Blah. Bad news all the way around from this weekend. It's been a long time since I've been to TCS, but I've missed you all, and am going to ask that you pray for us.
Got a call from my mom on Friday night, and my 88 year-old grandfather had his third heart attack this year...AFTER beating bladder cancer at the same time. Fortunately the cancer is gone, but the radiation and chemo did a number on his heart, and he's in critical condition...it really isn't looking too good this time. He does have a way of bouncing back miraculously, so I'm trying to stay positive for him and the rest of my family.
The same evening, our oldest dog, Ginger, collapsed. She's 16 years old, which is nearly unheard of for a large breed...she is starting to loose her toileting skills, and is having frequent accidents in the house, which is always a bad sign. On Saturday, I found her in the middle of the kitchen, her legs sprawled out everywhere, in a puddle of urine. She could not get up, and I hoisted her (okay, I'm only 104 lbs...this dog is about 75 lbs.) into my son's bedroom, as she couldn't walk. I DEMANDED that we take her to an emergency vet, but my husband wouldn't have it...he insisted that we wait until this morning...this led to a horrible argument, and a lot of drama, which left us exhausted emotionally, and mentally. As awful as this sounds, I know he is thinking the worst, as I am. He's basically prolonging the inevitable, and I think he cannot bear the thought of her being euthanized. This dog was here for him before me, and she's older than our children...so I can see where he's coming from there.
However, I truly believe that Ginger is not going to be with us much longer, if not even through tomorrow, when her vet appointment is scheduled at 2:30. Quite honestly, I'm appalled that we've let it go on this long with her, and I feel that we've unneccessarily prolonged her suffering...I will be at work tomorrow when he takes her in to the vet, and I hope he has the kindness and bravery necessary to put Ginger to rest. If it were up to me (and it's not my decision...she's been his dog since practically the beginning of time), I'd take her in now and send her over the Bridge. It's clear to me that she has little to no quality of life left, and she's uncomfortable. My husband, through a combination of selfishness and despair, is putting her through far more than she should have ever had to endure...he's really unable to see what is in her best interest.
Please send some thoughts and prayers our way, and pray that Stu has the strength to let Ginger go.
Got a call from my mom on Friday night, and my 88 year-old grandfather had his third heart attack this year...AFTER beating bladder cancer at the same time. Fortunately the cancer is gone, but the radiation and chemo did a number on his heart, and he's in critical condition...it really isn't looking too good this time. He does have a way of bouncing back miraculously, so I'm trying to stay positive for him and the rest of my family.
The same evening, our oldest dog, Ginger, collapsed. She's 16 years old, which is nearly unheard of for a large breed...she is starting to loose her toileting skills, and is having frequent accidents in the house, which is always a bad sign. On Saturday, I found her in the middle of the kitchen, her legs sprawled out everywhere, in a puddle of urine. She could not get up, and I hoisted her (okay, I'm only 104 lbs...this dog is about 75 lbs.) into my son's bedroom, as she couldn't walk. I DEMANDED that we take her to an emergency vet, but my husband wouldn't have it...he insisted that we wait until this morning...this led to a horrible argument, and a lot of drama, which left us exhausted emotionally, and mentally. As awful as this sounds, I know he is thinking the worst, as I am. He's basically prolonging the inevitable, and I think he cannot bear the thought of her being euthanized. This dog was here for him before me, and she's older than our children...so I can see where he's coming from there.
However, I truly believe that Ginger is not going to be with us much longer, if not even through tomorrow, when her vet appointment is scheduled at 2:30. Quite honestly, I'm appalled that we've let it go on this long with her, and I feel that we've unneccessarily prolonged her suffering...I will be at work tomorrow when he takes her in to the vet, and I hope he has the kindness and bravery necessary to put Ginger to rest. If it were up to me (and it's not my decision...she's been his dog since practically the beginning of time), I'd take her in now and send her over the Bridge. It's clear to me that she has little to no quality of life left, and she's uncomfortable. My husband, through a combination of selfishness and despair, is putting her through far more than she should have ever had to endure...he's really unable to see what is in her best interest.
Please send some thoughts and prayers our way, and pray that Stu has the strength to let Ginger go.