Dogster

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What a life I lead!

:(

Well, we lost Ward at the beginning of July. The 3rd to be exact. There is an awful silence in the house without him. I miss him to death and we are lost without him.
He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave wi...thout taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.)

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself.

He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.

His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever — in case I need him. And I expect I will — as I always have. He is just my dog.

Gene Hill


My words can never do him justice. He was truly my best friend...as Ward would always say... Love, Peace and Peanut Butter Treats!

Still beating....

I am in congestive heart failure. I was rushed back to ICU on Thursday and had to spend the entire day and night there. I was very scared.... Mom and dad came to visit me three times and little puppy and little buddy and my blanket got to spend the night with me.

I got to come home on Friday morning. My cardiologist was nervous to send me home but I told her I just want to go home. I spent the weekend with my mom and dad and we had a great time. Actually I slept most of the time and just needed to recover from being in the oxygen chamber. I had to go back for a re check today. I was breathing fine until my doc came in and started to make me nervous. They took my blood and they will have to call my daddy with the results.

I am not sure how I feel about everything. My dad made me a hamburger and I LOVED it! I had it for dinner and breakfast! It was fantastic! However, I am still just lying around and cannot take a walk. Mom and dad pick me up the stairs but I try to sneak away from them sometimes.

I am not scared to go to heaven. My mom says her grandpa (my mom's mom's dad) would LOVE me. I don't think I have choice even though my parents ask me if I am in pain. I smile and say no because I don't want them crying over me. My grandparents down here are very upset also. I really am not trying to make people cry. My heart is just not working like it is supposed to be. I think I may go to heaven this week. I just sort of have a feeling. Its okay because I will see some of my friends who passed before me.

Thanks Dogster for letting me have a little voice in the crazy world. I am not planning on leaving yet but you never know... Love Peace and Peanut Butter Treats!!!

Yesterday...

Yesterday I went to VT to get a check up. I was having a pretty crummy day anyway. I couldn't breathe very well and I just could not stop coughing. Mom and Dad promised that no matter what, they would take me home for the night.

I stayed there all day and was hooked up to oxygen. I got a lousy shot of Lasix and some more Pimobendan. After awhile, I started to feel better. Mom couldn't come back to get me but told my dad that I was basically in ICU yesterday. My XRAYs, I am told, look awful. BUt if you guys were to see me, you would never know I am fighting for my life. Mom says that when Jesus or the Angels come, I should go with them...And that it is okay. I am not quitting though; I am a tough cookie.

I was a celebrity at the Hospital yesterday. Everyone loved me. I do have to admit, I do think I am pretty cute...I still smile and laugh when my mom or dad make a joke. Even though my doc said I have to do nothing, there will be no bunnies or deer in my yard...not as long as I can run.

I don't want anyone to be sad; for today is a good day. I am not breathing hard and have not coughed yet. Mom bought me this new kind of food and I loved it. Mom is giving me a bunch of treats now because I have lost some weight and my grandmom told me that I have to stay strong.

What I can tell you is that, although my left may be short, I am going to make the most of it. For the next couple of days, I am not allowed to go for walks or anything to get me excited. But once I get cleared...I can head back in my stroller again next week. Then who knows where mom and I will go? Maybe she will take me somewhere I can watch the boats and the fisherman...thats what I like to do with my grandpa....

So what I can tell you is that Heart Disease stinks and that it is cutting my life short. It is not fair, but I just have to have faith. Not faith that I will beat this because realistically, heart disease is the leading cause of death in my breed and of most people. Faith that I will be up in heaven when my time has come to leave. My mom and dad are doing their best and I have the best Vets in the world. I have made the most of my years here in Blue Ridge. I have run many miles with my mom, cheered loudest for my dad at his races, chased many an animal out of my yard, ran crazy fast agility courses, been up and down the east coast, saw Canada, ran Boston...well sort of... saw the Rockin and Roll Hall of fame, helped little kids learn how to read and visited more colleges and Universities than most Juniors in Highschool have yet to see. That is just to name a few of my adventures with my parents....

I am not signing off for good...until next time, because I am not finished yet. I am going to be here a little longer and I am sure I will have more adventures to tell about. Until then...Love, Peace and Peanut Butter Treats...Ward Elliott OUT!!