The end is here…walking across the rainbow bridge!

4/12/16

We ended up coming to my house last night as I wanted Jackson to be home & I was hoping this would help Jackson be more settled. Yet early this morning Jackson woke at 2:30 am again crying out & then settled back to sleep, when I woke I found him under his favorite place the coffee table sleeping.  I found two BM on his bed & realized that the end was here as he couldn’t control his bowl movements anymore. I called the vet not wanting to think of the inevitable to come, she confirmed it must be related to the nerve issue & stated if he couldn’t go pee & the bathroom today we would have to bring him in.  The tears started flowing & wouldn’t stop as I sat next to Jackson & whispered in his ear that it was going to be ok that he was going to be at peace soon.  I knew he was listening as he let out a couple of big sighs & adjusted himself into a better position on the rug.  I began to do Reiki on his bladder & back trying to help him relax, which he did.  The true test would come when we went outside to see if he could pee.

As afternoon approached we went outside, it had begun to rain slightly  but I was determined to see if he would pee. We walked gingerly around the back of the yard as Jackson’s gait had gotten worse in the last couple of days, his “Get Him Up” harness was helping like so many times before.  His nose in the air he sniffed the squirrel as it passed overhead on a tree branch, then he peed a dribble here then there but nothing like normal.

I made the call to Steve & waited for him to get to my house from work. The rest as you all know is the hardest thing we ever have to do to our furry friends.  I whispered in Jackson’s ear that he would soon be chasing squirrels, eating crabs, swimming in the ocean & chewing piles of sticks, as a Cancer FREE & Happy dog.  I told him to look out for my dog’s from youth Brandy & Boggs along with his cousins Bo & Gus who had just past away in the last couple of years, they would be his pack and would greet him.  I thanked him for the almost 11 years (his birthday would have been in May) of cherished memories together and giving me the world.  He went peacefully and we buried him in my parents back yard alongside his family pack.

I say goodbye to my best friend, my buddy, my partner in crime, my child that I never had, my companion and my guardian angel. I feel so blessed and honored to be his student and learn some of life’s precious lessons from him. We went through more in the past 11 yrs than most people do in a lifetime, from divorce and heartache, to joy, happiness and love. He played an integral role my daily life, he was more than just a dog (as most of you know who are going through this journey) he has taken a piece of my heart with him.
I am forever grateful to have been graced by his presence and I don’t regret the past almost 7 months. If I had to do it all over again I would just to give him the quality of life
that he deserved so much and to try to beat the odds of cancer!   Just to see the little smile that came across the jowls of his jaw was priceless and the excitement and joy he expressed when he would go swimming was something I’ll never forget.
Jackson run Free, chase squirrels, chew sticks, eat crabs and swim to your hearts content ~ your free of pain and worry and at peace. I Love You to the moon and back ~ Maw

IMG_0052
Jackson homecoming ~ adoption day Sept. 2005
IMG_0918
Jackson doing what he loved ~ eating crabs at the beach!
2012-05-12 002
Jackson on his one of many hikes in the woods with his prized possession ~ his stick!
Jackson as a puppy!
Jackson as a puppy!
Jackson swimming w stick 07IMG_1170
Swim, swim, swim to your hearts content!
IMAG0150
Jackson until we meet again!

 

2nd Zoledronate Treatment…staying positive!

2/4/16

Today was Jackson’s 2nd treatment with Zoledronate we saw Dr. S and he stated tonight they would be doing the treatment a little differently with a different kind of pump.  He commented that we could continue with this treatment as long as Jackson was gaining some pain relief and it was improving the quality of his life.  In re: to the supposed bone re-growth that it states it says it does, how do you measure this? Unfortunately I have noticed Jackson is losing muscle mass in the right front bad leg even though he continues to put weight on it, I’m cautious not wanting him to injury this leg further.  So we’ll have to wait and see how round # 2 goes and whether it continues to help him.

Trying to keep Jackson comfortable before treatment begins
Trying to keep Jackson comfortable before treatment begins

In the past they would take Jackson out of the room to place the IV and then bring  him back in for me to be with him while he had his treatment, but tonight they stated I could stay if I’d like, which I decided would be a good idea from last time.  This technician we had met one other time, so she was fairly new to us.  She got Jackson to sit on a big comforter and began to set the IV in the left leg (the good leg), unfortunately she wasn’t able to get a good vein on the first try so she had to shave a 2nd patch of fur up the leg to get a better vein.  He was such a good patient staying completely still while the other tech held him in place.

 

Once the IV was set she hooked up the Zoledronic acid and said it would take about 15min for the pump to administer the medication.  She left the room and I tried to keep Jackson comfortable, yet he kept wanting to try to get up as I could tell he was uncomfortable panting and breathing heavy, all signs of distress.   She returned to the room to check on us but as she looked at the pump she seemed a little perplexed and proceeded to get another technician from the hospital to come in and check on things. Come to find out she had miscalculated and set the pump using Dr. S. calculations, so it was dripping the medication at a rate that would have taken 5hours to administer, luckily the other tech. reset the pump and we were on our way.  Phew thank God as I wouldn’t have wanted to be sitting their for hours.

Waiting patiently for the treatment to end!
Waiting patiently for the treatment to end!

Jackson 2nd Zoledronate tx 2-5-16.JPG3Jackson continued to be unsettled and at one point he rested his head on my thigh and looked up at me something he’s never really done before.   As I sit with him I try some Reiki thinking that might help him relax but this time it seemed to not help at all, he continued panting and feeling restless.

 

 

 

 

 
Once the treatment was over I went outside to get Jackson in the car and I proceeded to step in some other dogs poop, yep disgusting in every way it was all over the bottom of my boot, yuck!! Why don’t dog owners have the courtesy of picking up after their dogs?  Anyways, it has been a long day time to head home and get some rest.