it is so sad for me to be writing this right now without my Cooper by my side.  Cooper was diagnosed with OSA back in July 2014 and his prognosis as we all know isn't good.  We immediately did surgery, followed by 6 rounds of Chemo and met with a nutritionist to put him on a home cooked diet.  Cooper did wonderfully and was beating all the odds.  All scans always showed clear. Then 2 years and 5 months after his amputation of his rear leg we discovered cancer in one of his toes.  We had it removed immediately and it was a confirmed sarcoma.  The cancer was then found in his lymph node but we were going to get a CT Scan before we removed to ensure there was no more spread. The CT scan was done yesterday and the lungs were pretty clear except for two minor/possible mets, however there was a newer growth on his front shoulder blade and near his spine.  When he was waking up from the anasthesia he either had a clot or his heart failed and he never made it through. I pray to god he did not suffer through that and we struggle as we blame ourselves for this, however if his ultimate fate would have been only a few more months of pain I am not sure I could do that either.  

We noticed cooper slowing down in January after his toe was removed and then he started a cough (with blood twice which took him in to the ER but they couldn't find an issue with abdomen or airway). We immediately got X-rays which showed two very minor areas that, after treating with antibiotics for 2 weeks, got much better in an X-ray view (during that followup is when the vet noticed the lymph node swelling behind his knee). His appetite these last few weeks was either nothing at all or it came back with a vengeance.  I knew there were signs (like when he remained on our couch instead of wanting me to carry him upstairs, or starting to sleep in my son's room instead of ours (eventually making his way back in though).  It all is so incredibly hard he was just such an amazing dog that I wanted to share his journey.  He has beaten the odds with his 2 yr 8 month success story and we have to hold on to that thought as we got to spend a lot more time with him than expected (but is it ever enough).  He made our family whole and there is such a Huge void to fill.  Thank you to the TriPawds community from the bottom of my heart as we could not have gotten through these last few years with you. I may not have posted much but I have read your posts and blogs and have prayed for your beautiful babies too.

the morning of Cooper's procedure I saw the biggest rainbow I had ever seen.  I didn't realize then that this rainbow was meant for him.  The pain is so great in knowing I will never get to touch his ears or kiss between his eyes ever ever again :(.