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Our Boston Terrier, Buster, is 9-1/2 years old and we count every day with him another blessing from God. You see, Buster was diagnosed with osceosarcoma (bone cancer) on his front right leg 21 months ago. After much agonizing, we decided to keep Buster with us as long as we could and we chose to amputate his leg and follow with 6 rounds of chemostherapy. Now, this was a very hard decision and Buster wasn't much help except for the fact that he couldn't even bare for someone to touch his leg or couldn't even begin to stand on it.

At this time we lived in Georgia so we had taken Buster to the University of Georgia Veternarian Teaching Hospital after his diagnosis by our local vet. The doctors there told us that Buster would live 2-3 months in a lot of pain if we did nothing. If we amputated only, he would get 5-6 months. Chemotherapy might add another 6 months giving Buster another year with us.

Every trip to the UGA hospital was 3 hours, but Buster always went like a trooper. After his amputation, the teaching students had become so attached to him that when they brought him out to see us the first time, his bandages were red with a big black #1 on top with his name. They said he was an official Georgia Dawg.

Shortly after his amputation, Buster developed two mast cell tumors which affects his immunity system. His chemotherapy was interrupted while he received a course in prednisone, benadryl and had the tumors surgically removed. Once again, he came through with flying colors.

We moved to Oklahoma last May and we have found a wonderful, caring doctor at Neel Veterinary Clinic in OKC. Her name is Dr. Casey and once again we feel we have been blessed to find such a knowledgeable, caring doctor. She has continued to watch Buster's health and to keep him going strong. She even calls between appointments to check on him!

I may not be expressing how much Buster means to us so far, but he is our family's hero. He has had some really tough medical setbacks the last two years, but he never fails to greet us when we come home, give us big slurpy dog kisses and stay right by our side. He was given 12 months, but we are going on 21 months. Only 10% of dogs diagnosed with osceosarcoma make it two years, but our hero is going to do it!