In January we noticed she had developed a lump on her right front leg. She began to lick and snitch at it, making it raw. So we took her to the vet and it was diagnosed as a hot spot. Common. Antibiotics and spray were prescribed and we got a cone for her so she wouldn't bother it.
Time went by. The lump got bigger. She continued to mess with it, even with the cone, and it began to bleed. She limped around and it seemed to bother her. So Amy took her back to the vet. It was a tumor of some sort. We decided to have it removed so she could get out of the cone and return to normal. That appointment was yesterday.
After school Amy called me. The vet had called her midday. They didn't like the look of the tumor, it had grown a bit in the week since they'd last seen her. There were more, smaller ones, up her leg and on her chest. A quick biopsy proved what we'd feared. It was Cancer. The tumor was inoperable due to it's size and the fact that it was a mast cell. Removing it would only cause the Cancer to spread more quickly. Given the other tumors it was likely they were present internally as well. So the decision was made. To help her. To put her out of her pain and discomfort. The humane choice, but definitely not the easiest.
Amy had been having an uneasy feeling all week. She seems to have a 6th sense for things. Just one of her many awesome traits. I guess I knew too, I just didn't want to think about it. She had been more irritable toward us and the kids lately. She had been sleeping a lot, was very lethargic, and just not herself. It was time. It was right.
So, Amy made the appointment with another vet and picked her up. We brought the kids together with her and told them. To let them say goodbye. Braeden took it very hard. Jackson, as usual, was just quiet and aloof about it. But it will come out eventually. He just processes differently. The requested a picture with her, one last time. Tearfully I obliged. Amanda then took them so Amy and I could take her to the vet.
No details. It was hard. Very hard. But it was right.
But in all things HE works for the best. The funny thing is is that she was originally scheduled to have the surgery on Thursday, but I totally forgot and fed her breakfast. Yikes. This caused us to have to reschedule for yesterday. HE knew. Thursday would have been too hard. This way we could have the time to say goodbye and mourn over the weekend without worrying about returning to school the next day.
She was an amazing dog. 10 years old nearly. She's been with Amy and I our entire married life. We got her in New Orleans after our first miscarriage. She helped us through that. She was with us when we needlessly evacuated from Hurricane Ivan, keeping us company for the 14 hour car ride. She evacuated with us for Katrina. 3 moves. 3 children. 2 more miscarriages. Road trips. Vacations. Good times. Bad times. She's been with us through it all.
So it's odd not having her around. Not having her underfoot when cooking and eating. Not having her bound around the house. Not hearing her snore loudly. Not here to kick her water bowl and fuss to remind me she's thirsty. It's different.
Rex is doing better than we'd expected. He knows something is different though. He follows us around the house if we move. Lays very near to us if we sit. He was very attached to her too. She was a great big sister. We will see how he continues to handle it. He is naturally an anxious and timid dog, so this will likely be something he has trouble with. But we are all in it together.
Last night we prayed as usual. We thanked Him for Lucy. Thankful for the decade of crazy fun she brought to us. Thankful for the unconditional love and loyalty she gave us all. Thankful for her.
So, here we are now. Going on. Moving forward. Time will heal us. Slowly, but it will. She was a great dog. She will be missed and forever loved.
All is well, mourning, in Drosche Land.
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| Lucy |
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| The kids and their photo |
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