Mama Diaries

Thursday, June 27, 2019

IWSG and Poor Puppy

I know I'm a little early for the IWSG post. Even more so than usual. But next week I'm moving. Who knows when I'll be online again. Hopefully, it will be in time for August's IWSG.

 This month's question is:  What personality traits of your own have you inserted into a character in your story?

Well, in my book,  Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China, I've used some of my children's personality traits. Not exactly the way they are, but similar. Bubba, like my son, is personable and someone who thinks outside of the box. In his younger years, he tended to be impulsive, like the character in the story. Squirt, like my daughter, is the responsible older one, always watching out for her brother and taking care of others. The mom in the book, although she doesn't make much of an appearance, is like me. Practical, observant, and always busy doing something.

Now for the story about Schultz, the poor puppy.

Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook know that Schultz, our 115-pound German Shepherd, and subject of many stories here, has bone cancer.


We are heartbroken.

A few weeks ago, he started limping. We thought he had sprained his leg either jumping out of the car or running around chasing the flashlight.  We took him to the vet who took X-rays. It appeared he had no broken bones, so he was sent home with some pain killers.

A week later, the vet called back. He checked the X-rays again and was concerned about a shadow he saw along the bone. He thought it might be indicative of cancer.  He referred us to a specialist. The specialist took a super-powerful X-ray and said, "Yep. It's cancer." Poor Schultz has a tumor inside the bone that is growing and pushing it out.

The cancer is aggressive. If we did nothing, he would have only three months to live.

We had a decision to make:  Give Schultz radiation and painkillers to keep the pain under control as long as we could until we had to put him down, or amputate the leg. X-rays showed that Schultz's lungs were clear, so cancer had not metastasized to there. We don't know if it's anywhere else. Schultz was a candidate for amputation which may save his life, at least for another year or two. He may also need eight weeks of chemo on top of that. The whole thing is a gamble.

It is difficult to imagine Schultz as a three-legged dog. Especially since he loves running around, chasing things, and climbing up and down stairs to visit everybody. Probably, if it was up to me, I would have done the first option. Keep him as comfortable as possible and put him down when it was time. But the kids couldn't bear to lose their dog yet, especially since we've got a lot of other rotten things going on right now. They opted for amputation.

So, as I write this, Mr. Schultz is at the doggy hospital prepping for surgery. When  I see him tomorrow, he will have only three legs. Hopefully, he'll adjust well, and hopefully, it won't be too painful for us to see him that way. 

Whenever I come back, I'll let you know how it all went.

63 comments:

  1. I feel for you, your family, and Schultz. It's so hard to have an animal hurting. Dogs are resilient, so I'm sure he'll be up and running around in no time, even with just three legs.

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    1. I've heard dogs are very resilient. Hopefully that will be the case for Schultz.

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  2. Holy Hell! Poor Schultz! And poor you, deary, where are you moving? What are these dark clouds swarming around your house, lately? I hate it when it never rains but pours!

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    1. These dark clouds have been swarming for years. I'll be moving about twenty minutes west of my current location, and hopefully it will be "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"!

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  3. Sherry, it makes me very sad to learn this news about your gentle giant Schultz. I am truly sorry. I pray that his surgical procedure goes well and that it gives him a new lease on life. Dogs have resilient spirits. I believe Schultz will bounce back and adjustment to his new normal.

    I hope your move goes smoothly, dear friend. I sense that you are long overdue for some peace and stability in your world.

    Prayers offered for Schultz. Please keep us posted.

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    1. Yes, I was long overdue for peace. But now I have it. And it's good!

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  4. I'm sorry! What a hard decision to make.
    You'd be surprised how quickly animals adapt. He might be just as fast on three legs.
    Prayers for your whole family.

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    1. He's very fast! Now that he has the hang of it, he's faster than ever.

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  5. My heart aches for Schultz and for his family. May he heal, because dogs are pure love and should get such.
    Wishing you a smooth move.

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    1. He has healed well. He's able to get around, although he still can't go down stairs. That's a challenge!

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  6. I'm so sorry to hear about your puppy struggles. I have two dogs of my own, one I've had longer than I've been married. I hope things pull through for Schultz.

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    1. The surgery went well. He's getting around much better. Chemo is taking a bit out of him, but hopefully it will be worth it.

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  7. I'm so sorry. From what I understand, three-legged dogs get around just fine, so I'm sure Schultz will be running around same as before once he recovers. That was a difficult decision, I'm sure.

    Good luck with your move. I hope it's a positive one. Moving sucks, no matter the reason.

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    1. This is my 14th move. I suspect I'll have at least one more in my future, but I do like my new place.

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  8. Awe . . Hugs to you, the kids and to Schultz. Like Liz here says, there are some dogs with three legs, one eye or even one ear. Hopefully all will go well with the surgery and Schultz will be back to normal. Take care of yourself, eat well and try to get sleep as normal as you can as times like these, (I mean move and all) take a lot out of us.

