Momma's Baby Girl by Nancy Thomas

Momma's Baby Girl

by Nancy Thomas

My dear sweet Chelsea, You have not crossed over, as of yet, to the Rainbow Bridge. I just want you to know before you do that you have given me and your daddy the most pleasurable years of our life. We got you when you were 11 months old from the Annapolis dog pound. When I went to pick out a dog that day every dog was barking and jumping against the pen they were in, except you. You were lying quietly back in the corner of your pen. The minute I saw you I knew you were the one I wanted for Christmas. You were so pretty, but your eyes were sad. You weren't barking and jumping because you were very sick. I didn't know that at the time. On the way home I stopped at the vets and he said you had whipworm and that it could be fatal! My heart sank. The vet gave me some medicine for you and said I needed to feed you boiled ground meat and rice for 3 weeks and that you might live. That was 12 years ago. Your favorite thing is playing in the snow and going on long walks in the field. You love to chase the deer from our yard. Your love is unconditional, as our love is to you. About 2 months ago I saw some arthritis medicine advertised on TV, so I asked your vet, Dr. Ryan, if we could put you on that, since you have arthritis in your legs now. He said that he would first have to do blood work on you. Your blood work came back abnormal. More blood work was done. A couple weeks later we had an ultrasound done on you and the radiologist found a large tumor on your intestine. We took you to he finest specialist in Towsen for your surgery. Daddy and I took off of work and sat in the waiting room until your surgery was finished. The doctor removed a softball size tumor and 10" of your intestine. They kept you at the hospital for 3 days, but daddy had to bring you turkey because you wouldn't eat for them. They said you got so depressed after daddy would leave. They said you would whine for an hour. I don't think we have ever heard you whine at home. Finally we got to bring you home. You recovered so quickly! We never had to use the funny looking 'lampshade' he gave us to keep you from biting your incision. You would lick your incision to keep it clean. The biopsy came back that the tumor was malignant and that you had lymphoma. You also were aenemic. You have recovered so well! You have more energy than ever and are eating a new senior food called "Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul." Today daddy took you to an oncologist, that's a cancer doctor, to have you evaluated. The report wasn't good, my precious one. The doctor said that without chemo you would live maybe 4 to 6 weeks. He said with treatment you might live 6 to 9 months. I told daddy; "No more." No more needles, no more metal cages, no more surgery, no more STRESS! You, my baby girl, will let us know when you are ready to go to the Rainbow Bridge. You are the world to me and daddy. We will NEVER let you suffer! I just checked on you and you're sound asleep on your big pillow. Around 10 we will let you outside and then you will come upstairs to sleep at the side of our bed on a comforter. You started sleeping in our room a couple months ago. It was around the time you were getting sick. Oh, I forgot to tell you that the doctor said that if we hadn't found the tumor when we did that you probably would have died. He said we were "lucky." Luck didn't have anything to do with it. It was the Lord that quickened me to call that phone number about the arthritis medicine. We're believing God that He will let us have you a lot longer. But since He gave you to us, He will be the one to decide when it's time for you to be with other pets, waiting for the return of their mommies and daddies. We love you with all our heart and will cherish every moment you have left with us.

Comments would be appreciated by the author, Nancy Thoma