Hope, Windy and Jake like perching on the ottoman in front of the bay window.

Between today and Friday we may see some side effects of the chemotherapy, but far so good.

Hope will get weekly treatments for between 19 and 25 weeks. She came home with four medications (one is in case she needs her appetite stimulated), and three more I need to fill: Cipro to start Friday and two more just in case. Thus far she has been great at taking her pills.

We weighed the possible outcomes verses the time and effort to go through all this. Hope cannot be cured, but we will try for a remission. If all goes well, we can get her a year. Only 20 percent of all dogs with lymphoma are alive two years after diagnosis, according to the paperwork from the oncology vet.

Hope will not need a port in a vein, an e-collar or time in a crate—all things we would not do because we think that would be too hard on her remaining time.

Jake and Windy were happy to see her Monday. After she walked in the door they had to have their noses up her butt to make sure Hope was Hope.

Yes, this will be expensive. We are dumping the two-week vacation we had planned to pay for Hope’s treatment. We will not lounge on a cruise ship while our little girl would be dying. We have to try, but we promise we will not make her suffer because we want to keep her around.