Just chillin'

Drinking in bed . . .

It has been a year . . .

I can hardly believe that it has been one year today since Bailey was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy. And what a year it has been! On April 4th last year, I wasn't sure if Bailey would still be with me today. The neurologist was vague that day about a time frame, which I now know was probably because the progression of the disease varies greatly with all dogs. For some reason though, I just knew he would be paralyzed or gone after 9 months. Praise God that it has been 12 months and he is still with me!

The disease has definitely started to take its toll on him though. His walk has gotten much worse in the past few weeks. His back left leg is almost devoid of muscle now. He sometimes drags it along as he walks because he is unable to bend it. Other times, he stands up tall and even runs if he is in a playful mood or chasing away the dreaded UPS truck. He is starting to wag his tail less than usual, but he does still wag it when his mommy comes home! He often uses it more for balance now, held low and swaying back and forth when he is unsteady. I think his bark has changed, but not as drastically as I expected. It may be a little hoarse or a slightly higher pitch, but he still sounds like the guard dog that he is.

On the positive side, he is still getting around on his own, only occasionally needing help from me. He still pulls toys out of his basket and plays with them. He loves to stay outside for an hour or more when the sun is shining and a breeze is blowing. I take a blanket out and when he has finished patrolling the yard, he comes and lies down on the blanket and contentedly watches the world go by. He still sleeps in my bed at night, though I had to put my mattress on the floor and move the box spring out. He also still does all of his bodily functions on his own, which we are both very glad about!

And, as if DM was not enough, he has also, in the last year, dealt with the horrible lesions on his face, lesions in his ears, a rash on his belly, and a UTI, all of which are problems of the past, thank goodness! His face is perfect again, though his chin keeps getting grayer. His ears are healing. His belly rash cleared up quickly thanks to daily Benadryl, and the UTI was knocked out with antibiotics.

Today definitely brings on a mixed bag of emotions. It hurts to remember receiving the news that day. It hurts even worse to see the diagnosis coming to fruition as he has more and more difficulty getting around. But this year has also given us lots of time together, with long walks at the park, sitting side by side in the sunshine, lots of snuggle time, extra hugs and kisses.

Thank you, God, for 365 days I wasn't promised with my sweet, sweet baby. Thank You for 365 days of coming home to a wagging tail and an exuberant bark, for 365 days of falling asleep with him beside me, for 365 days of his continued mobility and positive attitude.

And one year later, Bailey walks on . . .