Gotta Stay Positive

I've been really bummed this week about my pup, Ham.They won't schedule eye surgery til he has a complete heart work up done. They are worried the heart worms may have damaged his heart and that he isn't strong enough for surgery.

I may not be a vet but I know my pup! He's a massive 80 pounds of  muscle and I just know in my OWN heart  that he is good to go! He's had no complications from the heart worm treatment, no coughing (one side effect) and poops nice solid stools. I think the specialist's are more concerned about liability issues and I understand  that,  but  have enough faith in  this dog who has proven to be a fighter that I am prepared to sign a waiver. I just want him to SEE again, even if just out of one eye. I want to see him leaping six feet into  the air again and chasing his tennis ball across the yard.

I talked to my sister last night and we agreed that either way, Ham's "Bowl" is half full. If Ham hadn't melted two of my blog reader's hearts, I would have never been able to  take him to be evaluated for eye surgery  to begin with. Once we had him evaluated and got  the go ahead I had to have all his shots updated. When I  took him to the low cost "Vet in a Van" for his exam and shots, they discovered he tested positive for heart worms.

Had the ball (small pun) never started rolling, Ham would more than likely be deathly ill by now, if not dead. Instead we caught it early,  had him treated after  many more of his human friends came to his rescue, providing for the expense of the quick kill method. The quick kill took thirty days versus the two year method of the slow kill treatment. It wasn't easy and took lot's of effort keeping him calm for thirty days with  two other dogs wanting to play  with their buddy but we did it...and Ham survived.

Here's the thing...I don't give up easily. In fact I can't ever remember giving up. If you  give up you never know what MAY happen.

They tell me the cardio work up is pretty costly. That's okay with me, Ham is worth millions to our family.

I'm emailing the foundation tomorrow that offered to help with his surgery before the heart worm  debacle. If they can't help...I'll simply make it happen. Worst case scenario, I'll be out some money to find out how strong or weak his Ticker is.

When you have and love dogs, you have four legged children. When you are a loving mother you will do anything for your children no matter how many legs they have.

I sit here well after midnight typing this blog. My other two pups have drifted to other parts of the house to sleep but Ham is three feet  away  from  me snoozing away. I think he WANTS me to keep on keeping on, and I will.

He beat the heart worms and as they say,  what doesn't kill you  makes you  stronger. He is only  six years old.  I think I want to roll the dice and try and let him have his vision back rather  than him  stumble blindly through seven more years of total darkness not being able to play and run with the other two pups without giving him the chance at seeing again.

If something happened during the surgery it would devastate me, but then again...he would only be gone from OUR world yet still be jumping high in Heaven chasing his tennis ball through the pearly gates.

And if the surgery is a success...I get  to watch him chase  his tennis ball in our own back yard for seven more years.

Half empty / Half full.

Looks like I need some help and input.

I noticed  tonight when I logged in that my  blog has reached over the 65,000 view mark. Okay readers...let me hear from you!

My car's still sitting broke as a joke in the garage and I'm still bumming rides from my daughter ... yet I am more concerned about this marvelous, beautiful loving pup snoozing away next  to me. A car is a car but my pup is the child who has never ever  asked for anything yet grateful for everything.

Although I have asked for your input, I know what I MUST do. Even if Ham's glass is half empty that  means mine is half full.

What I need now is your support and prayers.

I just feel like Ham is up to the task. I feel that if I don't try, I'd be letting Ham down.

Til next  time...A Dog Loving COTTON.