Woo Hoo. We Made It to Remission.

May is almost over, and this is our last cancer-focused post for Pet Cancer Awareness Month. I wanted to end where the story ended best.

---

The Day Everything Got Lighter

Remission isn't exactly a place on a map, but we treated it like one. We had a destination. We had a route. And Grover finished his last Wisconsin Protocol treatment right on schedule — on his seventh birthday.

Not the most glamorous way to spend a birthday, but what a present.

Something shifts when you get that news. Everything feels lighter — even the vet visits. We went from carrying the full mental weight of active treatment all the way down to monthly check-ups: a CBC and a routine lymph node check.

I remember thinking, that's it???

I should mention: Grover was breathing just fine the whole time. I was the one having trouble with that part. There are certain days during treatment where I think I held my breath more than I actually breathed. Not recommended — but sometimes it's just what happens when you love something that much.

With both of us finally feeling footloose and fancy-free, we celebrated. Grover — with the very gracious help of my American Express 💳 — threw a proper party. Friends, family, cocktails. Turning seven and being in remission deserved nothing less. 😉

Remission, regardless of how long it lasts, is one of the best feelings there is. Celebrate it every single day.

---

The List That Got Us There

While we were in the thick of treatment, I put together what I called our best do's and don'ts list. One thing worth knowing before you read it: panic appears on both lists. I stand by that completely.

DO:

✅ Breathe.

✅ Research.

✅ Pay attention.

✅ Listen to your inside voice.

✅ Exercise. Play. Love.

✅ Supplements.

✅ Mobile grooming.

✅ In-home pet care.

✅ Routine checks.

😨 Panic (it's passion plus anxiety, and it's allowed). Have a cocktail. It helps.

DON'T:

❌ Vaccinate during treatment (talk to your vet, they'll explain it).

❌ Visit dog parks.

❌ Use doggy daycare or boarding.

❌ Use grooming salons.

❌ Feed wheat, soy, or corn. Panic.

❌ Miss a single moment.

The thinking behind most of the don'ts was simple: limit outside exposure so the immune system could put all of its energy toward fighting the cancer.

The less it had to battle on the outside, the more it had for the inside.

And don't miss a moment means exactly what it says.

---

One More Thing This Week

I'm posting a short video this Saturday that walks through this list and a little more of the remission story. If any of this month's content has been useful to you, you'll want to catch it.

This month was heavier than our usual content — and I mean that in the best possible way. If Grover's story helped even one person feel less alone during a hard time with their dog, that's worth everything.

Happy Aire exists because of him and 10% PERCENT of our profits go to canine cancer research at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, because finding a cure and better treatments are the whole point.

Come see what we've built in his memory at www.happyaire.com.

With love and a wagging tail,

Kim Opdyke  💗