From commentor GrammyPat: April, 2010: … I give you Li’l Buddy. The first pic is of him four years ago (in all of his patient, 13 yr old, unflappable glory) with my granddaughter, the second is recent. He was not always so encumbered, but he has always been this sweet and tolerant. While he’s still …
Early Morning Open Thread: Travelling BuddyPost + Comments (40)
Two years ago (when he was only 15, young, and stupid), he was romping and rough-housing with a young dachshund that outweighed him. At full speed, the dog plowed into him like the classic T-bone car wreck. He rolled over a couple of times, twisted his spine, and in the process, damaged the nerves going into his rear legs. The damage was not evident at first but over the next year, one leg became progressively weaker until I knew that he would need a cart to continue getting around. Before I could get the cart made, the other leg suddenly went limp and overnight he was paraplegic. He wanted (and still wants) to keep going, and I will do everything in my power to help him do just that. The flag on his cart is necessary because we are now retired, full-time RVer’s, there are plenty of large vehicles in RV parks, and he remains car-stupid after all these years.
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At about the equivalent of an 80 yr old, the Old Man is on the wane. The eyes and ears are going, but the nose still works. He’s got some arthritis (but don’t we all) in his front legs. But it’s that big ol’ heart of his that will be his downfall. During a checkup about 6 months after his accident, he was diagnosed with a heart murmur that is inexorably leading to congestive heart failure. He sleeps a lot nowadays, waking only to eat (go figure!) or relieve himself. Yet, when I ask, “Want to Go for a Buddy Walk?”, he perks up and the front legs start moving as soon as the back legs are picked up. He has the outdoor cart (seen in the pic) and I’ve also made him an indoor cart that takes up less space in the RV. Either one serves his purposes and, although he becomes fatigued more and more readily, he seems reluctant to get un-hitched and be confined to the bed.
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Down to our souls, we all believe that ours is the best-est, most wonderful animal to ever walk this earth. Li’l Buddy is all that and more; his legacy is that he is more than I deserve. Over these many years, miles, hardships, and adventures, he has always been there. There next to me. There for me. Calm, unquestioning, and, unconditional. That’s more than we can say about too many of our fellow human travelers. I believe that’s why we share our lives and love with these critters.
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November 2010 update: The Old Man is fading fast. I’ve added a pic of him with the tongue that now protrudes when he’s relaxed/asleep. It doesn’t get much more precious than that. He no longer has the strength to pull his outside cart and is barely able to move in his inside cart. He still uses the inside cart to stand and eat (duh!) but doesn’t move far from the food bowl. His favorite place to sleep is in my lap and, although this means that I get nothing done these days, it’s an honor to be able to comfort one who has given so much. He’ll be leaving me soon and my sorrow, as deep as it is watching his decline, will only intensify with his passing.