Sweet Gifts...

Actually, dear friends, I'm doing better than I expected to by now. It's only been a few days, but thinking about Tag, reading and responding to your comments here - and the hundreds on Facebook - have really been a great help.

Knowing that others share my grief and sadness, and that many are praying for my healing has helped more than you know. Also having unshakable faith that I'll be reunited, not only with my Taggart, but with all our loved ones when we're called home is very comforting.

I really don't want anyone to feel more sadness with this post. That's not my intent at all. I have my boy tucked away in my heart, knowing that he isn't suffering any longer.

For those who wonder what happened, our vet believes that he suffered from IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease), with probably a Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) component as well. If you don't know about IVDD and would like to understand what it is, HERE is a link. I also have a DM link HERE if you aren't familiar with this devastating disease. It's the canine version of ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease and it's insidious, striking many corgis. Once there is a cure for one, there will be a cure for the other (DM/ALS). 

Tag's breeder lied to me when I first inquired about her litters, telling me that she didn't have DM in her bloodlines. I learned differently months later, so I sent for a test kid from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). I returned the swab as directed, and the results came back that Tag carried both genes for DM, making him an "at risk" dog. Symptoms don't usually show until dogs pass their tenth birthday. He showed no symptoms until last week, although Tag had pain, and there is no pain associated with DM. The dogs feel nothing at all.

We are not aware that Tag did anything to hasten an injury in the past few weeks. He was getting slower coming up the porch stairs, and I frequently carried him down to get out, and back up to go into the house. He'd quit coming to the second floor months ago, choosing to lie at the bottom of the stairs to wait for me to come back down. Other than that, we hadn't seen him falter, fall or yip in the course of his day, so we can't attribute his rapid decline to a specific event.

We can only surmise that this condition just got worse as he grew older, and there was nothing to be done at his age. Surgery would have been a painful process with a long recuperation that would have held no guarantees he would ever walk again. It would have been selfish to put him through that. So, the tearful decision was made to hold him close, give him treats (ginger snaps from the vet), and set him free.

From my friend, Sandy M.

This is an AI image that my friend, Sandy generate to share with me. I haven't played around with any of those programs, but I've seen other images Sandy has done through this medium and they're pretty impressive. I love that she did this for me. It's not an actual photograph of Tag, but it's a close likeness, for sure.

Shared by my friend, Laura J.

My friend, Laura sent this one to me. This is where I truly believe he is...in our Savior's arms...and with all the much-loved pets, family and friends who have gone before him. I know they'll be waiting for us in due time.

Thanks again for all your wonderful comments. I wish my blog posts had just a "like" button, as with Facebook, so you could acknowledge, but not feel compelled to comment to these posts. I suppose I could just turn off comments for this one, but I'll leave the settings as they are. I only hope that this post will bring a smile to your face, and you, too, might feel less sad over Tag's passing. He lived his entire life making people happy. I don't think he'd want that to change now. 

We love you all, friends.

Brynwood Accepted "The ALS Ice Box Challenge"...

I'm sure you're heard all about the ALS "Ice Bucket Challenge" by now. I knew someone would nominate me, and it finally happened on Wednesday   night. (Sending a big, snarky "thank you" to my cousin, Nathaniel!)   Of course, you know I'm not one to just grab a bucket and stand in the yard. Handsome and I put our heads together and came up with this little video.   I thanked him for helping me by nominating HIM! It's cheesy, I know, but we had fun, and hope you do, too, when you watch it. Tag even got in the act!   Here's the video: This is the direct link: http://youtu.be/_hBw3L2nR9c   Man! That water was chilly! I thought being in the pool would help, but it didn't. My head was cold even after I went back under water and swam to the steps... and it was 100º in steamy south Florida by the time we filmed this.
Enough silliness, though. ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) is serious business. In addition to having ice water dumped on me by my dear husband, I also made a donation to the ALS Association. I admit that I have selfish reasons for finding a cure for ALS. ALS and DM (Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs) are closely related. As of today, both diseases are incurable, and DM has the same symptoms.   From the ALS Association website: "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease  that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from  the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the  body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads  to their death. When the motor neurons  die, the ability of the brain to initiate and  control muscle movement is lost." In dogs the degeneration also leads to death.

The ALS Association and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals share their research results. It is my deepest desire that a cure be found for ALS - and DM. Taggart carries both genes for DM. That means he could live a long, healthy life with no effects whatsoever. It also means that he could develop DM after he turns ten, but I pray every day that he never exhibits symptoms.
So, I made my donation in addition to being soaked with water and ice. When  I nominated Handsome to take up the challenge, and I knew he'd also donate.
Perhaps you think the Ice Bucket Challenge is silly. That's ok. You're not required to do it. What I would like to ask is that you consider making a small donation to the ALS Association. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a cure were found in our lifetime? If you're so motivated, this is the link to make a gift toward continued research. Thanks for watching the video and making it all the way to the end of today's post. Tag and I really appreciate it.