Rage at Cancer

I got in touch with my rage at cancer for making cancer care the center of my life.
Just as I began to recover from my lastchemo my great dog Molly went into a health crisis.

I could not be with her. It felt like a promise broken.
Molly refused breakfast. By the time my husband Charley brought her to me she had collapsed, her tongue and gums were almost white. Clearly in shock, she was still licking my face and snuggling my neck.
Our vet, Dr Meyers, has seen her through good health, cancer, tooth infection and minor scraps. He found that Molly's heart was significantly and suddenly enlarged. Her recent blood panels and xrays had all been very normal. This was a sudden change.

They began giving her drugs to take pressure off the heart and try to restore normal flow. By evening it was clear that her heart was going to kill her and the questions was when (soon) and how ugly that would be. I was in constant contact with the vet's office every step of the way but so sad that I could not be with her.

At 10pm we made the decision to put her down with peace, grace and dignity. It breaks my heart and shocks me that she went so fast. When I visited with her Sunday she was active, looking good, wanting treats and not coughing or showing signs of fluid retention. I had planned to enter her in veterans at the nationals for a last celebration.

We never scored very high in obedience because her idea of heel position was formed in herding trials. However, she maintained that behind the heel position consistently both on and off leash. When she knew she was right, she just stuck with it. RIP sweet girl CH SilverDust Cherokee Rose CD, RN, HSAs, ROM (Sept 2, 1997-Sept 15, 2009)