Take a look at the awesome moving sculptures in this video. Aren't they cool? How fast can you say "artistic genius"?
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Lucy Has Cancer, Part 3
This is a cross post from my Pet Blog as Lucy has always been my greatest art inspiration:
Lucy has had two additional visits to her vet, Loving Touch Animal Center, since my last post. The first visit was for the flushing of her 2 drains along with a set of antibiotics and probiotics; the second, for removal of her drains. She is doing remarkably well, especially still having to wear a t-shirt 24/7.
Lucy’s lab results came back with an interpretation of “Spindle Cell Neoplasia, Grade 1 Hemangiopericytoma”. We are very thankful it was the lowest grade.
Upon having her 30 staples removed, we will have her lungs x-rays. This is the most likely place for metastasis of this type of cancer. Hopefully, these x-rays will only ever serve as a base-line set.
If Lucy’s lungs come up clean, she will undergo surgery for the other 2 small masses on her body. She has one on the other side of her trunk and another under her leg which, in time, will interfere with her walking. (The veterinary surgeon was unable to remove them during the first surgery. She would have been under anesthesia too long.)
I researched “hemangiopericytoma” on-line and located this info:
Lucy’s hemangiopericytoma was diagnosed for a lipoma at first. It was located on the trunk of her body. From this experience, we learned the surest way to tell what’s growing is through a biopsy. Let me say it again: If you feel a lump on your pooch, get a biopsy ASAP!
If you missed any of the previous posts in this series, here are the links to them:
Lucy has had two additional visits to her vet, Loving Touch Animal Center, since my last post. The first visit was for the flushing of her 2 drains along with a set of antibiotics and probiotics; the second, for removal of her drains. She is doing remarkably well, especially still having to wear a t-shirt 24/7.
Lucy’s lab results came back with an interpretation of “Spindle Cell Neoplasia, Grade 1 Hemangiopericytoma”. We are very thankful it was the lowest grade.
Upon having her 30 staples removed, we will have her lungs x-rays. This is the most likely place for metastasis of this type of cancer. Hopefully, these x-rays will only ever serve as a base-line set.
If Lucy’s lungs come up clean, she will undergo surgery for the other 2 small masses on her body. She has one on the other side of her trunk and another under her leg which, in time, will interfere with her walking. (The veterinary surgeon was unable to remove them during the first surgery. She would have been under anesthesia too long.)
I researched “hemangiopericytoma” on-line and located this info:
- 'Grossly, hemangiopericytomas can be soft, firm, or rubbery and are frequently mistaken for lipomas. They also may be nodular and locally invasive. Hemangiopericytomas occur most frequently on the extremities, but may arise on the trunk.'
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| Lucy and her "babies". |
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Imagination Squared Public Art Project, Part 6
Here is a 20 second video of the installation for the Imagination Squared Public Art Project. It is permanently displayed now at the Main Branch of the Jacksonville (FL) Public Library. Watch this massive 910 piece art installation in the video above. Then visit it in person to feed your soul.
Details about this project are contained in my previous blog posts:
Details about this project are contained in my previous blog posts:
Friday, March 4, 2011
Lucy has Cancer, Part 2
This is a duplicate post from my Pet Blog. My business started with Lucy serving as my muse.
For those of you who read my previous blog post, here is an update on Lucy:
Lucy is recovering from her surgery on Tuesday. The cancerous sarcoma mass was removed. She has a long incision, approximately 10 inches in length, with 30 staples and 2 drains on her lower left flank region.
The surgery was difficult, lasting approximately 2 hours instead of the allotted 1/2 hour of time. The cancer was encapsulated except for at the base where a 1-1/2 inch diameter was attached to her muscle. The veterinary surgeon removed a 5 inch diameter piece of muscle. We are awaiting the histology report and hoping enough of the margins were removed so it doesn't grow back.
Lucy has been a real trooper. Thank goodness for pain meds. Dogs don't show much pain. It is a sign of weakness in the wild. When she is unable to get comfortable (cannot lay down), it is a sign to give her medication, approximately every 12 hours.
Lucy obtained a new wardrobe from her ordeal. We recycled Steve's old t-shirts for her. Well, actually, Steve passed them to me. I wear them for art and household projects. I cut off the arms on some of them and passed them along to Lucy. Wearing a t-shirt alleviates self-inflicted trauma from Lucy trying to scratch as her incision is healing and catches the fluid from her drains.
Lucy was under some heavy anesthesia and wasn't interested in drinking water at first. I didn't want her to get dehydrated. So I went shopping for some fresh coconuts and found some. As soon as I arrived home, I punctured the eyes of one giving her the water inside. She lapped it up immediately. Yay!
Coconut water provides an isotonic electrolyte balance and I'm sure hers was off from anesthsia. Did you know coconut water from the cavity of a fresh coconut is sterile until opened? It mixes easily with blood and was used in World War II for emergency transfusions.
