Unfortunately, the positive news about the possibility for treatment of Paula’s condition with antibiotics were premature. Further analyses confirmed a different diagnoses. Paula suffers from lymphatic leukaemia. This illness is one of the few that respond quite well to chemotherapy, and I’ve decided that we will give it a try. If luck is with us, then she might live for another 2 years or so with the therapy, but of course there is no guarantee. There will be a weekly infusion of chemotherapy for the next 4 weeks, followed by a maintenance treatment of infusions every 3 weeks. I intensely hope that Paula is strong enough to support the therapy and that the leukaemia can be suppressed for a prolongued time. The decision for chemotherapy is scaring me to death, but knowing that with animals the side effects are much less than for humans has helped to make the decision for it.
I had planned to travel to London at the end of April and participate in the OCA study day featuring a visit to the Picasso Exhibition at Tate Britain, but I’ve cancelled the arrangement. I just can’t leave Paula alone during chemotherapy.
I’ve made another charcoal drawing of her while she was sleeping on the high chair next to me in the study.
