Dear Forum Members,
Bootsers had a very difficult night last night. She awoke several times during the night, moving from one bed to another trying unsuccessfully to get comfortable. When I woke up this morning, she was sound asleep and stayed that way till nearly 11. She finally got up and wanted to go outside. I escorted her to the door and out onto the landing, then carried her down the 7 steps to the yard. As soon as I put her down, she lost all sense of balance and strength, started to stagger badly, and collapsed. I picked up her limp body and carried her back inside to her bed. She was conscious but unable or unwilling to move. I could tell, though, that she was terribly frightened and perhaps in a lot of pain. She trembled fiercely, and her breathing was labored. I covered her with a light blanket and sat on the floor by her for an hour or so, stroking her face until she started to relax and drift off to sleep. I called Joe and told him it was time to let our girl go. He left work and came home to spend Boots' last day with her. Then I called the vet and told him it was time.
After a few hours, Bootsie got up and walked around the house a little. She was shaky and weak but able to move around a bit. She was thirsty, so I placed a bucket of water in front of her. She was hungry, so I delivered a plate of canned food to her. She had been wanting desperately to lick the skin lesions her cancer had caused, so I removed her muzzle and allowed her to lick to her heart's content. This afternoon she even spent time chewing on a rawhide bone. When she tired of that, I fed her again, and she snuggled up on a bed next to Raggie and the Moondog and slept deeply until the vet arrived an hour ago. She left us, still sleeping next to all those she loved most.
I had hoped the chemo she was to start tomorrow would buy us some more time together, but it came too late.
Our beautiful girl is now free of this cancer-ravaged body, and the warmth of her sweet soul is gracing new territory. There has never been a kinder, more gentle spirit than that of our Bootsie girl. How very lucky we were. How very sad we are.
We will be participating in tonight's Candle Ceremony to help Boots on the next leg of her journey, and I invite anyone so inclined to join in our rememberance tonight. If you are not familiar with the Monday Night Candle Ceremony, you can find details here:
http://www.petloss.com/
Thank you all for your kindness during this time of misery. I have to go comfort the Moondog now, who seems to have just realized Bootsers is gone.
Laurie
