It is with a VERY heavy heart and through endless tears I have to say that Derry passed away early this morning with us by his side. We held his paw and talked to him as he crossed the rainbow bridge.

To say we are shattered is an understatement. There are no words, no comfort and no peace. The heartbreak is unimaginable and I don’t know how to go on without him. He never left my side. I couldn’t even go to the bathroom without him. 

it was to be his 4th birthday next Saturday. He was also looking forward to the winter season as he LOVED the snow. Our two other dogs are wondering where he is. The house feels empty. He was the energetic one and always getting up to something. You couldn’t go on a car ride without him.

As posted previously, Derry had his first seizure on Dec. 2. Having 2 more right after. He was admitted to the hospital at 4:45 the morning of the 3rd and released that night at 8pm after recovering well and being seizure free. He came home with anti seizure medication. 

He received the booster to the Yale vaccine on Dec. 5th. All was good.

He had 2 very small seizures on Dec. 6th.

He then had cluster seizures the morning of the 7th and was re-admitted to hospital where he remained. 

if you read my earlier updates, you will see that although Derry remained seizure free he was very sedate and aspirated on vomit. They treated the aspiration pneumonia and changed his anti seizure medication so that he would wake up and be less sedated. Once this was done he started making steady progress. He was put on oxygen and eventually got a feeding tube. He was then taking small feeding off of a spoon and they had him for small tiny walks and a little wagon ride. 

We got to visit with him Tuesday night. It was so good to see him awake and they said it was very good for him to see us. He was doing well. Oxygen had been removed and he was doing more eating in his own from a spoon and drinking.

He had been seizure free since midnight of the Friday. 

On Wednesday we got great news that he was continuing to do very well and they felt he would be better at home with us to continue his recovery. We were over the moon. Everyone was celebrating. We were going to pick him up at 6:00. 

Unfortunately an hour before we were to pick him up they called to say he had had a small seizure. They contacted the neurologist and he was given a few hours of Valium plus a steroid and put back on phenobarbital. They said that hopefully it’s just a small set back and to be expected as his body adjusts to anti seizure medication. The thoughts were still that on top of his osteosarcoma that he was handed a bad hand at being epileptic as well. Apparently common in a Husky. They were really hoping he wouldn’t have cluster seizures. Unfortunately they called two hours later to say he had another small seizure.

We prayed and prayed and begged that he would respond to the meds and come home today.

We got the dreaded phone call just before 7 this morning that Derry had had an episode where his body went stiff and he stopped breathing. They placed a breathing tube in and a technician was pumping his breaths manually. His blood pressure had dropped. They gave him an injection that would help,bring this back up and stabilize him. They told us they didn’t think he would make it and for us to come in. 

When we arrived, the ER vet said that although his blood pressure stabilized he was non responsive to his surroundings. He wasn’t really opening his eyes and was only taking a couple of breaths here and there on his own, They were breathing for him and felt he was now suffering and they didn’t think he would recover. Both ER vets agreed, The neurologist came in and checked his reflex around his face to stimuli and there was no response. She felt that this was no longer epilepsy and felt something bigger was going on such as cancer to the brain, 

We had to say goodbye. His fight was clearly over and as painful as it was, we had to set him free from suffering. The roller coaster of highs and lows have been insane.

We talked to him, held him and he knew we loved him deeply. He was not alone, The entire hospital has come to know him and they are heartbroken.

After, we were put in a comfort room and they brought him in so we could be alone with him, I was practically having to be dragged off his body. I couldn’t let go. 

The neurologist wanted to do a complimentary MRI to see what was happening in his brain, 

She has since called to say that Derry was dealt the worst hand. He had a brain tumour. 90% of his frontal lobe was filled. She says this was not spread from the osteosarcoma. In her expertise, she feels it was a primary tumour in itself. A second cancer. This can happen. 

Therefore, regardless of his amputation, chemo and immunotherapy vaccine, there was nothing that would have prevented this. She feels it has been there growing for probably the last year and there was no way to know. He had zero symptoms of any kind for this. The seizures were the first symptom and she said that is often the case. He hid it so well. Even with his surgery and chemo, Derry was full of life, went on walks, ate, drank, played etc. The brain tumour regardless would have been inoperable and incurable.

So here we are. Gutted. Heartbroken for the hand he was dealt. Angry about it too. He was the best dog ever and our noise is empty. That sounds strange to say because we have two other dogs and parrots. But it is true. 

I don’t know how to move on. I can’t stop crying, My husband and our son are broken too. Derry was the most cuddly dog and full of life and love. He will never be forgotten. Can’t believe he is no longer here. Also, can’t believe he didn’t make it to his fourth birthday next Saturday. 

That’s all for now. My tears are streaming and it’s hard to see. It’s hard to cope. I can’t breathe. 

Thank you for all the positive thoughts and prayers sent our way. I have no idea how to upload pictures but if you want to see Derry you can find my Twitter (now X) handle @BlueJayLover49

Thank you so much. The pain is unbearable and I feel that I’m being crushed. Getting worse by the hour. I miss him so much and just want him to come home.💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔😭😭😭😭😭