I'd like to think the worst is over. For the past 2 weeks Bruce had battled acute renal failure and more bluntly, death. If we had delayed another day more before bringing him to the vet, he would've succumbed to coma and would've died. If his spirit was weak and questionable, he wouldn't have lasted any minute longer. If our faith wavered and swayed, I would be blogging a sob story right now. No, this blog is about a calm peace of celebration.
The truth is, it was a very hard and challenging battle. It was emotionally, physically, psychologically and financially draining. All the aspects you could thing of that could devastate a man, I think I have endured. Emotionally I was a total wreck. Just thinking about how he was feeling and how he was forced to stay in the vet without his family crushed my heart every single day. The thought of him limping and dying made me go mad. Tears would be free falling at work, while driving, doing the groceries practically anytime and anywhere. I'd cry myself to sleep and lock myself at the bathroom for hours. Physically, I had changed my body clock to accommodate his needs so that I could drive and endure heavy traffic just to be with him. I'd like to think I lost a few pounds cause eating was never savory as it used to. Psychologically, I was battling myself to stay stronger. Financially I cleared out whatever cash I had. I had to pay for blood tests, medicine, the therapy, daily professional fees and medicine, not to mention buying prime meats, rice, vegetables and water for his diet. All of that I endured with my family at my back. But all of that was nothing compared to what he was going through. I don't want to discount the fact that our young bullmastiff, who just turned 1 year old a month ago, might have felt unmeasurable pain and confusion.
Acute renal failure happens fast and it's fatal. Not all dogs survive despite medication and care. Some dogs relapse. A small percentage only lives good years, could be considered a miracle case, some might graduate on to chronic renal failure. Dogs die in this disease. And sometimes science cannot do anything about it. As much as a responsible and able pet owner can offer solace and comfort to the dog, half of it depends on dog's strength and willingness to survive. Most of it depends on prayers. And I've never prayed so hard in my life.
Bruce fought hard. I know he did. Two weeks of sleepless nights for me and two weeks of painful, boring and depressing nights for him. With God's grace and mercy, we endured it. Every single day I'd wake up at 5 am to be at the office at 6 am so I could visit him and bring him food at 5 pm in the afternoon. Every single day I would drive to him, talk to him and encourage him to fight. All days were better days. Everyday he was getting stronger. Everyday my faith was renewed. And I think my whole family brought us closer to gather under one purpose. It was to see Bruce home with us, alive and well.
Finally on July 13, Saturday, after his whiny anticipation and ours, the vet gave him clearance to leave and voiced out their awe and admiration for Bruce the mere fact that his recovery was one in a million. Two weeks of fluid therapy, crappy food and depressing set up brought back his health. On the day we brought him home, we were witnesses to his happiness radiating from his eyes. We saw him jump when two weeks ago he was painfully limping. I saw how my family and even Harvey and Chivas missed him so much. We saw his own faith in himself renewed and it seemed all our challenges and tears were worth it. If my heart could burst from happiness, it would've exploded on the spot.
Tomorrow will mark his 1st week towards recovery and he's doing better than ever. For the whole week he was strictly monitored for any negative signs of possible relapse. Thankfully there was none. For the whole week, I retained my schedule at work so that I could comfort and be with him the whole afternoon. It's like a new person enjoying a new lease in life. He eats more now, plays more and rests more. I don't know if our scolding gets to his brains, but I hope somehow God would make him understand that we love him so much and we won't let anything happen to him or to any of our dogs. He's home now. He's getting well and its staying that way.
CREATININE LEVEL: From 7 to 1.8 (10 days hospitalization)
BUN: From 65 to 18
No Limping and Pain.
Eats like a monster, plays like there's no tomorrow
He begins irritating everyone with this antics
So I guess he's back to normal, and the worst is finally over.
The truth is, it was a very hard and challenging battle. It was emotionally, physically, psychologically and financially draining. All the aspects you could thing of that could devastate a man, I think I have endured. Emotionally I was a total wreck. Just thinking about how he was feeling and how he was forced to stay in the vet without his family crushed my heart every single day. The thought of him limping and dying made me go mad. Tears would be free falling at work, while driving, doing the groceries practically anytime and anywhere. I'd cry myself to sleep and lock myself at the bathroom for hours. Physically, I had changed my body clock to accommodate his needs so that I could drive and endure heavy traffic just to be with him. I'd like to think I lost a few pounds cause eating was never savory as it used to. Psychologically, I was battling myself to stay stronger. Financially I cleared out whatever cash I had. I had to pay for blood tests, medicine, the therapy, daily professional fees and medicine, not to mention buying prime meats, rice, vegetables and water for his diet. All of that I endured with my family at my back. But all of that was nothing compared to what he was going through. I don't want to discount the fact that our young bullmastiff, who just turned 1 year old a month ago, might have felt unmeasurable pain and confusion.
Acute renal failure happens fast and it's fatal. Not all dogs survive despite medication and care. Some dogs relapse. A small percentage only lives good years, could be considered a miracle case, some might graduate on to chronic renal failure. Dogs die in this disease. And sometimes science cannot do anything about it. As much as a responsible and able pet owner can offer solace and comfort to the dog, half of it depends on dog's strength and willingness to survive. Most of it depends on prayers. And I've never prayed so hard in my life.
Bruce fought hard. I know he did. Two weeks of sleepless nights for me and two weeks of painful, boring and depressing nights for him. With God's grace and mercy, we endured it. Every single day I'd wake up at 5 am to be at the office at 6 am so I could visit him and bring him food at 5 pm in the afternoon. Every single day I would drive to him, talk to him and encourage him to fight. All days were better days. Everyday he was getting stronger. Everyday my faith was renewed. And I think my whole family brought us closer to gather under one purpose. It was to see Bruce home with us, alive and well.
Finally on July 13, Saturday, after his whiny anticipation and ours, the vet gave him clearance to leave and voiced out their awe and admiration for Bruce the mere fact that his recovery was one in a million. Two weeks of fluid therapy, crappy food and depressing set up brought back his health. On the day we brought him home, we were witnesses to his happiness radiating from his eyes. We saw him jump when two weeks ago he was painfully limping. I saw how my family and even Harvey and Chivas missed him so much. We saw his own faith in himself renewed and it seemed all our challenges and tears were worth it. If my heart could burst from happiness, it would've exploded on the spot.
Tomorrow will mark his 1st week towards recovery and he's doing better than ever. For the whole week he was strictly monitored for any negative signs of possible relapse. Thankfully there was none. For the whole week, I retained my schedule at work so that I could comfort and be with him the whole afternoon. It's like a new person enjoying a new lease in life. He eats more now, plays more and rests more. I don't know if our scolding gets to his brains, but I hope somehow God would make him understand that we love him so much and we won't let anything happen to him or to any of our dogs. He's home now. He's getting well and its staying that way.
CREATININE LEVEL: From 7 to 1.8 (10 days hospitalization)
BUN: From 65 to 18
No Limping and Pain.
Eats like a monster, plays like there's no tomorrow
He begins irritating everyone with this antics
So I guess he's back to normal, and the worst is finally over.
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| Taken on the 1st day of his official homecoming. We missed him so much. |
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