Cherry's Dad said:

1) Remain as positive as possible around …..

2) Remember to treat the spirit as well as the body.  

Written on December 27^th

My words are really testing me now.  Remain as positive as possible when I can see the sands of Cherry’s time here with me slipping though my fingers.  I swore that I would find the strength to let her go when necessary and that I would not make her endure any more pain than she did during the recovery and chemotherapy, but I did not want to always remember Christmas 2009 as the date that we lost Cherry.

I turned off the tree lights Christmas night and we made it past Christmas.  She continued to weaken, did not want to eat any of her usual favorites, and I stuffed some modest amount for the very last time.  She is slipping fast.  Just eight days ago, we went to the local Dairy Queen across town for an outing.  All the way across town, she was bouncing around the back seat, her voice of excitement in full force, and smiles that would warm any heart.  We sat for approximately 20 minutes while eating our ice cream treat before reversing the trip home.  While Cherry had plenty of “around the valley” trips, I was always looking for an excuse to extend the trip with some purpose.  However, the results of this trip may have proved devastating because starting the very next day her condition started to deteriorate.  I really wanted to get her past Christmas and even though I started to make arrangements with my local vet office for the final visit, I would do everything possible to get her past Christmas.  Every thing that is except tolerate pain.

The day after Christmas, I had planned to go to the mall to purchase Emily’s anniversary gift.  I know that by the time (mid January), Cherry would have crossed over the rainbow bridge and I would be totally worthless.  However, I waited until mid-morning so that I could give Cherry an “around the valley” trip before going.  Until the very end, I will treat the spirit as well as the body.  I carried her out to the truck, and while she laid on the seat beside me for the entire trip, she clearly loved the ride.  I loved stroking her muzzle for yet one more trip.  The day passed with her eating very little, developing diarrhea, being carried outside when ever necessary, but always able to let me see the love in her eyes.  As I turned off the tree lights, I again gave thanks for a day with my Cherry.

Today, we woke up to extreme fog – the kind of fog that we can get her in the valleys of California – Tule fog.  As Emily finished preparing for Church and her child care there, Cherry got up from the family room, hopped down to the bathroom where Emily was finishing, and promptly began to inform us that she wanted to go too.  Her voice was strong and determined.  This only brought smiles to the two of us since we knew that I would be taking Cherry on a ride as Emily left.  It also signaled that the spirit was intact and thriving.  Cherry had meaning in her life – and was not about to let her weak condition deprive her of one of the loves of her life.  Cherry and her dad made another wonder trip around the valley together.

I will not post this story until Cherry has passed over the Rainbow Bridge, probably Tuesday or Monday.  I hope that her passing will be some what of a surprise those who have not followed her progress on my internet journal.  I hope that as you think back to my posting these last few days, you could not have read between the lines and saw the torture that I was feeling.  I hope that I was successful at being as positive as possible and in treating the spirit as well as the body.

Cherry’s Proud Dad

Added December 29^th

As expected, Cherry left her tired battered body with the dignity and class that had defined her entire life.  To the very end, Cherry and I took our trips and it was once more the only place where she would eat what was offered.  To the very end, her spirit was extremely high and that spirit now soars on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

[Image Can Not Be Found]