There are two days left to this year. While time continues to fly faster all of the time, this year had challenges which made many days seem very long to get through. In retrospect, it wasn't much time at all. Last year at this time we were scheduling George's amputation as a way to save his life from osteosarcoma. I had intended to blog with regularity about George's progress but life gets in the way sometimes.
George did well after surgery. Bounced back like we expected him too. Adjusted to life as a tri-paw. I did all of his cooking, fixing him wonderful meals of oatmeal, chicken livers, kale, other fresh veggies and protein. He loved it! George loved to eat. I bought him every supplement and holistic med I could find and he took them all like a trooper. I researched, bought books and followed online holistic vets protocol for Osteosarcoma. We did not do chemo, George was a bully and not one to hang around quietly in a Vet office waiting for treatment. I made the best decisions I could for him and for us. Will all of the fresh veggies and herbs George took out most of my hostas in the Spring, probably thinking they tasted like fresh asparagus which was one of his favorite vegetables.
George and his bestie, Nala continued to run after and attempt to catch all the squirrels which frequent our yard. He hopped about and warned everyone who walked by the yard of how big and bad he still was. He had a good year, was very spoiled and very loved.
Very unexpectedly, Nala got sick around Labor Day. She had a very bad UTI and was wheezing. The Vet gave her some antibiotics and said to call if the wheezing didn't improve. She continued to get worse and we were very concerned. At the same time George seemed to be in a little pain but Nala was the main concern and we brought her back to the Vet. The wheezing was very bad and I asked him to do a chest x-ray. In my heart of hearts I expected the worst and my suspicions were confirmed. Nala's chest was full of cancer. There was nothing to be done. We have no idea where the primary tumor was as the lung cancer was most likely metastasis from somewhere. She went home with some prednisone to increase her appetite and we tried our best to make her comfortable. By the end of the following week a heart-breaking family meeting had us making the decision to relieve her from her suffering. The next morning, Sat., we were to take her to the Vet. I woke up after a very difficult night listening to her labored breathing and began to get ready when something happened and she passed away right before me. I held onto her and cried and told her it was ok. George whined from on top of my bed and didn't know what was wrong. Nala left us on September 13, 2014 - it was only 10 days from when we discovered she had cancer and she was just 7 years old.
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It was hard to tell how George was affected. He didn't seem to recognize the place in the yard as Nala's resting place. It continued to seem as if he had pain, mostly in the middle of the night when he tried to roll over on my bed. I wasn't sure if it was his joints because he was a tripaw or something else. He also had coughed a couple of times. I gave him some pain killers and that seemed to help. I lost track of when things happened. Within a couple of weeks I think of Nala's passing I brought George in to address the pain. The Vet said he thought he had a strained knee and we put George on an anti-inflammatory for a few days. George was better but when the meds were gone he was very much worse, was very depressed and even his food didn't make him happy. I brought George back to the Vet saying I wanted chest x-rays for his now more frequent cough, blood work, everything. I left him at the Vet not wanting the news I was expecting. The Vet called me at work not wanting me to wait any longer. Yes, the cancer that we tried to eliminate with the amputation had metastasized to his lungs. He had cancerous lumps in his lungs and a very concerning large mass which was pressing against his trachea causing the cough.
I brought George home and managed his pain very well with the anti-inflammatory and pain meds. He was actually happy. Happily eating again, I took him for rides in the car and he enjoyed the autumn colors. I prayed over him for healing every day which I had been for the last 11 months. Time went by and aside for the occasional cough, I wondered when he would get sicker.
I came home on Wednesday, November 5th and George was gone. I found him laying peacefully on the floor. I was devastated but in reality it didn't appear as though he had suffered. My son said he had just left him 90 minutes prior and that George had a good day. I'm sure his heart or something gave out, I know mine did. George left us Nov 5, 2014, 10 weeks after his beloved Nala, he was just 4 years old.
We placed him in the yard next to Nala and I'm sure they are keeping each other company and chasing squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits somewhere fun.
My sister had a star named after them and registered for us for Christmas this year. I think it is the most awesome gift. I miss them terribly and while I have awesome memories, the tears still flow freely. I think it was Anne Lamott who said let the tears flow, then they can fall to the ground and the earth and allow something new to grow.
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