November 14, 2010

Being responsible for another’s well-being can be an overwhelming experience.  I’ll never forget when my daughter Natalia fell off a bouncy-ball (those large balls with a handle that you “ride”) the night before our big Easter party.  She was giddy with excitement as any six-year-old would be anticipating the festivities. In the blink of an eye, Natalia hit her face on the corner of a piece of furniture and literally had a hole in her face! We rushed her to the emergency room and had a shaky night waiting hours for a plastic surgeon, seeing her get stitches, and falling into bed in at the crack of a dawn– only a few hours before guests would arrive. Events such as these always shake me to the core.  I’ve had my dog Snoopy for 14 years.  He’s been my constant companion through good and bad.  He’s truly a delight to behold: the quintessential fluffy white dog with intelligent brown eyes.  I’ve always said that God made my childhood favorite stuffed animal “Pinkie” come to life when Snoopy came to me. This weekend he became quite sick just a day after his annual vaccinations.  I came home from teaching night school at the community college to find him in dire straits. While he usually has remarkable energy for a dog his age, he looked quite forlorn and seemed to have become terribly stiff in the hind quarters. I petted him for a while and he seemed to calm down.  I was worried, but decided it might be best for him to try to rest.  We both went to bed.  I awoke at 2:00 in the morning to find him panting and distressed.  That was it. We made our way to an emergency animal hospital. He had a high temperature and elevated white blood cell count. The next morning we went to his vet and he was admitted to the hospital.  I cried on the way home, upset that I had to leave him alone. This morning I called the vet, and thankfully, he is doing better.  Although he chewed off his IV during the night, his temperature was normal and his white blood cell count lower.  The vet wanted to keep him another night. They recommended that I not visit since it could get him excited and then depressed when I left again.  I am relieved and exhausted.  I am reminded of how fragile life is, and I am trying to convince myself that life is wonderful despite these sad, frightening episodes.