Koko - our middle dog-child - is sick. Really sick.
Earlier this week, after months of expressing concern over how she wasn't getting any better, we were told that there was nothing that could be done. That the humane thing to do would be to put her down and give her peace.
Fortunately for Koko, John is a fighter of the status quo, and an advocate for the underdog. While her prognosis is "guarded", Koko has a fighting chance of making it her decision when her time is, rather than someone elses decision.
Diagnosed with colon cancer, Koko is home resting "comfortably", awaiting test results so that we, John, myself and Katrina, can be an informed voice for her. When she is ready to fight no more, we will respect that. But fight she has, so fight we will! At a young nine-years old, (56 in dog years), Koko has more puppy and more life left in her than people 1/2 her years in people years.
We should have seen this coming!
Why didn't we! In doing my research now, I see how the symptoms of Chrons, or colonitis mimic the symptoms of colon cancer. Both are bad, but with proper treatment, colonitis should clear up or be managed in 2-3 weeks. Our Koko has been sick for 6 months!
Dogs don't know how to do anything BUT love!
Koko has always been an incredible sensitive, aware dog. More so than most people that I know. Her first concern is that the people SHE cares about are happy and okay - even before herself. Yes, she feels like shit right now...but her people are scared and sad, and she needs to take care of that before all other! She's a better person than I'll ever be!
Rough Beginnings...
Koko is our first rescue dog. I watched her run unsupervised in the marina and down the hill below our home when I was 6 months pregnant with Katrina. Coaxing her to finally come to me late on a cold, rainy, fall day - our fate with Koko was sealed. A scrawny, scared puppy - we tried half-heartedly to find her owners, knowing based on her reaction to us, that they had treated her like crap to begin with. We found a temporary home with "Santa Clause" only to have her returned 2 days later because she was "more than we can handle." I don't know what's different about John and I than others - but we tolerate more with rescue animals. Bring out the good in them, and help them move past the bad. That wasn't easy with Koko - but she wouldn't be the dog she is today without the patience, love and understanding of some key people in her life throughout her first year of life.
If you are still in it to win it, we're here for you!
Selfishly speaking, I am not yet ready to imagine a world without my Koko Puff. A black shadow of a lab that follows me throughout the house, serves as my alarm clock and counter balances the crazy antics of an insane (literally) almost 12-year old chocolate lab, puppy-ness of a 2-year old border collie and tolerates (indeed!) the teenage girl like mood swings of two female cats. Life without Kokie is unimaginable.
That being said, she is one of ours, and with that, John and I will fight for her until she tells us that she is ready to stop. Being a chemo and cancer survivor myself, I understand, at least on one level, what she is going through and, with that, won't complain about the every hour, on the hour, potty attempts throughout the night or her intense fatigue that hits out of the blue. Been there. Done that. What can I help you with, sister?!
Dogs are better people, than people...
I know that she hurts, and sometimes questions why. But Koko never complains. They shaved her tummy. They shaved her wrists and put needles in them. They pushed water up her bootie to get her to poop. She has to digest nasty tasting antibiotic pills so that she doesn't get "sicker." She can't poop, at least poop as we know poop, no matter how hard she tries.
She endures her current fate with every bit of grace, dignity and love that she can muster. She only looks at me with love and appreciation that I am somehow trying to make things better for her. Can you image doing that yourself? I wonder!
I haven't blogged in awhile. My apologies. We all go through stages in our lives that we want to talk about, or aren't ready to talk about. Post China wasn't something that I was ready to talk about.
Koko is someone that I NEED to blog about. Because she is an amazing dog. Because she is an amazing being. Because sometimes I just need to write to get my own head around things. Because it is my responsibility to write to help others NOT have to experience the bad things. If I could offer one little bit of advice....
Colon Cancer in Dogs...Things to Watch For...
- If there is blood of mucous present in your dogs stool
- If your dog is straining to go potty...
- Vomiting - your dog is no longer keeping food down
- Significant / quick weight loss - this is bad!
Koko has chapters yet to be written - and I'll share them here as they unfold.
In the meantime, hug your pet, acknowledge that they are better beings than you, and watch for the signs. Animals may not vocalize what they are going through, but they do tell you things! Hind sight sucks when it ends in cancer.
Peace Out
