of it and endure the surgery and recovery. We talked of body surfing at the beach, fetching balls, hikes in the redwoods, spooning in bed, howling at passing sirens, and just being “a part of things.”
He told me he was ready… for life. Typical Max.
Whatever you got, friends, today’s the day. Send it to him. He needs you.
Check-in is at 10am Pacific Time. X-rays are at 11am. If those show no presence of spread to other major organs, a CT scan happens at 1pm. If that shows no obvious spread to neighboring tissue, surgery starts immediately.
I will be there all day, working from the lobby at the surgery center, pulling for my best friend and little brother, Max.
If all goes well, the surgery will take place and he will stay for monitoring and recovery for at least one night.
I will provide an update here tomorrow.
Thank you for pulling for Max today. This crazy world’s a better place with him in it.
Rich
October 30th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Suzanne and I will be praying all day long.
October 30th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Positive waves coming to you, Maxy, my boy.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Even with my sniffly, wheezing, eye-reddening alleric reactions, it was impossible for me to resist petting that beautiful pooch when he accompanied you to the office…ready to contribute to the team what he knows best, “Affection”.
Max, right back at ya boy!
October 30th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Rich, Good luck today. We feel there is good karma surrounding you and Maxie on this pivotal day. Please give him a big hug. Keep us posted. Love, Mom and Dad
October 30th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Visualize him in a protective bubble of white light all day long…. Max has no intention of going anywhere but with you. He loves you.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am
What an adorable pup! You, your family and Max will be in my thoughts today.
October 30th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Maxie
There is a new can of tennis balls waiting for you in Harbor Springs. I know you can make it through this and be there with us to strut your stuff for many good years to come!! We’re all counting on you to pull through this…
Good luck today and just know that you have a universe full of good thoughts and prayers coming your way.
Lots and lots of love and tail wagging….
Mom
October 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am
We’ll be thinking of you ALL day long - E, J & C
October 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Max, Lisa, all the nursing staff, helpers,every hand that touches Max, and you, (working in the waiting room) are in my prayers today. He will be surrounded by peace, comfort and well being. He will have his usual strong and capable attitude. He will come through this with the best possible outcome.
Can’t wait to hear a success story!
October 30th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Hey there Mr. Max….just wanted you to know that it has been a pleasure adding you to our “Ranch Family”. We will be thinking strong good thoughts for you and Rich today. We look forward to your speedy recovery so that we may get on with the important things in life…like…fetch…swim…eat…sleep…scratch…fetch..oops did i say fetch twice…we love you…brent…teri…louis…and of course….LOLa…see you soon….
October 30th, 2008 at 11:08 am
This is a tough day for our favorite cousin dog Max…stay strong for us…we plan to be jumping all over you sometime soon! Tell Uncle Rich to be strong too!
October 30th, 2008 at 11:10 am
You know I am pulling for you both in all this and I am looking forward to some future days at the beach with Max.
We love you Max!
We will check in with you and the patient post opp.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I am there with you both today. Stay strong, ‘lil bro!
October 30th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Max says THANKS! to all his friends who’ve already sent their love.
We’re heading out in an hour.
Already had a morning walk, a deer sighting on the trail, and he’s back asleep, getting rested up. He seems ready, FULL of life.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Max is front and center in my thoughts today and tomorrow and all weekend….and I’m seeing him with his corn-rowed head of hair running in the waves …. and laughing. Bless you Rich for sharing that amazing spirit/golden with all of us. Call me if you want me to deliver lunch-dinner-smiles, whatever. I know exactly where you’ll be. namaste to you both.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:40 am
My thoughts are with you and Max today! I love the photos you posted - Max seems like the best best friend.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Thanks for writing this blog…
I will be praying for you and thinking about you all day!
Good luck to both you and Max!!
Please let us know how Max is doing tomorrow!
October 30th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
My thoughts, prayers and well wishes go out to you Max
I appreciate you letting me get cleaned up at your humble abode
in Somoma. I wished I could have stayed longer.
October 30th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Rich,
Henry (http://www.dogster.com/dogs/16610) and I will be thinking about you and Max today. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Best,
Kathleen
October 30th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Rich, Update us on Max’s progress. Our pets become part of our family. It is painful to see them hurting or ill. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Max. Here’s for a rapid thorough recovery!
Miriam
October 30th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I’m praying for him…may he have a speedy recovery.Thanks for sharing this blog with us all. God Bless!!
October 30th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
i will be praying for max to get better…which i know he will :-). lotsa love to him!!
October 30th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Update from the doggie hospital… they have us together in a private, cushy room, relaxing. Max, of course, is on high alert, but he’s doing just fine.
His X-rays were clear, ultrasound clear, too. Now we wait for the radiologist to do the CT scan. He will be under anasthesia at that time and if that scan shows no progression into neighboring tissue, then we move forward immediately with surgery. The hope is that the tumor is a “cantalope” (-sp?) and not an “octopus”. One thing i can tell you is that his bump has enlarged to a “hump” and is about the size of a cantalope.
Keep sending your love, friends. He has a fighting chance at a good outcome with the combination of his willfulness and your support!
Thanks so much.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Sounds great so far….we will maintain our positive thoughts …..keep us posted….lots of love…brent,teri,louis and lola.
October 30th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Max,
From one golden to another, hang in there, stay stong and keep the faith!
October 30th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Max,
My thoughts and prayers are with. Hang tough, hang strong.
God has a plan for you. My human parents Jan, Ben and my sisters will be praying for you.
Benji
October 30th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Thanks again from the doggie hospital to the two and four-legged friends chiming in! I am extremely impressed by the level of care and sensitivity of the staff here. as much as they do a lot of this work, they certainly have not forgotten about the important lovey-dovey environment stuff.
Max has headed in for anasthesia. ONWARD, MAX! ONWARD!
October 30th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Mr Rich….I have to go right now…..to the doctor of all places…..so I will look forward to the final update…saying all is well…and Max will continue to entertain us all…..for a long time to come. Peace brother…..love ya and the Max-o-Nator. love ya ..Brent, Teri, Louis and LOLa….b
October 30th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Rich, I’m sending good vibes from Seattle to you and Maxie. Hang in there and keep the updates coming. We’re all pulling for you two here!!
October 30th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Hi Rich & Max,
I hope that when you receive this message that Max will be in recovery and you will be resting as well. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. The photos of you and Max express the true meaning of “Man’s Best Friend.” Stay strong, think positive thoughts, and know that Max will return to the comfort of his home within a few days.
Blessings to you both!!
Sandy
October 31st, 2008 at 12:17 am
Thoughts and prayers are there…where would we be without the lessons of unconditional love from these guys?
Rest and Pain-Free for Max…Peace for you.
Abbie
October 31st, 2008 at 7:05 am
Hi,
Wishing you and your pup the best. My girl is going through chemo for HSA.
November 17th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Rich - If the lump is cancerous you should give Dr Martin Goldstein a call. He is a well known Veterinarian who has had incredible success rate in curing dogs of serious illness through vitamins and good nutrition. He runs a place called Smithridge Veterinary Center. His website is http://www.drmarty.com. You can google him and see his successes. He is located in NY. YOu can send your dogs records and test results and he will do a phone consultation. If you cant get an appointment with him then ask for Dr Alex. I actually saw her when my dog was seriously ill as because Martin Goldstein is taking on new patients. She works with him and he consults on all her cases.
My friends dogs had cancer and he put it in remission. I know people fly in from all over the world to see him.
February 18th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
How’s Maxie??? I hope he’s great, I miss you guys! I’m in Aspen and off to Vegas on saturday, I hope all is well!