And too, as Lucy luck would have it, the February/March Issue of Animal Wellness Magazine arrived containing Dr. Carter's cancer cocktail recipe. Dr. John Carter, a British veterinary surgeon and research scientist, created it after losing his own dog to cancer. The recipe is as follows:
Ingredients:
8 ounces raw chopped liver
4 ounces grated carrot
1/2 ounce ground Brazil nuts
Instructions:
Puree the ingredients. Serve as a topping or as a complete meal. It's bursting with flavor and nutrients including potassium and selenium.
I chose calf liver over mature beef or chicken thinking it is the youngest liver with the most nutrients. Lucy loves her "liver pâté de foie gras". She gobbles it all up! It is an easy recipe to include in my beloved's raw diet.
Lucy has had sudden bursts of energy today. She wants to play fetch which, of course, is a BIG no-no presently. So I took her for a walk--down 4 houses to where her dog buddies, BJ and Bear, live and back. She was tired after and took a nap. Steve thought I might have taken her too far. Rehabilitation exercise is a must prior to being able to leave a hospital. It would strengthen her, I told him.
Unfortunately, Lucy is not out of the woods yet. She has a lipoma growing under her left forearm and another small mass on her right side. The veterinary surgeon was unable to remove them as Lucy was at the limit for anesthesia during this surgery. (sob, sob)
To all of Lucy's fans in blog and social networking land and Loving Touch Animal Center: We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your pawsitive thoughts regarding Lucy's health. Dogs are people too. Woof!
PS: Here are the other posts in this series:
Part 1
Part 3
For those of you who read my previous blog post, here is an update on Lucy:
Lucy is recovering from her surgery on Tuesday. The cancerous sarcoma mass was removed. She has a long incision, approximately 10 inches in length, with 30 staples and 2 drains on her lower left flank region.
The surgery was difficult, lasting approximately 2 hours instead of the allotted 1/2 hour of time. The cancer was encapsulated except for at the base where a 1-1/2 inch diameter was attached to her muscle. The veterinary surgeon removed a 5 inch diameter piece of muscle. We are awaiting the histology report and hoping enough of the margins were removed so it doesn't grow back.
Lucy has been a real trooper. Thank goodness for pain meds. Dogs don't show much pain. It is a sign of weakness in the wild. When she is unable to get comfortable (cannot lay down), it is a sign to give her medication, approximately every 12 hours.
Lucy obtained a new wardrobe from her ordeal. We recycled Steve's old t-shirts for her. Well, actually, Steve passed them to me. I wear them for art and household projects. I cut off the arms on some of them and passed them along to Lucy. Wearing a t-shirt alleviates self-inflicted trauma from Lucy trying to scratch as her incision is healing and catches the fluid from her drains.
 |
| I'm bringing sexy back! |
Lucy was under some heavy anesthesia and wasn't interested in drinking water at first. I didn't want her to get dehydrated. So I went shopping for some fresh coconuts and found some. As soon as I arrived home, I punctured the eyes of one giving her the water inside. She lapped it up immediately. Yay!
Coconut water provides an isotonic electrolyte balance and I'm sure hers was off from anesthsia. Did you know coconut water from the cavity of a fresh coconut is sterile until opened? It mixes easily with blood and was used in World War II for emergency transfusions.
And too, as Lucy luck would have it, the February/March Issue of Animal Wellness Magazine arrived containing Dr. Carter's cancer cocktail recipe. Dr. John Carter, a British veterinary surgeon and research scientist, created it after losing his own dog to cancer. The recipe is as follows:
Ingredients:
8 ounces raw chopped liver
4 ounces grated carrot
1/2 ounce ground Brazil nuts
Instructions:
Puree the ingredients. Serve as a topping or as a complete meal. It's bursting with flavor and nutrients including potassium and selenium.
I chose calf liver over mature beef or chicken thinking it is the youngest liver with the most nutrients. Lucy loves her "liver pâté de foie gras". She gobbles it all up! It is an easy recipe to include in my beloved's raw diet.
Lucy has had sudden bursts of energy today. She wants to play fetch which, of course, is a BIG no-no presently. So I took her for a walk--down 4 houses to where her dog buddies, BJ and Bear, live and back. She was tired after and took a nap. Steve thought I might have taken her too far. Rehabilitation exercise is a must prior to being able to leave a hospital. It would strengthen her, I told him.
Unfortunately, Lucy is not out of the woods yet. She has a lipoma growing under her left forearm and another small mass on her right side. The veterinary surgeon was unable to remove them as Lucy was at the limit for anesthesia during this surgery. (sob, sob)
To all of Lucy's fans in blog and social networking land and Loving Touch Animal Center: We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your pawsitive thoughts regarding Lucy's health. Dogs are people too. Woof!
