How To Savor The Time With A Dying Pet?, It's hard... Options

[Rhapsedy]

Margi,

I have read some dog cancer stories and some dogs have lived a couple years after being diagnosed without any treatment. I don't want to give you false hope but maybe Ladywolf will be one of those cases.

Rhapsedy

[ABT]

Hi All--

Darnnit, every time I look at Ladywolf now, I'm thinking, "she's dying, I wonder how much more time she has...?" I keep staring at her swollen back leg and wondering if it hurts her, if it's growing or shrinking, if, if, if. When I take her for a walk, I watch her movements constantly to see how much she's being affected by the tumors as she walks. I wonder how much she is missing Poppers. I feel as if I am not doing enough for her, when in fact, I am more or less dedicating my LIFE to her right now.

But there's little pleasure left in my interactions with her, because I am spending all my time with her WORRYING now! All this has happened since the vet confirmed that she has cancer--everything changed, somehow. I'm moving through all the stages of grief constantly, and don't know how to be with her in a "normal" way anymore. Does any of this make sense to you folks? I hate this. I don't want to look at my beloved beauty and see only "dying wolf." It's all making me a little insane, and very very sad.

Help, please! Thanks!

Margi and Ladywolf

Hi Margi and Ladywolf
It makes perfect sense to me. I can really relate. I wish you strength.
Barb

[ladywolf]

Hi Margi and Ladywolf
It makes perfect sense to me. I can really relate. I wish you strength.
Barb

Rhapsody--

Thank you for your wish for a miracle. I do believe in miracles, although I'm not religious--I believe in miracles of NATURE, and Ladywolf is nothing if she is not NATURAL. As long as I don't sense that she is in terrific pain, we could go on indefinitely this way, since she isn't sick. She has a great appetite and great spirit and still gets P.O.'d at me if I don't take her out walking (like right now--it's pouring out, and she is giving me a very dirty look!)

Barb--

I'm more at peace with the situation than I was when I wrote the first post in this thread, which was right after I got Lady's diagnosis. I'm more "used to it" now, and am more relaxed about things--except when I'm NOT!!! The not knowing is the hardest part. If someone could TELL ME that I had a year left with her, then I could really relax. (Although if they said a month, I would freak out!)

Just now, for today, Lady's okay. That's all I can count on, just today...

Hugs--Margi and the Wolf

[smokey/lady/max]

[attachment=4149:dog9.gif]
Hi Margi

I haven't been here lately had things going on with my mom. I just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and lady wolf. I hope she is doing well.

Thinking of you both
Anna & Angel Max
xoxo

[ladywolf]

[attachment=4149:dog9.gif]
Hi Margi

I haven't been here lately had things going on with my mom. I just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and lady wolf. I hope she is doing well.

Thinking of you both
Anna & Angel Max
xoxo

Thanks for that great animation, Anna, it's pretty and funny! We've missed you--figured something was going on. Is your mom okay now?

All of these wolf pictures look SO MUCH like Lady. The only difference is that her ears are a bit bigger. I'll post some new pics soon--meanwhile, you can go to my website: http://www.ladywolfediting.com and click on the "About me and Ladywolf" section to see a couple of good pictures, those of you who haven't seen them yet. (I haven't figured out how to post pics here yet.) I haven't been able to bring myself to change the text yet--I figure that if I tell prospective clients that she has advanced cancer, it'll be kind of a bummer, which it IS!! But she and I are comfortable tonight, and that's all I can count on....................

Margi and the Wolf

[smokey/lady/max]

LADYWOLF


Hi Again Margi,
I wanted to post her on here for you she is so beautiful everyone should be able to see her.

Hugs to you and her
Anna

[ladywolf]

[attachment=4150:EGD_Proc...s_093_1_.jpg]
LADYWOLF


Hi Again Margi,
I wanted to post her on here for you she is so beautiful everyone should be able to see her.

Hugs to you and her
Anna

Oh, THANK YOU, Anna! This IS a great picture, but of course, I have more... If I send them to you, can you post them too (just a couple)...

My beautiful, beautiful Ladywolf!

Margi and Wolf

[smokey/lady/max]

[attachment=4151:EGD_Proc...s_140_1_.jpg]
Just napping with mommy and dreaming of snow in Arizona

[attachment=4152:glitterf...99D30_1_.gif]
Who says dreams dont come true

[ladywolf]

[attachment=4151:EGD_Proc...s_140_1_.jpg]
Just napping with mommy and dreaming of snow in Arizona

[attachment=4152:glitterf...99D30_1_.gif]
Who says dreams dont come true

SWEET!!

Actually, it snowed hard here in Arizona last week--8-10" at my altitude, 4500 feet--and Ladywolf went crazy in the snow. The snow brings out the ARCTIC timberwolf in her! She lay down and spread out her legs and made SNOW ANGELS!!!!

