Meeting with the oncologist Thursday and we will discuss what Sam’s osteosarcoma treatment will be.
Every day we see more signs of our old dog returning.
Today, he showed interest in chasing tennis balls again. Every Golden Retriever knows that any tennis ball must be placed within throwing distance of the nearest human as frequently as possible.
While he still has flashes of what we assume is phantom leg pain, he doesn’t complain. He’s happy when we are home, he’s glad to nap when we aren’t and he shows no sign of feeling sorry for himself or angry that he doesn’t have his leg anymore.
Occasionally, you can see some frustration while he’s trying to figure out how to navigate a tough area or solve a problem that was easily handled with four feet. That said, he’s very proud of himself when he figures it out.
Noted author and Haiku poet R.H. Blyth had this to say about dogs:
“The puppy even more than the mature dog takes each day, each moment as it comes.
It does not
look before and after
And pine for what is not.
When it is warm, it basks in the sun; when it rains, it
whimpers to be let in. There is nothing between the
sun and the puppy, the rain and the whimper.”
I try to imagine what my reaction would be if my arm was removed up to the scapula. I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be as amazing as Sam’s adjustment.
The tennis ball dropped at my feet by a smiling retriever today reminds me to be glad to live in this moment, right now.
You can learn a lot from a red fluffball with three legs.
-Sam’s Dad.
Absolutely! Our dogs are amazing in how they get on with adapting to changes and living their lives. I love the poem.
Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! Love the entries – It nice since Sam’s parents are such great writers!
Hey at least you don’t have to be a conehead. I hated that and no one could hug me.
Here! Here! When you first start out on this journey, it’s so hard to see that something good can come of all of it, but what it really does is teach humans how to really live in the Now, and not make big deals out of little things that take away from enjoying every moment together as a pack.
So happy to hear Sam is coming back to his old self!