[Dailydrool] tale of tulip

[BRYAN MARTINEZ]

hi droolers,

I just wanted to share the latest on Tulip, my 9yr old girl--(she is  
our whole pack)-We have gotten past the sleepless period (last friday  
was a long long night--nether of us slept) the thing that seemed to  
work the best was a couple of squirts of saline decongestant so I  
experienced great relief to see her with her head between her paws on  
the floor snoozing away.
Its funny ,though, my heart soared when she nibbled a little food or  
snoozed a bit and three weeks earlier her eating her two meals and  
snoozing a lot of the day away was just something I took for granted.  
I mean , its amazing how soon expectations are changed.
Anyway her masses have been diagnosed as lymphoma and tonight she is  
in the animal hospital for the night after they gave her her first  
injection of chemo and other things, as well as getting some of that  
excess fluid that has built up in her and they wanted her on an IV .  
They just recommended she stay the night and reluctantly I acquiesced .
So, this , in the six years since I brought her home as a 3 yr old  
rescue, is the first night we have been apart.
Try to imagine how empty the house is when for six years she was  
ALWAYS there-- in and out , always bugging me for a petting or  
something to eat or just to be close---during the evening,if she wakes  
up and I'm not in the same room....she hunts me down wherever I am and  
then settles down as close as possible to me to resume her snoring.
I know none of this new to anybody but I just felt the need to type  
about her since I'm thinking about her.
I am told that the average lifespan once this fairly treatable cancer  
is diagnosed is 14 months. If I get a year more with her, it will be a  
sad, but very welcome year since I was convinced she would not last  
the week last week.
Sooooo sling some healing drool our way, but save some for all the  
other droolers  out there who are also experiencing trepidation and  
heartbreak....

you guys are wonderful