Lena, Teacup Poodle w/ adrenal tumor - Lena is now an angel

[judymaggie]

Sending healing thoughts for your grandson, Joan! I remember going back to work after having to let Maggie (my first Cush pup) go. The busier I was, the better. The hardest part was having my co-workers coming by to express their condolences-I was thankful that I had a private office so I could close the door when it got to be too much.

[onlyg]

Wow. It really has! I'm so sorry. I will keep all of you in my prayers!!

[Joan2517]

Sending healing thoughts for your grandson, Joan! I remember going back to work after having to let Maggie (my first Cush pup) go. The busier I was, the better. The hardest part was having my co-workers coming by to express their condolences-I was thankful that I had a private office so I could close the door when it got to be too much.

Oh, I know...that's what I was dreading most, even though it is nice to know that they all care, because I knew I would lose it. I only broke down once so far, but going home today will be hard. Her sweet little face won't be there when I look inside the window as I have for 12 years in this house. Everywhere I look, inside and out, just hits me all over again.

My husband even called crying a little while ago when he looked at all the albums I had been going through over the weekend. My son had a dream about her last night and said that she was sitting on the couch with one of our other dogs who had died a few years ago, and she looked great and happy. They were both wagging their tails and he said she looked better than she had in years.

I wish I could dream about her, but I think I am so deep in sleep, trying to escape, that I can't just yet. But looking at the picture in her album on this forum of her in her xmas dress this year, and comparing it to the one we used on the memorial page, I can see how much she had deteriorated. You can't see her eyes, but what you can see of them, she looks far away.

I guess I got so used to it that it just looked normal, which it most definitely was not.

[Joan2517]

Wow. It really has! I'm so sorry. I will keep all of you in my prayers!!

Thanks, we could sure use them!

[Joan2517]

I just got Lena's blood workup from the ER the other night, not that it matters now, but it is in her album. I don't know if it shows anything. I guess I'm still looking for something to explain it all.

[molly muffin]

Oh no I am so sorry to hear your grandson is in the hospital and they still can't figure out what is going on

It will be hard for awhile, and there is no time period, it's different for each one.
It's just really, really hard. People try to make you feel better and they mean well but it isn't always the thing you need.
It sounds like your husband too is missing her and grieving and that your son, is missing her and well, she was a heart that beat in the family. So lean on each other and remember when her eyes where bright and her limbs strong and she ran and played and jumped for joy to see you. I think that is how Lena would want you to remember her.

Hugs

[Joan2517]

Thanks, Sharlene...Joshua will have an abdominal sonogram either tonight or tomorrow, and he will have a test in the morning to check and see if his adrenal glands are working due to the long term steroid use and the fact that he has been almost tapered off. So a blood draw in the AM a shot of a high dose steroid to give the adrenal gland a jolt and then a blood draw 1 hour after that. Since nothing seems to be showing up positive for anything this all might be just a colitis flare up..

Talk about weird...if I hadn't read all of this kind of stuff on this forum, I wouldn't have a clue what all of this meant (even though my daughter has tried to explain it to me a million times).

It seems so quiet here...but I realized tonight that it's not that it's quiet, it's that I am still listening for her and because I don't hear her little footsteps, or her drinking, or her breathing, I am interpreting that as silence....it's just that I miss everything about her.

[marinaliz]

I was away for a couple of days and I just read for your loss. I'm at a lose for words, I don't know what to say… This must be so hard for you. I'm sorry for what you are going through. I wish I had the right words to comfort you but I believe that only time will make it easier for you. She may be in a better place now…R.I.P. little princess...

[labblab]

Thanks, Sharlene...Joshua will have an abdominal sonogram either tonight or tomorrow, and he will have a test in the morning to check and see if his adrenal glands are working due to the long term steroid use and the fact that he has been almost tapered off. So a blood draw in the AM a shot of a high dose steroid to give the adrenal gland a jolt and then a blood draw 1 hour after that...

Hi Joan,

Gosh, I'll surely be thinking of you guys today and hoping that the doctors can find an answer for what is ailing Joshua! You know, it sounds as though he is having an ACTH stimulation test done. They perform them on humans just like they do on our doggies, to test for either Cushing's or Addison's. What a coincidence, is it not?

Sending you my warm thoughts across the miles,
Marianne

[Joan2517]

Hi Joan,

Gosh, I'll surely be thinking of you guys today and hoping that the doctors can find an answer for what is ailing Joshua! You know, it sounds as though he is having an ACTH stimulation test done. They perform them on humans just like they do on our doggies, to test for either Cushing's or Addison's. What a coincidence, is it not?

Sending you my warm thoughts across the miles,
Marianne

I know, Marianne...when Jess was telling me about what they were doing, I kept thinking "why does this sound so familiar?" And then it hit me. They were supposed to do this test on Josh in May, but they figured they would do it now as long as he was in the hospital. She even has a syringe at home in case he breaks a bone or something and goes into shock...and now because of all of this with Lena, I understand it.

He doesn't have Addison's or Cushing's, it's Chronic Granulomatous Disease, but his adrenal glands have been affected by the long-term steroid use...I guess we'll find out today, how affected they are.