It was January 13th and all was well on a Sunday morning, or so it seemed. As the morning passed Mason started to pant heavily, become very weak and collapsing over. Fast forward 10 minutes, he was gone. Just like that over the rainbow bridge. As I fell to the ground crying hysterically, screaming calling his name I just wasn't quite sure what just happened. My 13 year old that had remarkable blood work, was healthy in person and on paper just suddenly passed away with no warning. The one that had energy, was eating and drinking and acting normal. Thank god, I was home, we were together. He had special people with him, holding him. As he was wrapped in a blanket and driven down to a well known vet, I'm frozen, I'm destroyed, wondering why, what and how come. I don't get it. He was 13, healthy and I thought we would have some more years together.
Leaving me unexpectedly, I wanted answers and needed closure. Enter- veterinarian services of cremation and necropy's. A necropy is basically a autopsy for an animal. So this is how I proceeded, as I crumbled and listened to the process of my next point in my life. It took about a week or so to get the results and about two weeks to get his ashes and bring him back home where he belonged.
A week later, here is where I learn about Hemangiosarcoma. A cancerous mass on the spleen undetected by blood work, with no known Symptoms, causes or warnings. This whole time, for apparently a month he had it, if not 2-3 months. My happy, healthy boy. Unfortunately, if you are not aware or know much about it, it comes on suddenly and the prognosis is grave. We don't have many options and the options we do have doesn't stop it or change the final outcome. My heart was stunted, feeling shocked, lost, but at peace a tiny bit knowing now what happened to my best fur friend, Mason.
As the weeks past by life at home is very different. Walking through the door, not having that family member greeting you and everything else around you change. For anyone that has lost a pet you know, or has a pet, I encourage you to spend as much time with them as I did. Give them your all, as one day expected or unexpected just like that, that bark, that tail wag is no longer and it is heartbreaking.
We know that all dogs go to heaven, they don't live forever and I imagine the expected is just as difficult as the unexpected but the unexpected just takes your breath away, knocks you off your feet and crushes you.
To end this post on a more upbeat tone as Mason would want, I imagine him now smiling, rolling around in lush grass and playing all day long up over the rainbow bridge.
Forever and not forgotten Mason.
XOXO
DOGOBSESSED
