Sad news tonight, Huck passed away about 7pm this evening. Totally out of the blue. He was obviously ready and he waited until Emma and I were both with him and was on his bed with both of us with him. We are absolutely crushed.

He had an amazing day today, he was home all day with Emma. He practically ran to the local Station with her to pick up her parents from New Zealand so he got to see them too. He was so happy when I got home, Emma said he'd been waiting for me all afternoon at the back door.

He brought me his toy and gave me heaps of kisses, (usually he only gives one out at a time). We, Emma, I, Huck and Emmas parents) were talking through the options as per my earlier post. We'd all agreed that he was so happy after being off the drugs for a week that it wasn't fair to drug him up again and surgery was out of the question. 

Just at that his oncologist phoned to have a chat with Emma and I before tomorrow's appointment. We put her on speaker and Huck was sat on his bed, he recognized Mels voice and listened intently for half an hour. We'd decided that we'd try the Palladia on a low dose and if he lost his sparkle we'd stop and that's that.

We went back into the living room, he dropped on his bed, I was on the floor next to him (got some more kisses!) Em next to him and Emma's parents on the sofa.

He chewed his toy for a while then suddenly stood up and had a huge seizure, totally out of the blue, no warning and had never had one before.

It went on for ages then he went stiff and stopped breathing. I thought he'd gone but he came back. He was totally stunned, didn't know where he was, or his name. He seemed to know us knew and he was safe with with us but he didn't really know who we were, or where he was.

We were in pieces, it was such a shock. We knew it was time. I phoned the vet as we were holding and talking to him. We knew it was time so asked the vet to bring what they needed with them.

They were 45 minutes away. I was gutted, I wanted it over so quickly in case he seized again but in hind sight I am so glad for that 45 minutes. We spent the whole time cuddling him, crying and telling him what an awesome friend he has been, telling him it wouldn't be long and he could have the best sleep and all would be fine.

After 30 minutes he'd calmed down and was just laid in bed with Emma and holding, cuddling and talking to him, wrapped in his favorite blanket. We decided we had to let him go but in the back of my mind I kept thinking what if it was a one off. He had calmed down and seemed to know where he was a bit more. My head was spinning with what to do. Then, about 40 minutes after the first seizure he seized again, not as long this time but it was as if to say "let me go", he was ready. The vet turned up about a minute after that seizure and we quickly explained what happened and that we thought it was time, he's fought long and hard but he wants to go. As she was prepping he seized again so this was only about 5 minutes after the second seizure. This time was a little longer than the second, not as long as the first. The vet commented that it was a long seizure. I think another one would have seen him off.

So, he came around form that third and final seizure and within a minute or so the vet had the catheter in and prepped and she gently let him go whilst Emma and I held him, told him we loved him and thanked him for being such a good friend. It was so peaceful, he drifted off in no time.

My heart is absolutly broken but at the same time I know he's resting at last. He doesn't have to fight anymore and we don't have to worry about him anymore.

He will be with me forever.

I am not a religious person in anyway, I know a lot of you on here are and I respect that and would welcome your prayers if that is something you would like to do after following Huck's journey on here over the last not-quite year or so.

I am at peace knowing he no longer has to cope with all the rotten things that got thrown at him this last year or two and I am thankful for every minute he was in our lives. He will be missed forever.

Thank you all on here too for your support, I cannot tell you how much it helped. As awful as it is to think so may others have gone through similar pain it really does help to know you're not alone.

Thank you all, I will be back to post again when it has all sank it a bit and I can bring myself to sift through the albums for some more photo's to share.

I hope it doesn't seem weird posting this so soon, it was only 4 hours ago that he passed and 5 hours ago that he was sat having a great time and the most alive hes been in a long time, but it's late, I can't sleep and writing this out really does help you cope. I would encourage any one to do so that is going through similar.

Thanks for being there Big Mate, love you always.

Tony & Emma

Thank you all so much for your kind words. We did manage to get a little sleep last night but we're all over the place this morning. I keep catching myself smiling at the thought of him one minute then blubbing the next.

The weird part is, (along with his amazing timing), is that the day before yesterday when we were sat having one of our chats and cuddles I told him he was allowed to go if he wanted to and was ready.

My heart is currently broken and empty but in time the space will be filled with all the great memories he gave us in the last 7 years and 3 months.

I'll pop back on here in a few days and re-read all of your lovely replies when my head is a little straighter.

Thank you.