Lucky had a great thanksgiving. We overcooked the turkey but she didn't care! She is getting more quiet during the day but still has long moments of perkiness and enjoys her walks. Nights are awful - she is up every hour standing to catch her breath, but then she lays back down and makes it until 4:00ish before she has to go outside. I talked to the vet and he again told me it is because of the prednisone that we are getting this extra time. We are still giving her antioxidant foods and I have to believe that they are also helping. I am so thankful to have this time - this thanksgiving was a time to count blessings.
November 30, 2002
Although she was up every hour catching her breath, she slept until 6:30 this morning. Lucky is still wagging her tail and enjoys her walks. But her gums are starting to lose their pinkness and that is the first sign that her blood is not getting enough oxygen. She is losing weight but her appetite and vital signs are still good. She got a roast beef sandwich today for a treat and the doggie smile was big and happy.
December 5, 2002
Sorry for the break in updates. I've been sick with Lyme disease of all things. Our furbaby is still with us and we are now into the 4th week. Her will to live is strong. She has lost weight, and stumbles at times when she walks, but her breathing has seemed to find a shallow rhythm and for now is stable. We are so happy she has had a snowfall to enjoy. She would not be left behind when we took Indie for a walk, so we kept the pace slow and rested often. She is still showing good appetite and regularity. Every day is a blessing to have her still with us.
December 9, 2002
I took Lucky for a walk in the mountains today. Instead of falling leaves we had crunchy white snow and the stillness in the air that only a cold crisp morning can bring. She was so happy to be out there but we could only walk for 15 minutes and then had to turn back. She is stumbling a lot more now and getting weaker. Yet this morning when she woke up she stretched and wagged her tail and was so happy. Although her appetite is still good, she is having difficulty swallowing and I am handfeeding her.
December 11,2002
Yesterday she rebounded, took a long walk, and had energy plus during the day, and loss of energy during the night. Almost didn't make it up the stairs and it took her several hours of restless standing to catch her breath then she was down for the night. Today she is holding her own in the slippery ice outside. My pup is holding her own for now.
I am in awe of Lucky's will to live. I am creating another page of our chronicle with her.
* Page of beautiful links
* First page of chronicle
* Lucky's poem