Last Wednesday my 13 year old American Eskimo stopped being able to raise her head properly and began to list to the side. She was terrified and so were we.
The vet (Dr. Sorenson of the Rose Hill Animal Hospital) told us that it was likely one of two things that was wrong with her: vestibular syndrome (which could clear up in a week and is common among geriatric dogs) or a brain tumour. Leia stayed at the hospital so she could be observed.
Thursday night I gave Leia a visit. We laid on the floor at the hospital. She was unable to stand without help, urinated uncontrollably and wasn't able to lift her head properly.
Friday night the vet asked me to take Leia home for the weekend. Knowing she was pretty high strung she thought she'd do better recovering at home. When I got there Dr. Sorenson didn't pull any punches. She told me that Leia's eyes were dilating and constricting considerably and were tracking whether she was awake or asleep. The doc told me that this was more consistent with a brain tumour, but that we should wait the weekend to be completely sure. An x-ray wouldn't reveal a tumour. An MRI could, but it would cost $3k. There is no treatment for a geriatric dog with a brain tumour so it was best to wait out the weekend.
It was simply the worst weekend of my life. She was clearly being brave at home. She slept on our bed. Periodically getting up to give us a smile. She refused food and most water. When she did take water she often threw it up.
Being the dog lovers we are the family held vigil at her bedside in a way that we never would for a person. My parents came over. We all took turns talking to her, petting her, carrying her outside to sit in the grass when it wasn't raining (that would always get a swish of her now limp tail).
I have never wept, sobbed and choked so much in all my life. This is not the first dog I've lost in my life, but for some reason the most tragic. She was the trial run for Jackie and I as parents. She was a problem child through her teen years (once digging a hole through the plaster and lath to escape our 1920s foyer and gain entrance to the living room - eating ALL of the carpets off the stairs - knocking birds from the air with her paws to make a snack of them). She was my constant companion when I moved to Seattle ahead of Jackie and Henry's emigration from Canada - we discovered Washington together: walking through parks, hiking trails and going for drives together. We HORRIFIED every sushi chef on Seattle's east side by sharing sushi - her absolute favourite food in the world. When Henry and Jackie joined me in Washington she guarded Henry's room every night. No one came between the dog and the boy without blood being drawn. She aged well into a prancing, mellowed companion whose company I enjoyed every day.
The last few months there were changes we put down to old age. Some incontinence, getting a bit bitey and cranky, periodic hearing loss... in retrospect it all adds up.
I'm so pleased that her quality of life was good until so recently given that it could have been painful and we'd be none-the-wiser.
Taking her to Dr. Sorenson this morning was a huge relief to Jackie and I. Leia was clearly spent sleeping almost all the way to the vet. She laid down quietly and almost immediately on the blanket. The doc talked Jackie through the process and in less than 30 seconds it was over very quietly. We spent a quiet moment with her and let her go.
I will always miss you, Leia. You were all I could have asked of a family guardian and companion. My heart is broken but I am relieved that you're not suffering. I will mend. I don't believe in an afterlife, but if this was a fair universe you'd get your fill of sushi and wild birds, fields to romp in and someone to rub your belly.
Adieu.
My opinion is important. I like to burn books, assassinate journalists and write slander.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Time with the boy
I think my favourite part of every day was right after dark. I grabbed by tripod, my release cable, camera and boy and headed for the beach.
Henry doesn't take too much interest in photography unless we're doing long exposures, staying up past his bedtime or something like that.
I set the camera up, gave Henry my watch and the shutter release and told him how long I wanted each exposure. He had a great time seeing how the time effected each image. He was mostly just doing it to see how accurately he was nailing the timing. I don't care what was in it for him it was great to have him with me.
The Caipirinha
The Caipirinha is one of my favourite cocktails and they were on the menu at our resort. The first time I had one was in Greece. I was chatting and drinking with some of the Brazilian and Philappino crew members who were gulping these down by the pitcher.
The Caipirinha is made from cachaça (Brazil's answer to rum), limes, ice and sugar.
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