Manuka, Tough Decision Options

[Martina]

Hello ALL..this is my second time needing support in less than 6 months. This time I need to be strong for my husband, Mark. We have made the decision to put Manuka to sleep tomorrow morning. She is 14+ years old and has been getting weaker for the last 6 months. We kept hoping she would just not wake up. We took her to the vet for a swollen leg last week and we were told she has lymphoma...in all her nodes with spread to lungs coming on. We decided to do this rather that subject her to chemo at her age, and with her frail condition. She can still wag that tail and the prednisone she has been on for the last week has perked her up. We just did not want to wait till it was a matter of her truly suffering. This is the puppy my husband found long before he knew me, in a ditch, in a blizzard on Christmas Eve. Manuka (Lakota Souix for "Freind") is his best buddy. He started school this September which has required him to be away during the week, and he has had Manuka with him there since then. I gues I should be glad they have had that quality time together, just the two of them. It just hurts and I struggle with the decision. Please keep us in your thoughts and say a little prayer for Manuka tomorrow orning. She is about to start her journey where I can only hope she will meet up with Owen, Bug, Jake, Zipper and the other animals that have been so special in our lives. I think the hardest thing is how long she has been a part of the family. It will be strange not to have her around...a big empty space. Martina

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