Thank you, Anna!

Margi and the Wolflady

[Rhapsedy]

Oh, THANK YOU, Anna! This IS a great picture, but of course, I have more... If I send them to you, can you post them too (just a couple)...

My beautiful, beautiful Ladywolf!

Margi and Wolf

Margi.

Ladywolf is so beautiful!

[janika]

She sure is a beautiful Lady.

Love Jan and my Angels x

[ladywolf]

She sure is a beautiful Lady.

Love Jan and my Angels x

Yes, she's beautiful, and she KNOWS IT! Gets away with murder because of it. People fall in love with her everywhere we go--I find them huddled around my car when I've left her in back while I've run into a store. Even non-dog lovers fall in love with Lady...sigh...

Margi and the Prima Donna Wolf

[smokey/lady/max]

[attachment=4167:an22_1.gif]
Hi Margi,
I seen this and thought it was beautiful

Thinking Of You
Anna

[ladywolf]

That's gorgeous, Anna--thank you!!

Lady is doing well today. Really, most days she doesn't seem to be much impacted by her tumors. I know they're at least a little uncomfortable, but she largely ignores them. (Luckily for me, though maybe not for her, since they're inside her groin, she can't really reach them to lick, lick, lick, lick LICK interminably!)

We're having a good Ladywolf day. Her appetite continues to be voracious, as long as she's getting the GOOD STUFF!!!

Hugs to everyone--

Margi and her Wolf

[madi]

I could just kiss that beautiful face, what a darling angel she is.

madi xx

[ladywolf]

I could just kiss that beautiful face, what a darling angel she is.

madi xx

Yes, she is, Madi. I wish I had time to try to post some other pictures, but I don't.

I have an editing job that is taking me out of town for 3-4 days at a time, every couple of weeks. I have two angel friends who are happy to care for Lady, each of whom has a solitary dog who is glad for the company. But it still wrenches my heart to leave her. I know that nothing is going to happen in the very near future with Lady's health, but it's still so hard to say goodbye. Spent the whole afternoon today cooking for her--brown rice, sweet potatoes, and boneless chicken breasts. I felt like I was getting ready for a catered dinner for 12 (since I had to make about 12 servings of Ladywolf food.)

The beat goes on. She is still perky and alert and happy and seemingly healthy, but for these tumors that luckily I can't really see unless I make a point of feeling and looking around for them...

Thanks for all your support, everyone! I may be off the grid for a few days now, but I'll be back...

Hugs--Margi and the Wolf

[ladywolf]

Just reporting in an a rainy day...

I had to leave Lady again for three days because of work, but I left her with one of my two wonderfully loving dog-owner friends who are willing to take care of her for me,, which is just great. I wouldn't be able to travel at all if I didn't have these two friends. One or the other is always willing to take great care of her while I'm gone, but it sure is hard to be away from her for any period of time at all. I don't worry, really, I just MISS her, and covet every day that we have left together.

The tumors ARE slowly taking over her hind leg, they ARE growing, and she is moving with a little more difficulty, but she is still perky and bouncy and has her usual attitude. So we are hanging in there. I'm a long-time jeweler, among other things, and last night I made her a gorgeous necklace with turquoise and shells on it so that she can look her very best during this precious time we have together.

That's about all--I've been working very very hard, so today I am having an "in bed" day and it's lovely!

Hugs to everyone--

Margi and the Wolf

[Westiesam/Sharon]

Hi Margi and Ladywolf
I'm glad to hear that you and Ladywolf are still hanging in there== I was in AZ this past week on vacation and lit a candle for all of us at the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona -- I hope you continue to have many more wonderful days with Ladywolf.
Sharon

[ladywolf]

Hi Margi and Ladywolf
I'm glad to hear that you and Ladywolf are still hanging in there== I was in AZ this past week on vacation and lit a candle for all of us at the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona -- I hope you continue to have many more wonderful days with Ladywolf.
Sharon

Thanks, Sharon. I know that chapel--it's amazing, isn't it?

I am feeling guilty because I am not walking Lady much the past few days because it's COLD outside!!! Not east coast kind of cold, but damp, raw, 4500-foot-elevation kind of cold. She is giving me dirty looks and I deserve them, but I get really cold really easily and I'm just not inspired to go out, especially at night which is when we often take our most fun walks. (Luckily, I live in a VERY safe area.)

I'm sorry, Wolfie, but mommy just wants to stay warm. The forecast is for better weather ahead, and then we'll go back out...

Hugs to everyone--

Margi and Wolfie

[smokey/lady/max]

Hi Margi
Just stopping by to say I am thinking of you and Ladywolf. I hope she is doing well, I have been away for a week. Wishing you both well.

Anna