Dear Tracie and Kate:
Max’s battle with cancer ended at 7 p.m. this evening. Unfortunately, cancer won and took my Max from me. He fought with every ounce of strength he had in his very tired body. He wanted to stay with me. But he just couldn’t fight anymore, and I had to give him the peace he deserved. I will love and honor him forever.
Upon returning home, I found the little girl, Heather, who comes to play with my dogs, sitting on my doorstep crying. She had in her hand a paper she said she wrote this morning before leaving for school. Nothing I can write here now can honor the memory of Max more than what this amazing little girl wrote about him. I share it here with you:
Max is one of a kind. Max is now a three-legged dog that makes him even more special. Also, that Max has a long nose makes him special. You could play tug of war with Max, and if you threw the ball he would go and not leave it until he had that ball in his mouth. Max is that dog that is so friendly to anyone even if you don’t know him. When he hears something, he perks his ears up and listens. Max is that dog that you could look down at and say what a dog. You could say so many things about him but it wouldn’t be enough. Max would be so good if he wanted something like a treat or a toy he would just sit there and watch until you would give it to him. Max went through a lot of things, and that is also why he is so special.
Max is 10 years old like me. We had a birthday party for him and Gabriel and the rest of the crew came over to Pam’s house. I made Max a t-shirt that said he was the best dog in the world and I wrote to him on the back. I made him his cake, and Max got the first piece. Max’s birthday is February 8th. He was getting old. I found out on the 8th of June something I didn’t want to hear. Have you ever read the book Marley and Me? Well, Marley did everything different. Marley would jump on people. Max would stand in front of you wagging his tail waiting for you to pet him. There is only one thing that happens the same. If you read the book you will probably cry because I did, and just beware because it is sad. I wrote this all in memory of Max in every Good Amazing way (because there was nothing bad about Max). You would not want to forget Max, the one of a kind dog, because he will remember you forever, too. I also wrote this to remember his birthday, and to say that you could NEVER in history replace HIM in the WORLD. So MAX, THE BEST DOG IN THE WORLD will ALWAYS be here with us FOREVER.
Love Heather
Out of the devastation of losing my Max, some extraordinary beauty has come into my life. This essay from Heather is just one beautiful example.
I am going to sleep now. It will be the first night I will sleep in my own bed in a very long time. In the morning I will try to figure out how to live without Max. It will take awhile, but I know my boy will show me the way.
Goodnight, Max, my Love, my Heart. Sleep peacefully, my Angel.
I am going to sleep now. Tomorrow I will wake up and try to figure out how to live my life without Max.
Max the Golden
Dear Friend,
I am just at the beginning of the journey you already endured. My Sammy also a brave 10 year old golden is stricken with this spleen – liver tumor. When I got the news Tuesday I got a second opinion on Wednesday. I have taken him home for the time being. I do not think I can put him through the surgery. The thing about Sammy is – he is behaving normally except for a little less energy and the pale gums. I have a decision to make. I would do anything for him – I would pay any amount of money. I want to do for him like he has done for me. I too have sleepless nights and tear filled days. I’m so sorry you lost your Max. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to loose my Sammy. I’m very scared. I am so sorry for your loss.
Warm Regards,
Samsmum
Dear Samsmum,
I am so sorry for what you and your boy are going through. In order to help you navigate this last part of his life with you, and to help you understand what he is going through and how to make decisions in his best interests, I can recommend the textbook written by the official Oncologist of DOG TALK, Dr Alice Villalobos. It is called “Canine and Feline Geriatric Oncology” and despite its name, is very helpful to pet owners as well as to vets. Dr. Alice gives you a way to measure the quality of Sammy’s life very day, ways to give him what she calls Pawspice (like Hospice but for pets) so that you can retain quality of life for him, minimum pain, and then know for his particular situation when the time has come to let him go. You can buy the book off Dr.Alice’s page on my website, http://www.TracieHotchner.com and get the author’s discount. The book is still costly (all textbooks re) but it makes a fantastic gift to your vet after you have finished with it because s/he can then help many others on their journey through this difficult time. Enjoy every day and take heart knowing you are not alone.