Oslo Options

[moon_beam]

To my friends here at Lightning-Strike. I know I haven't been around much the last 6 months. In July my 6 year old beautiful kitty daughter, Abbygayle, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Fibrosarcoma. The tumor was removed from her left hip on July 15. On September 27, she had three new tumor nodules removed, and on Wednesday, December 9, she will be examined by her doctor to determine if new tumors are developing. So far her doctor has been able to spare amputating her leg, but each surgery brings this closer to reality. And surgery is dependent upon making sure that the cancer has not metastasized to her lungs. When that happens, it will be comfort measures until it is time to ease her journey to the angels. In September, my handsome 14 year old Black Lab, Oslo, was diagnosed with Adinocarcinoma in a salivary gland on the right side of his neck. Because of his advanced age and other medical issues including Laryngeal Paralysis he was not a candidate for surgery. There were other considerations as well because the tumor was already involved with major blood vessels he could have died on the operating table in the process of trying to remove the tumor. If he survived the surgery, he could have been left with facial paralysis or paralysis of his tongue, etc. None of these would have been fair to him. He made it to his 15 th birthday on November 15, and we shared a good Thanksgiving together. On Sunday, November 29, it was obvious that he had suffered a stroke. A veterinary friend of ours came to the house and eased his journey to the angels. Needless to say this has been a very hard week, and today - - being the first anniversary of his passing - - is being incredibly difficult to get through. I am so glad he is once again able to hold his head and tail high and proud healed and restored to his youthfulness in God's loving comforting Presence. But right now the pain of his absence - - - both physical and emotional - - is very hard. I know what I am feeling is normal, and that in time it will transition to being less painful. But right now, my friends, it is very hard. I wanted you to know that I have not been ignoring you all these weeks. I want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with each of you who are going through the painful transitions in your lives adjuting to the physical absence of your beloved companions. Hopefully in the coming weeks I will once again be able to join back in offering comfort to each of you. I feel very connected to you for we share a bond with our fur and feathered children - - of every life form - - that goes to our very core of being. And I sincerely thank you for your thoughts and prayers in this time of sorrow. They mean more to me than words can say.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

[tanbuck]

Moonbeam, your note to Oslo was so sweet. I read what you and Margi were saying about caring for one and not being able to grieve the other. And I said outloud, "yes!" I know exactly how that feels. I do believe that I was able to grieve for Frasier for an adequate amount of time before we knew Niles was sick. But caring for him made me put my grief on the backburner a bit. Then when Niles died (it still makes me cry to even type that), I felt I'd lost Frasier all over again. But with Niles, I don't feel I've had the time to feel everything I need to feel because of Buck. I'm a little afraid of the process I will go through when he passes. I'm sure it will be a range of emotions.
-Donna