Shayne

This is how our dear son looked when he first came to us. For those of you who do not know, Shayne passed on to Heaven this morning. He'd been very sick for the past few weeks and had spent a lot of time in the hospital over the last couple of weeks. They were so good to him and he to them. In fact, I believe just about every person working there felt bonded to Shayne by the time he passed away.


(Shayne's first photo as part of our familyin June of '07)

After many x-rays, blood tests, upper GI procedures and even an ultrasound were performed we began to think that we knew what was wrong with our dear son. Dr. Marty called me and told me that he had a inner "sock" so to speak in his intestines and needed surgery. He said from the Barium readings that it was either this inner sock in his intestines or his intestines were twisted and either way Shayne needed surgery. He said they'd have to cut about six to eight feet out of his intestines to help him get better. I approved the surgery and Dr. Marty told me that he would have someone call me as they started surgery and he would call me when they finished. But in truth, Dr. Marty called me both times and had called me many times over the last couple of weeks to talk about his thoughts and worries and efforts to help Shayne.

Shayne playing in the water in Blue Ridge


Before you begin to think that our dear little guy spent his last few weeks in a kennel, think that no more. He was spoiled rotten here at home and at the vet's office. When he was there they often allowed him to wander around in the lounge between the visiting rooms and kennels behind the desk. When they did place him in a room it was often Dr. April's office or a Lounge where he had a rug to lie upon and a window to look out of.

( The image on the right is of Shayne at St. Margaret's in the church after being blessed at the pet blessing. He's participating in the refreshment and fellowship. Josh is holding onto his leash. This is October '07)


Since he was refusing to eat they tried so many things to encourage him to do so. They even mixed various forms of canned dog food with water and other things to make it softer for him. Of course none of this was to any avail and it became painfully obvious why it hadn't worked once surgery began....





When Dr. Marty opened up Shayne he discovered that he a large vascular mass just below his stomach and beside his gall bladder. It was this mass that Dr. Becky (the vet that did the ultrasound) saw when she informed us that his gall bladder was much too large and in danger of rupturing.



(The picture above: One of my all time favorite pictures of Shayne this one was taken the night before Halloween)


Unfortunately the mass was inoperable. Dr. Marty explained that it was either cancer or a fungus. From what I've since been told this is the most northern case of this type of fungus attacking an animal. Shayne's fungal mass most likely began to grow because he had a cut internally or a sore spot that the fungus attached to when he drank contaminated water. This fungal mass not only was making it impossible for him to eat, but was making it difficult to Shayne to keep down any fluids either.

(Left: This is a picture on the night before Halloween. Rachel and Shayne are playing as we carve pumpkins).

(Above Shayne and Rachel have just checked out the beginnings of our Jack-o-lantern and are coming to see what else we are working on).


So his Daddy (Josh) and I were faced with a difficult decision. We had to decide what to do. Dr. Marty offered us the opportunity to spend one last evening with him before euthanizing Shayne or he could go ahead and put him down on the table. We opted to have the evening with him. I'm glad that we did.

Yes, Dr. Marty did tell us about specialists that could have tried to have helped Shayne, but the bottom line was this. Even with their help in two weeks we could have been facing the same decision when the fungus came back.


(Shayne and Rachel with me examining their stockings and toys on Christmas morning 2007. As you can see Shayne already has one of his toys in his mouth).





Dr. Marty is such a phenomenal vet. He allowed us to come pick up Shayne as he was coming out of surgery. We sat with him while he was awaking up and while we were doing so he offtered to call my Aunt Sara that we regularly and lovingly call our "vet by phone." He said he knew we'd want to talk to her before making any decisions. So Dr. Marty explained to my Aunt what he'd found and the details of his prognosis for the situation. When he finished he asked me if I'd like to speak to her. Of course I said I wanted to....and I did.


My Aunt's recommendation was to euthanize. She actually pushed me to go ahead and do so before Shayne ever woke up from surgery, but thankfully by the time we finsihed our conversation that wasn't even an option anymore and Josh said absolutely not. He wanted time with Shayne last night to say good-bye.

