GB Has Pneumonia

This photo is of GB, Younger Son's Golden Retriever, and a foster kitten. It was taken two summers ago at the beach.GB is half-asleep, letting the kitten crawl all over him. Yes, we took two large dogs and three tiny kittens with us to the beach.

And we had a wonderful time.

Now, GB is at the vet, and he may not survive.

I talked to one vet on the phone late yesterday, and he said he thought last night would be the turning point, one way or the other.

So I went in this morning, as early as they would let me, and GB was still hanging in there, but he wasn't getting enough oxygen (gums and tongue were purple/gray), so they had tried to rig up an oxygen mask for him (because he was too big for the oxygen cage that they have) but he had been fighting it.

When I was there, curled up on the floor next to him, he calmed down and we put the oxygen back on him. So that was good. And the staff said it helped him to have me there, so I stayed for more than half an hour, brushing GB with his own dog brush from home (which he loves), which also helped to calm him down.

I have a massage at noon (thank god), which will help with my stress. Then I'm going back to sit with GB for the last hour that the office is open today, and the staff said I can go in tomorrow morning, even though they are closed except for emergencies, because there will be a vet there, of course.

Meanwhile, Younger Son is off on a college retreat for the weekend. He also had midterms this past week, so he hasn't even been able to see his dog since GB swallowed the rocks last weekend, leading to the pneumonia he is fighting now.

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.

Comments

[Carver]

I am so sorry to read this and will be sending out good thoughts for GB as well as for you and your son. I know this is so hard to see and also hard for your son not to be able to see GB.

[jessica]

oh my... i just returned from the st. paul farmer's market where i saw a beautiful golden and immediately thought of you and yours. so sorry to hear that he is not improving. i didn't imagine it would take this turn. you take care, my dear. enjoy that massage for all its worth, and know that we are all here pulling for you all.

[jeanne]

Thanks. GB died this afternoon. I am so upset that I didn't stay with him when I was there this morning. I was going to go back after my massage, but then I got the message that he had died.

If you have an animal you love, you know how I feel. Just devastated. GB was always there for me, and I feel like I failed him somehow.

Tears in Seattle. Younger Son cannot be reached--he's on a retreat and was required to leave his phone at home.

[jessica]

'Tribute to a Best Friend'

Sunlight streams through window pane onto a spot on the floor.....

then I remember,

it's where you used to lie, but now you are no more.

Our feet walk down a hall of carpet, and muted echoes sound.....

then I remember,

it's where your paws would joyously abound.

A voice is heard along the road, and up beyond the hill,

then I remember,

it can't be yours..... your golden voice is still.

But I'll take that vacant spot of floor and empty muted hall,

and lay them with the absent voice and unused dish along the wall.

I'll wrap these treasured memories in a blanket of my love,

and keep them for my best friend until we meet above.

Author Unknown

Bless GB, and you and YS, as well, Jeanne. Big hugs to you...

[Sara]

Oh, sweetie. I am so sorry.

[Dee]

Jeanne, I am so sorry and please pass my condolences to YS. Wow. How unexpected! My thoughts are with you.

[Amorette]

Poor GB. I'll be thinking of him and of you and your son.

[laurie]

Oh, Jeanne. I am so sorry. I do know what it's like to love an animal and lose them. It does hurt so much and it is hard not to feel responsible. But it's clear to me that you did everything you could and that you loved that dog. And I am sure he knew it. xo

[jeanne]

Thanks, everyone.

I'm still kicking myself for not realizing yesterday morning that he was dying, and for not staying to be there with him at the end. I was planning to come back after doing a couple of errands and getting a massage, but I just wish I'd realized so I could have stayed.

Thanks for telling me that I did everything I could. I think medically we did, but I really miss him. Clouds of his hair are still floating around on the hardwood floors in the living room.

Connie, my dog, is missing him too, but of course I can't explain. Connie and the cat are a comfort to me, and I need to tell Younger Son this afternoon when he gets home--he's had GB from the time he was eight weeks old.

I just need to feel sad for awhile, so don't feel like you need to try to cheer me up. Grief is grief--dog or person.

Love to you all,

Jeanne

[debutaunt]

Awwww. I'm so so sad :(

Zoe said she is sad too and sends Auntie J some hugs. She really misses Seattle and the kitties.

Please give YS a hug from the Texas Twosome.

Much love,
D

[Lisa]

Oh man, I am so sorry. Dogs are our companions and friends. I am sure that you are devastated. It makes me sad just to think about it. I am sorry for YS too. I'm thinking of you all