Look at that face.
Heidi, always happy. You would never know what is going on with her just looking at this picture
Three years ago Heidi was diagnosed with Stage one Mast Cell Cancer.
The day we received the diagnosis of the biopsy, I also found two new lumps, one not even 2 cm (1inch) away from her incision site.
A month later she became extremely ill, but we overcame this.
Just after her 10th birthday last year, Heidi started to drag her left hind foot.
We had testing done and found a dip in her spine, but Heidi is also a DM at risk.
We do not know what is causing Heidi's paralysis. Could be a tumor pushing on her spine, could be DM.
We are in that stage were she is totally dependant on us. Dependant to go to bathroom, dependant to be moved around. Dependant on the simple things like peeing and pooping.
Accidents happen, but we make no big deal. Cleaning up is done in no time and as long as we dont make a big deal about it, Heidi is not fazed by it. Supplement are taken but we don't fret about when she spits it out or worry if we do things the right way, we just do with the knowledge we have. Meds are taken and at the moment reduced a Little as she is not showing allergic reactions.
What we mostly do is loving every minute we can helping her. We love having an older dog. She gave us so much. Her loyalty, her loving of life with us, her spunk and most of all her unconditional love. So now we give back.
Just because she is old and infirm doesn't mean she doesnt love life. It doesn't mean she is miserable, and we refuse to let her disease make us miserable.
We take all the moments we can with her. We include her in everything, this means getting her to where we are. It also means hauling her up the stairs every night because her favorite sleeping place is with us upstairs. Every night she just looks up the stairs. And we do it. Sure it breaks our backs but I would never trade it for anything. During her life she made and still makes us so happy. It's the least we can do for her. If that doesn't work anymore one of us will probably sleep with her. Or we carry her upstairs if that's what she wants. (She still has the use of her front legs at the moment).
Don't fret about the small stuff, cuddle some more. Just hang out together, the love you feel is the best thing on earth. Don't let small stuff overshadow this golden time and just relish in the serenity of an older dog.
This is the right thing for us and for her. For as long as she wants too.
Love you Heidi.
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