Montana

Unfortunately, Montana does indeed have a brain tumor. It is probably a meningioma, based on its appearance and location. They are benign (unlikely to spread) but physiologically malignant since they grow in a contained space and push out healthy tissue.

The good news is that so far Montana does not have any other symptoms other than the seizures, and I can control that (for now) with the phenobarb. I guess she could have headaches but I can't tell.

This tumor is in a location that makes surgery a possibility, however, it really doesn't significantly lengthen her long term life expectancy, is extremely risky, and incredibly expensive (like cash out your money market or take out a home equity loan). Besides, Anthony and I are in agreement that we do now want to put her through that. Above all, I don't want to change her sweet personality, and I'm afraid someone opening up her skull and cutting things out of her frontal lobe would do that. Not worth it for maybe 6 more months, with a real, palpable risk she could die on the table.

I don't want to lose Montana because she is so sweet, because I wanted her for so long, but also because she is so good. She is patient and tolerant with the kids, with all children. She is very well mannered. When I bring her to work, everyone loves her, and she stays in the office with the door open, and is a good work guest.

Plus, she is a beautiful dog, with "Breck" hair! It just falls in place, and - truly - repels mud and dirt!

We hope to get 6-12 more months with her. Meanwhile, she is sleeping a lot and shuffling her feet around the house (from the phenobarb).

I have held it together until today. Even though I instinctively knew it was a tumor when Jessica called me during Montana's first seizure, I haven't cried until today, faced with the confirmation of our dreadful suspicion and discussing the crappy options.

And, she's only 10, and we just lost Terlingua 1 year ago.