PS: Here are the other posts in this series:
Part 1
Part 3
Friday, February 25, 2011
Lucy Has Cancer, Part 1
This is a duplicate post from my Pet Blog. I thought it appropriate to repost since Lucy has been an integral part of my art business. My company name, Good Girl Designs, came about from her...
This is the most difficult post I've written to date. As the title indicates, my little Sweet Pea, Lucy (dog), has cancer. I'm sick over this news.
Last year, Lucy had some developed some roly-poly, jelly-like feeling lumps. They were diagnosed as benign fatty tumors (lipomas). Lucy's vet said they did not operate on them until they interfered with walking or became the size of an orange. Well, the one near Lucy's rib cage enlarged to that size. We visited her vet again and the word, sarcoma, became part of our conversation. I was blown away! I didn't realize lipomas could develop into cancer.
I took Lucy to another vet for a second opinion. There we had blood work drawn and a biopsy for each of the two lumps. The one under her leg is benign and the "orange" is malignant spindle cell sarcoma cancer. (sob, sob)
Next week, Lucy is scheduled for surgery to have both lumps removed. Her prognosis is good if all cells are 100% completely removed. The vet will need to take large margins so it doesn't grow back. This type of cancer does not respond well to chemo. Hopefully, she will not need radiation.
Below you will see Lucy on her bed gnawing on a pink tennis ball. To prepare for surgery, we removed the legs and placed the base on the floor. She has adjusted nicely to the change. Of course, I miss her being at the same height as our bed where we gaze directly into each others eyes every morning. However, this is a small price to pay for her safety while her sutures heal.
Please send your PAWSITIVE thoughts Lucy's way. Thanking you, in advance.
PS: Here are other related posts to this series:
Part 2
Part 3
This is the most difficult post I've written to date. As the title indicates, my little Sweet Pea, Lucy (dog), has cancer. I'm sick over this news.
Last year, Lucy had some developed some roly-poly, jelly-like feeling lumps. They were diagnosed as benign fatty tumors (lipomas). Lucy's vet said they did not operate on them until they interfered with walking or became the size of an orange. Well, the one near Lucy's rib cage enlarged to that size. We visited her vet again and the word, sarcoma, became part of our conversation. I was blown away! I didn't realize lipomas could develop into cancer.
I took Lucy to another vet for a second opinion. There we had blood work drawn and a biopsy for each of the two lumps. The one under her leg is benign and the "orange" is malignant spindle cell sarcoma cancer. (sob, sob)
Next week, Lucy is scheduled for surgery to have both lumps removed. Her prognosis is good if all cells are 100% completely removed. The vet will need to take large margins so it doesn't grow back. This type of cancer does not respond well to chemo. Hopefully, she will not need radiation.
Below you will see Lucy on her bed gnawing on a pink tennis ball. To prepare for surgery, we removed the legs and placed the base on the floor. She has adjusted nicely to the change. Of course, I miss her being at the same height as our bed where we gaze directly into each others eyes every morning. However, this is a small price to pay for her safety while her sutures heal.
PS: Here are other related posts to this series:
Part 2
Part 3
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Imagination Squared Public Art Project, Part 5
Per my previous blog post, the Imagination Squared Public Art Project, which I participated in, now has a permanent location at the Main Branch of the City of Jacksonville (FL) Public Library. Below is a photo of the wall where our canvases will hang. Yee-ha!
Click here to get the details for the opening reception. It is free to the public.
Click here to get the details for the opening reception. It is free to the public.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Imagination Squared Public Art Project, Part 4
BIG news! Last year, I participated in the Imagination Squared Public Art Project. Do you remember my blog posts about it? If not, click on the "parts" below for a refresher in creativity:
An exhibit at MOCA in Jacksonville, FL featured all 900+ squares during the Fall, 2010. Now, the founders of the project have located a "permanent" exhibit space for every participant's art at:
An unveiling reception will take place on:
I am unable to attend the reception. If you go, please be sure to comment at the end of this post to tell those of us who cannot attend about the show.
My donated art piece for the exhibit, "Hip To Be Square", is pictured below:
An exhibit at MOCA in Jacksonville, FL featured all 900+ squares during the Fall, 2010. Now, the founders of the project have located a "permanent" exhibit space for every participant's art at:
The City of Jacksonville Public Library
Main Branch
Conference Center Level
303 N. Laura Street
Jacksonville, FL
An unveiling reception will take place on:
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
6-7pm
I am unable to attend the reception. If you go, please be sure to comment at the end of this post to tell those of us who cannot attend about the show.
My donated art piece for the exhibit, "Hip To Be Square", is pictured below:
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| "Hip To Be Square", © Susan Calvert, all rights reserved |
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