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Sedatives, surprises and lots of support
“Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” ~ Misty Copeland Nursing a dog who is seriously injured can be confining, but the next few weeks are especially critical for Coco’s recovery. I’ll do whatever it takes to help her — even though it means altering my own plans to accomplish that. As we begin Week Two of Coco’s eight-week healing process, I remind myself that major recoveries can’t be hurried. One small step at a time. Our house looks like an infirmary and will stay that way through the holidays. The Christmas decorations are still packed in the attic, where they’ll remain until next…
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All-inclusive gratitude
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson When we consider Thanksgiving, we usually think of our good fortune. But as my old friend Emerson suggested in today’s quote, “all things” have made us who we are today. That includes setbacks and struggles such as health crises, personal losses, career challenges, and other difficulties. We all face hurt and disappointment at some point. The pilgrims who left England to start new lives here — including my own maternal ancestors on…
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Time and patience
“I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.” ~Marie Curie Yesterday afternoon I drove to the grocery to buy more chicken breasts for Coco. Her appetite is poor, thanks in part to the medications she’s taking, but she’ll make an exception for boiled chicken and broth. Heading down 12 Mile Road, I battled another flood of tears — a frequent but unpredictable occurrence after I witnessed Coco’s accident Saturday night. I was exhausted after another restless night of worry and a long day of caregiving. And I was overwhelmed by the heartbreak of my dog’s pain and the thought of the months it will take…
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The long road to recovery
“I’m not telling you that recovery is going to be easy; I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” – Art Williams First, thank you for your thoughtful texts, emails, and comments of support for Coco and our family. I’ve never received this much mail for any column or post I’ve written. Along with your support, you’ve shared hope-filled stories about your own pets and how they’ve recovered from illness and trauma. It proves that our pets are family, not accessories. When they hurt, we hurt. As promised, today’s post is an update on what’s next for Coco after the accident. Yesterday morning, several veterinarians at the animal hospital consulted…
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The ordinary instant
“Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant.” ~Joan Didion It started out to be an ordinary, uneventful Saturday evening. In a few texts, my friend Deb and I had just agreed that we were looking forward to a quiet, cozy evening with our husbands. Nothing special to do. Then, around 6:15, I opened the front door to bring in two packages from the porch. And life changed. As she often does, our dog Coco followed me to the porch while I picked up the packages. Though Coco isn’t allowed to wander unleashed in the front yard, something caught her eye on the park-like boulevard across the street from our home.…
