Sweet Pea
by Robert & Elizabeth Maddux.........................................
Sweet Pea was rescued in the winter of 1995 in rural western North Carolina. She was a beautiful Elkhound, approximately 2yrs old and with puppies.
It was love at first cuddle. Sweet Pea delivered 4 beautiful bundles of fur Fri March 13 1996 and they were christened "the Puppettes"..... Vadalia,Petunia,Cabbage and Turnip. Sweet Pea was an excellent mother. Sweet Pea was quiet, strong of character,shy, loyal,loving,intelligent,funny,and everything that was good. She loved to play and she had this little dance that she did when she came to you, she would flap her front legs up and down while shaking her head to and fro and her front body would be bobbing and weaving all over. Her favorite activity was to go on walkabouts with her best friends Miss Ruby Red and "Walter" Cronkrite.They would be gone for hours traversing the land ad I just know they had friends where ever they did roam. Miss Ruby(rescued Brittany) at just shy of 16yrs crossed the Bridge May 12 1996,Walter (small Hines57 rescue +-14) is still with us. In May of 2005 we retired to rural northeastern Washington state on 20 acres of pasture,grass and woods. Needless to say Sweet Pea and Walter only missed their walkabouts for the 9 days it took us to drive here. In Oct 05 Sweet Pea was diagnoised with Lymphoma. After a year of chemo she went into remission. She was the ultimate patient. Sweet Pea hardly had a "bad day"
and in Jan 07 she developed diabetes,still she and Walter went on their walkabouts. 2 weeks ago Robert discovered a lump in her rt chest area but her lymph nods were flat. An aspirate done by the best vet the world Dr Carrie Forster revealed that her cancer had returned. The plan was to begin a "rescue" protocol of chemo devised by the vet school at UofWA on friday may 11. Mon Walter and SweeT Pea went out but came back in only one hour,well it was "hot" out, 70. Sweet Pea by 0000 was withdrawn, blood sugar was nl but she has a fever of 103.8rectal. Tues we all went to the vets. On weds Sweet Pea and Walter had a picnic out in the grass at the vets under a big umbrella.
Everyone came out to visit her. She was not eating or drinking;her temp was breaking through the antibiotics;and she was developing backflow below and above the lump.Dr Carrie said her cancer was "angry". On Thurs May 10 2007 Sweet Pea was relieved of her suffering. she was 14. Robert had a vision while holding Sweet Pea. She was walking away, but looked back to see if Walter was coming, she nodded her head in ubderstanding that Walter was not ready just yet; Sweet Pea turned and with a smile on her face and light spring to her step she crossed the Rainbow Bridge into the waiting arms of Miss Ruby Red.Sweet Pea was a very sweet pea. Please pray for Walter.
Thank you. Robert&Elizaeth Maddux
Comments would be appreciated by the author, Robert & Elizabeth Maddux
 
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