Find the silver lining in this tragic day.

I had to as we drove to the animal hospital. I looked up and saw something brighter than silver a lining: a giant rainbow right over the animal hospital where we were headed. ‘That’s for Olive’, I thought.
I tried to think of the good things that come from painful ones. Quickly reminding myself that we had 7 years of unconditional love. She was the good thing.
After coming home last week from the hospital for what was a treatable stomach condition, Olive just wasn’t acting quite right. I know her mannerisms. Her sounds. I’m with her all day.
We kept calling the vet with our concerns but were told that this was likely an adjustment period to her new meds. Be patient.
That awful gut feeling though. Ouch.

We brought her back in again and the vet could see the behavior. They decided to do an MRI on her brain which revealed a large brain tumor and swelling in multiple areas of her brain. She was having seizures.

As we pulled into the parking lot at the animal hospital yesterday, I took a deep breath and told myself to keep it together for her in these last moments. We packed her bed to lie in and a blanket so we could spend some time with her.

We were asked if some of the nurses and staff who know Olive could come to say their goodbyes (we said of course). Since Olive was boarded there regularly every time that I went into the hospital for my treatments, she made lots of friends. Many came in individually to spend a moment with her and give her sweet snuggles. She was so loved.

Although Olive’s life was cut much shorter than we would have liked, I was reminded by my DH that she had 3 spinal surgeries at that animal hospital, and recovered 90% of her mobility each time, which was truly remarkable. She was practically a twisty pretzel yoga dog just a month ago.

I thanked Olive for being our special girl, and one last time said our little phrase I used to lull her to sleep with:

You are such a good girl.
You are so loved.
You are so blessed.




Bren