A Long Goodbye?
 

I've been away from YT for more than a year. For a while, there got to be some regular high drama in the forums and I just slowly disappeared.

Well, now I'm back, but it's Ozzie who is slowly disappearing.

He turned 14 last month :eek: and then last Thursday ... he was diagnosed with lymphoma. I don't know how long he has (could be as little as a few weeks, might be months if we're lucky). I think it has taken this whole past week for the inevitable to finally sink in.

I was sitting in my office and I have pictures of him (and of Toby the Cat) all over the place. Suddenly, I found myself in tears. And I've been like that off and on most of the day. How in the hell am I going to manage this?!

For right now, he's doing pretty well. He's on prednisone (low dose 2x day) and it already has the gland in his neck much closer to normal size. I know that's only temporary though. I was warned that the meds will work for a time -- even quite well -- and then they'll stop.

On the plus side, unlike with our first Yorkie, Scruffy, I KNOW we're on borrowed time. So, having him underfoot isn't the pain it normally is. I'm grateful he's there to BE underfoot. And when he gets the loudest squeaky toy imaginable out of his toy bin and goes nuts with it while I'm watching TV, I don't say a word. I'm grateful that he still CAN play and I join him on the floor. If he throws his food all over the place, I'm just happy that he can still eat.

He's had a good long run and I'm SOOOOO grateful. I've seen dozens of others right here on YT who have lost their babies so much sooner. I'm just hoping I get a long goodbye.

You poor thing. My heart breaks for you. You have to just enjoy every day you have together & you have to not think about the bad & only focus on the good. You will know when it's time as your baby will let you know that he doesn't want to play the game any more. I will pray for you both & Please try to make the best of the time you have left.

I'm so sorry your furbaby is sick.
Am glad that he is doing well right now.
Right now is really all we have. Cherish every day you have with him, (as I know you will). It's so hard when our little ones are sick.
I will keep him and you in my prayers and hope that you have many, many more days, (months) together.
By the way, love his name.:)

OH MY! You have me almost in tears! I will be praying for the both of you. I hope a miracle happens and pulls him through to stay with you for as long as possible!

My heart goes out to you. Kiss, hug and love that little one as much as you can and just remember that he knows how much his mommy adores him. My thoughts and prayers for you both.

Hugs.

Praying that you have a very long goodbye....

I am crying as I read your post. I pray that he has much more time with you.

Im glad your back and the forum has calmed down alot and now has periods where it doesnt even seem very active. Im sorry Ozzy has declining health but just take it one day at a time and enjoy the time you have with him

Nicole, I'm so sorry to hear about Ozzie, and I hope that you two have a very long good-bye together.
No matter the lenght of the days and nights we have with our beloved dogs, it is never, ever enough time.

I too will pray for you to have a long goodbye! What a beautiful, but sad, post...we all need to realize that there is no promise of tomorrow and live each day appreciating the relationships we have ...both with humans and with pets!!
You will both be in my thoughts and prayers..:)

So sorry to hear this. I will keep you and Ozzie in my prayers.

I am so sorry to hear about your little Ozzie. I can feel your heart breaking. Hopefully you and Ozzie still have a long time together. I know he will ALWAYS be with you. Whenever the day comes I know it will be too soon. It's a good reminder to all to appreciate our loved ones every single day and not let little annoyances take away from every minute we have together. I pray you have a very long time left with your little Ozzie. God Bless you both. :animal-pa

I'm so sorry for your heartache. I hope his remaining time will be the most wonderful loving fun ever.

Prayers for you and Ozzie, enjoy the time you have with him.

I do like the picture in your Avatar of the yorkie looking at the laptop, is that Ozzie?

hope you have a long goodbye with ozzie/ my prayers are with you both

This is the worse part of being a pet owner. Enjoy the time you both have and remember the good life you gave him. Saying a prayer for you both.

Yes, that is the O'man himself, looking at BIRTHDAY greetings from all his YT friends a few years ago.:)

Thanks, everyone for all the support. I really appreciate it.

Oh my goodness, i am so very sorry. Keep some of his fur the next time you trim him. Make paw prints on paper to cherish always. Take extra pictures of him laying in that silly pose. Shoot a video. These things will help you to remember him as he is now, and not as he will be in the end someday. I wish you many days filled with cuddles, and wet puppy dog kisses. You will both be in my prayers.

I'm so sorry to read this...it's so very hard to loose a piece of our hearts. We just love them so much...hold onto every moment. I pray there will be lots of moments left to love. Hugs))) to you both.

I am so sorry you are going thru this. I certainly know how you feel. My Lizzie who is 14 1/2 yrs old, just got the same DX last week-end. She is doing really well right now. She is also on pain med's because she does have some discomfort.
My Vet could not give me a time line. She has had dog's go on for almost 2 years. I am hoping I have that much time.

Prayers going for your Ozzie.

I am so sorry that you and Ozzie are going through this. It is so hard to lose a loved one, a member of our family. I am praying that you have alot of quality time with Ozzie and it lasts a long time.
xoxo

I'm really sorry about this. I get teary-eyed whenever I think about Teddy not being along my side. I know there's nothing I can say to ease your pain, but I just want you to know that I will have you and Ozzie in my thoughts.
-Rose

I am so sorry .. but happy that you have so many wonderful memories.
I understand about taking a break from any group of friends and family, but that is just the point... in someways were are a group of friends and family and I am so gratefully we can be here for you.

I promise I will remember your ozzie.. today Remy was/is driving me nuts wanting to play. Oh I am so happy that I have her to play with, I don't want regrets when it comes to the time that I have to say good bye. Thank you for reminding me of that...

Hugs.. prayers and my shoulder to cry on...

shinja

My prayer is for you and Ozzie have many more days of sharing.
I am sad that this happens. I look forward to the day when there are no more, tears, sadness, pain, or death. To a place where the lion lays beside the lamb to nap, and Yorkies run through fields of flowers, children are never hungry, and we never grow old.

I am so sorry to hear Ozzy is so sick. We lost our little Cricket last Nov; we also knew it was a matter of time. I hope you have lots of special moments w your precious boy. We will remember you and him in our prayers.

I hope that you have many more days with Ozzie. I'm so sorry that you'll have to say goodbye, I'm sure you'll cherish every moment you have with him.

I am SO very sorry to hear this. I too hope you get your long goodbye. Maybe he will surprise you, miracles do happen! Prayers for you both...

Im sorry to hear about Ozzy's condition. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and Ozzy.

This is so sad but like you said you know you have time but not how much. Enjoy this blessing. Before I had my Yorkies I had 2 Cairn Terriers that lived to be 14 and I knew it would be soon but not when. Make special memories with Ozzy and cherish the ones you have. You are in my prayers this is always one of the worst things to go through when you have a beloved pet. I hope he doesn't have any suffereing.

Lots of hugs to you & O-Man...cherish the day, everyday...words to live by!:love: