Last month I lost a special companion and friend. I had my sweet mutt of 14 years, put to sleep. Chance was like a well weathered tree that had suffered many battle scars from many wicked storms. At age 3 1/2, I discovered a lump on his rear leg. The biopsy showed that it was cancerous. My option was to do nothing and remove the tumor when it returned and risk the cancer spreading to his lungs, amputate his leg or take him to Cleveland, Ohio for fifteen days of radiation treatment at an outpatient clinic. We opted for number three.
During the last week of treatment, Chance had to stay over night because the radiation machine broke down. He had to be taken to a human lab to be radiated. When he returned to the dog clinic, he backed out of his collar and took off. We returned to Ohio and spent 10 1/2 hours searching some of the wealthiest and most dangerous sections of Cleveland. In the morning, Chance was spotted by a technician, who came early to help search for him. After another hour of looking, I found Chance at the intersection of two fences in an industrial park. One fence backed a major interstate and another backed a major highway. There, laying in some dried grass was my dog. The reunion was like a scene from a Lassie movie. Tears flowing and lots of licks on the face. It really was a miracle that we found him at all. Chance beat the odds of being found again and he beat his cancer.
Years past and Chance spent many lazy summer hours laying by my side as I weeded, planted and brought in the harvest in my garden. He chased the neighboring cats out of our yard whenever the squirrels sounded their alarm. It was almost an duty and obsession of his to protect these critters.
Six years ago, Chance was diagnosed with diabetes. He began two daily injections of insulin. During the first year, he received too much insulin and was taken to an emergency clinic. Despite our mistakes and our probing for a good injection site, he always sat like a perfect gentleman until receiving his shot.
Five years ago, his eyesight began to fail as he developed cataracts in both eyes. We were told he would most likely be blind within the first year of his diabetes. Chance defied the odds and took two years before his cataracts needed to be removed. He had undergone surgery to have them removed and the doctor was able to put in one artificial lens. He underwent lots of doctor visits and received lots of eye drops.
Two years ago, he developed an ulcer in one eye and needed a tissue plug placed on it to help it heal. More surgery and he still persevered.
Then in the fall of 2006, he developed a slight cough. It was treated and had returned. In January, it turned into full blown pneumonia. His prognosis was not good. He was not expected to survive a week. But again, he defied the odds, and rebounded. The doctors were amazed. But as we weaned him off antibiotics, the condition returned and eventually the antibiotics no longer worked. I came home from work to find that he was having difficulty breathing. This was his final stand.He had gone through so much but his immune system was finally failing him. That night we put him to sleep.
Whenever I see a weathered tree I will always think of this sweet creature and all the storms that he battled throughout his life. There is not a day that goes by that I am not reminded about him. Maybe, it is because the older I get, the more I realize just how fragile life really is.
In Loving Memory of ChanceToday is a beautiful day! The rays of light filtered through the sentinels of trees this morning. I sat by the creek and contemplated. I missed classes, but somehow it didn't matter. The serenity and beauty of my feelings and surroundings completely captivated me.................
I thought of you. I discovered you tucked away in the shadows of the trees. Then rediscovered you on the smiles of the flowers as the sun penetrated the petals ........ in the rhythm of the leaves falling upon the stream ........... in the freedom of the robin as he flew searching as you do.
I'm very happy to have found you again. Now, you will never leave me, for I will always find you in the beauty of life.