So Dr. Marty and Josh carried Shayne to the car and we brought him home. Shayne spent a lot of the evening just lying in the floor, and shifting from his side to his stomach as far as lying positions go. But he had *lots* of attention and love directed toward him and many visitors last night too. Josh and I pulled his toys out of his toy box and Shayne played with many of his favorites...Josh took pictures which I'll try to put up at some later date.

Galen, our priest, came by and prayed for and with Shayne last night. She'd asked if she could after I told her what was going on. Shayne had been on our prayer list at church and so I knew I needed to let her know he'd no longer need to be, but also to let her know we needed that support right now.

Josh's Mom, Beth, came by and sat with Shayne for a *long* time. And Rachel (our four legged daughter) sat with Beth. That's a first for Rachel. Never before had she allowed Beth to touch her.

Rach and Shayne had a good visit last night as we all did...and everyone seemed to understand what came next. So when I headed to bed a little after midnight, I couldn't help but hope for a different outcome, a miracle...but when as I awakened and have had time to reflect upon the events from the last year, I have no doubt. Shayne, himself, was our miracle! We didn't need any more.

So Rachel and Shayne went outside early this morning and hung out in the yard as the regularly do in early morning hours. Then when I got up, we all began to make plans to go to "the park."

In the afternoons when I'd get home from school Rachel and Shayne and I would visit the park. On the weekends, Josh would join us too. But I do believe Shayne was the one who was always the most excited about the park. So he had a drink of water this morning and kept it down (miracle of miracles). I offered him food thinking maybe he'd miraculously healed over night, but of course he turned it down. However, he did sit with Josh and me while we got ready to go to the park.

Then he slowly climbed into the car, I took one of his new balls, I'd picked up for him last week and off we went. Josh, of course, asking us not to over do it. And we didn't. Shayne played ball "some" when we got to the park. No one threw it hard or far...but he enjoyed it nonetheless. He laid down in a mud puddle. He peed on his favorite trees and he just walked with us throughout the park.

After the outing was finished we brought Rachel home, let them say their good-byes and took Shayne back to Dr. Marty's.

Both Josh and I stayed with him while he was euthanized. It was quick. He'd laid down on his side on the floor before they started the procedure and they just let him stay there.


We'd told Shayne (even though we all know he already knew) that he was going to be going to heaven. Josh told him about the huge bones (almost dinosaur size) that he'd get to chew on. I'd asked him to look over our miscarried children and my godchildren that are in heaven. Josh told him he'd never get tired anymore or have problems breathing. He'll get to play as long as he wants and there will of course be many balls and mud puddles in the park to lie down in.




(Shayne playing in a creek in North Georgia)

So when Dr. Marty gave Shayne the shot and he drifted away within the next minute or two...we knew. Shayne had gone home. He was in the heavenly park we'd promised and he no longer has to worry about any aches and pains.

Of course it's still hard for us down here. That was probably one of the hardest decisions we've had to make together, if not the hardest. And I suspect it will continue to be a hard time and sad time for a while. Josh sat up all night with Shayne, snoozing only occasionally. Shayne was his boy.

But his boy taught him some powerful lessons and that's one of the reasons I'm convinced something Dr. Marty said was true. As I thanked Dr. Marty today for calling Aunt Sara last night and conveyed Momma's comment that she'd heard of doctors for people doing things like that, but had never heard of a vet doing so, so she knew we had one of the best, he said "There are some dogs that are more than just dogs."

And I think that said it all. Shayne wasn't just a dog. He was our four legged son, and he'd touched the hearts of so many. Everyone in the clinic was upset that he had gotten this sick, but the one lesson that only Shayne could teach his Daddy, that he did teach was this: Even dogs and cats and all little animals go to heaven. And when we die, they'll be there ahead of us waiting.

I truly believe Shayne was more than a dog and more than our four-legged son. He truly was an angel in disguise. We are blessed to have met him and allowed our lives to overlap with his.

I know we'll never be the same, but I for one, am glad. And I look forward to the say that I go to heaven and see a four legged angel bouncing towards us. I suspect he'll be....our Shayne...and we'll be his....