Seymour has always met the world with quiet trust, the kind of dog who believes things will be okay, even when they aren’t. Time and time again, he has shown us just how strong he is, moving through every challenge with a calm resilience that makes you believe he can get through anything.
In 2023, a persistent cough and retch led us to X-rays we thought would bring simple answers. Instead, they revealed a thoracic mass. The team at SASH North Ryde moved quickly, and we were soon meeting surgical oncologist Dr Tristram Bennett. A CT scan confirmed a thymoma, and after thorough testing, Seymour underwent major open-chest surgery to remove it.
He blew everyone away with his recovery, eating his dinner the night of surgery and being discharged the following day. It was remarkable, and a true reflection of both his gentle strength and the exceptional skill and care of the SASH team.
Although the surgery was successful, Seymour’s coughing continued. In the end, the thymoma turned out to be an incidental finding, but one we were incredibly grateful to have discovered and removed.
Our journey continued with the SASH Medicine team, and in September 2024, further investigations for the ongoing retching led to another CT scan. To our devastation, it revealed a bone tumour in Seymour’s left shoulder, another incidental finding. He wasn’t even limping.
Following this osteosarcoma diagnosis, we were referred to oncologist Dr Veronica, who guided us through our options with honesty and compassion. We were told Seymour had an estimated 10 to 12 months to live with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. With his intervertebral disc disease, amputation wasn’t right for him, so Seymour began six rounds of chemotherapy and two rounds of radiation.
He completed every treatment proudly, carrying his favourite green teddy bear to each visit. His final treatment at SASH North Ryde fell on his 13th birthday, and the team surprised him with a birthday celebration. Despite everything he was facing, Seymour won the hearts of everyone at SASH, greeting staff like old friends and soaking up every bit of love and attention. His strength, gentleness, and unmistakable charm made him unforgettable.
After moving to Queensland, Seymour once again found himself under SASH’s care, this time at SASH Gold Coast, where he received intensive treatment for severe gastrointestinal disease. Their round-the-clock care has brought him back to stability once more.
It has now been 14 months since Seymour’s osteosarcoma diagnosis, and every extra week feels like a miracle. We are forever grateful to SASH Sydney and SASH Gold Coast for giving us more time, more memories, and more life with the special dog we love.
– North Ryde NSW
