Mali and Chi: 2019

Skipping the Years, Bringing to the Present - March 31 2019

There are so many wonderful photos of Mali and Chi having wonderful adventures. (Some are on my "people" blog.) But I didn't want to get too boring. I love all those photos of them posing next to each other on the trail or next to the stream or river or ocean or mountain top, but I also realize that they might all look the same to someone looking in. Plus, we were so busy doing things, I didn't have time to maintain the blog, too.

In 2016, I had both of my knees replaced. I will never forget that Chi, as soon as I started in the front door from the hospital, Chi said, "Oh! I got this. Time to nurse her back to health!" He immediately went into his caring for Mom role. (Mali was terrified of the walker. By the time she was comfortable with it, I didn't need it any more.)

Then came the summer of 2017 - I was so excited. I was retiring and I had visions of many long, wonderful walks with my two companions - no schedule to be met, just unlimited time. But, life isn't always on our schedule.

We'd be walking along, and Chi would sort of stumble - one leg would seem to give away. Then he seemed to lose his hearing. And he couldn't see to go down the steps, especially in low light situations. Then all the light seemed to be gone from his eyes - it was like a horror movie (not that I watch them), looking into his eyes was like looking into infinite darkness or emptiness.

By December, his seizures were coming almost hourly and then 45 minutes, totally collapsing him to the floor. It's still too soon, too painful. The vets, yes, we went to multiple doctors, believed it was a brain tumor. They said there was nothing more that could be done; he was already on so much phenobarbital to control the seizures that any more would basically make him comatose.

At the same time, 68 pound Mali was having knee (cranial cruciate ligament) problems, first one leg and then the other.

Chi, December 19, 2017

While Mali was having x-rays taken, Chi went to his final rest. Our hearts are still broken. Chi was always touching us. His head would rest on the small of my back as I sat on the sofa - such a warm, loving feeling. If ever there was a support person or dog, it was Chi.

I think the way we and Mali survived was because of the rough 2018 we had ahead - cranial cruciate ligament correction on her right rear leg. With her extreme weight loss, about 18 pounds in roughly 2 months, the other leg manages pretty well without correction. We became increasingly concerned about 2 masses, and after pressing the issue, one was found to be a mast cell cancer. It's removal was especially distressing for all of us - we received back a dog with a very large, uncovered and bleeding incision. It's removal in summer was followed in September by what had been diagnosed as a "benign" cyst, began draining. And then I found a small lump in her neck - thyroid carcinoma. When it was removed, that "benign" cyst was also removed - and it contained a third - different - type of cancer.

Baby Girl, came out "smiling" and strong after each challenge. She began to be more open and a bit more relaxed at the vets.

But it became very obvious that she wanted a doggy companion. She had not had time to think of her lost companion, but now it was as if she was searching for him.

Yesterday, March 30, 2019, Kemet joined the family. He came from the same shelter that Mali had lived at for so long in 2011-2013.