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    1. Schultz is getting around well. It took a couple of weeks, but he's faster than ever now.

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  9. Animals can adapt rather quickly, but doesn't make it any easier. Hopefully the poor guy pulls through and is a happy camper once more. Hope the move goes well, those are never fun.

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    1. He did pull through. The move went well and I like my new place!

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  10. Good luck with your move. That is a hard choice for your dog. I hope it goes well. My boyfriend's dog has aggressive lymphnoma and we will probably have to put him down soon. So far he's doing okay though.

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    1. It's so sad when you have to put an animal down. They are like part of the family.

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  11. Hoping all went well for Schultz. Do keep us updated.

    What an interesting topic.

    Mr T lived (his mother still does) around the corner from a woman who went on to write some popular and fairly well known crime novels. Set in the area in which they/she lived there was uproar when though names had been changed people recognised themselves/people they knew.

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    1. Schultz is doing better. I've posted about him in the one after this.

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  12. Thank you for sharing your heart, Sherry.
    And I am so very sorry that you had to make a difficult decision regarding poor sweet Shultz. I hope all went well with his operation. You are a great Mama!
    I will continue to pray for you and your family.
    Love and Hugs,
    Tracy

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  13. So sorry, Sherry, about Schultz and the moving part. I hope he recovers well and it's not too traumatic for all of you to see him when he comes back.My heart breaks for you.

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    1. It's weird to see him with three legs. Admittedly, he freaks out some of my students, but he's doing much better.

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  14. Franklin and Penelope want to send a card and note to Schultz. Will you please email me with the address they should use? They are quite set on it.

    Love,
    Janie, Franklin, and Penelope

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    1. Thank you, Janie. I sent an email with the info.

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  15. It sounds like a lot of things are going on in your family. My prayers are with you and with Shultz. Mia recently had to have surgery on her leg and in rehab there was a beautiful dog that had lost two legs and was running around and happy using a wheeled contraption. As someone said, dogs are troopers. Blessings

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    1. Schultz is getting around much better. I think he has adapted to having 3 legs.

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  16. My prayers are with Mr. Shultz....
    Hope, he feels better soon.

    # Have a great weekend

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  17. I know you have a lot of things going on right now. I hope the move goes well- I know moving can be very emotional.

    Poor Shultz. If it helps to know- I had a dog growing up who was hit by a UPS truck and had to have a back leg amputated. My dog LOVED running and we were all worried. The amazing thing was after she healed- she ran around like her leg wasn't missing. She didn't even seem to know it was gone. I hope it will be the same for Shultz. Sending hugs to you and your dog (and your kids too). :)

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    1. Schultz seems to have adapted well. He falls over from time to time, but it doesn't seem to bother him.

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  18. Sherry, sending you and your family and Schultz, lots of love and big hugs! Your puppy will do well, I know he will and I know your move will be a happy one! Thinking of you! No more dark clouds!!

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  19. Wow. I hope things turn out okay for the dog. And for your family with the move. It's hard to deal with so much all at once.

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  20. Good luck with the move, and I hope you'll enjoy being there. I'm so sorry to hear about Schulz and hope he recovers nicely.

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    1. I like my new place. It's very peaceful. Schultz is doing well, too.

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  21. Its so sad about Schulz. Hope all else goes well.

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    1. He seems to be doing okay. Hopefully this knocked the cancer out and it wasn't for nothing.

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  22. My thoughts and prayers are with you Sherry. My big pup had cancer too and it was tough. Big Hugs.

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  23. Hugs Sherry. So sorry for all you and your family are going through.

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  24. Oh, no! So, so sorry to hear about Schultz. :( My last dog's health took a sudden turn for the worst last year, so I can just imagine how stressful and saddening a decision like this was. Wishing a smooth recovery for Schultz, and lots of love to you and your family as you care for him during this difficult time. <3

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  25. Seems like there's so much going on....hoping all is well. <3

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  27. Poor pup. Hope everything works out.

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  28. omg, it breaks my heart but i'm sure he can make it. looks like he's a strong dog.

    JULIE ANN LOZADA BLOG
    INSTAGRAM: @julieann_lozada

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  29. Poor, poor puppy. I hope he is recovering well.

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  30. Oh Sherry, life can be so rotten. So grateful of the FB updates on Schultz, I hope you find some comfort in all of these well wishes. As you say its all a gamble and I can see it from both yours and your childrens points of view.

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    1. They had to make the decision. It's incredibly expensive, but if it helps them get through the difficult times they're experiencing, it's worth it.

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  31. Hi SHerry,

    Just dropping by again to say Hi. And so sorry about Shultz.

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    i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
    or
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    ReplyDelete