Wednesday, July 23, 2008

I Can't Put Daisy Down


First off, this blog is different today, as I need YOUR help with a real life dilemma I face daily. After you read this blog, will you take a minute to comment some feedback/advice to me.
Once you read the story, you'll know what I need to decide.
Then, I am putting up a story I wrote last year about my Daisy, you might enjoy reading.



My Daisy.....
Daisy is my 18 year old Long Haired Chihuahua. I rescued her from an abusive home,and have had her for 6 years.
Well, Daisy is completely blind now, and deaf. Her eyes are going shut, and everyday when I get home from work, I take her into the bathroom, and wash out her little sunken eyes.
Then I wrap her up in a towel, and hold her close, until she starts snoring.
I turn on her little hot pad in her bed, and put her to bed.
My dilemma is that she suffers with this eye situation, it is a little painful when I wash the dried up eye goo off of her eyes. I do it twice a day.
I feel like she should be 'put down', but I don't believe it is up to me to make that choice. I'm of a Christian faith, and I believe that God will take her when He decides it is her time to go.
If she were suffering tremendously, I'd probably make that decision myself. But her eye washing is a 10 minute discomfort for her.
Knowing how she suffered abuse for years, I'm feeling guilty that she has to deal with ANY pain for her final days with me.
What do I do?? What would you do?? Does anyone have a similar story to tell me, so I can try to figure this all out?
I worry that 'IF' I made a choice to put her to sleep, then would God consider that a sin, and I'd be held accountable on my 'judgement day' before HIM.
I appreciate anyones input on this. I wrestle with what to do every day.
This is completely serious. Thanks for any viewpoints I receive.
Marti
My Mom, and Daisy, My Little Dog written in 2007ve been wanting to write this story,but trying to figure out how to put it all together, to hold the interest of a reader.Also, how to intermingle it properly.

My Mom,her name was Lois, was a hard, unemotional woman raised by an abusive mother. My grandma. I Never met her. Mom never knew her father.
Mom never let her guard down, and it was such rare occasions that I saw her weep, I remember them so very well.
She cried when my sister passed away, in 2001.
Then I didn't see her cry again, until the day she played Clays' version of 'Solitaire' in her CD player, my brother had bought her.
She didn't like us to see that side of her, so for years, and years, we didn't.
By the time I saw her cry,it was in her room. I walked in, and the song was playing.
I wouldn't have known she was crying, if I hadn't looked over at her.
By this time, in moms life, I was taking care of her, her medical condition was pretty deteriorating. Even so, she was more stubborn than a mule when it came to showing emotions.
When mom saw, that I had seen her, she took on the 'harder side' of her personality again.
She stayed that way pretty much, until the last time she went into the hospital May 31,2006.
On her deathbed, is the first time that I saw my mom, 'vulnerable'.
It was the only time she said, "I Love You So Much", and I felt it, felt that she meant it.
The only time I feel, that she 'felt it.'
2 days before death, and I finally heard it, felt it.
2 days before her death, and she got to feel it, and hear it from me, and she felt it in her heart.
I have a 17 year old Chihuahua dog, that I got 5 years ago, from an abusive situation. Daisy, from Day 1, has been skittish, mistrusting,can't stand, or sit still, when I hold her.
No matter how much love and affection I could give her, she stayed the same. Always nervous, always backing up when I tried to pick her up.
Stepping backward, so I couldn't grip her, to lift her.
All these years, and I couldn't change her. I couldn't help her get better. To not be afraid that I was going to hurt her.
Well, this last year, Daisy and I, have both gone through some changes.
In the last 9 months of me going through having Cancer, and the treatments, my Daisy has been going through the process of becoming completely blind now with age, and deaf also.
I know that she is in her 'downward' turn.
We have pretty much turned to each other during these last 9 months.
Daisy no longer kicks, and rustles around in my arms. She completely trusts me now.
Daisy relies on me to pick her up, set her down at her bowl of water, or her bowl of food.
Now, when she is picked up, she sniffs me, and goes limp in my arms. Sometimes, she licks my hand. :-)
She is so lost without my help, she just stands still, for fear of bumping into walls, corners, furniture,etc...
My point to this true story is figuring out just what it took, for the 'changes' to happen.
Look at the gains made, yet look at the losses.
Why did mom, and Daisys' life have to have been so bad, that it took a massive change, for them to 'feel it'?
Every time I pick up Daisy now, I think of Mom. Seeing how Daisy is now 100% dependant on me for her life, has helped me to comprehend my moms life.
I hope to give Daisy all the love I can, to make her last days on earth easier for her, just like I tried to do with Mom.
I will miss them both............... alot!



3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Marti, I am so sorry about your little Daisy, she is a beautiful dog. I don't have an answer for you about whether or not to put her down, that is so hard. You mentioned that she just stands and waits for you to pick her up, have you tried keeping her in a really small space when you are gone so she doesn't feel overwhelmed by the big space around her? It might help. I will say a prayer for you and Daisy.

Ladyauthor2b said...

I'm sure the daily ritual of washing out her eyes does make you hurt inside, that you think you're bad for aflicting pain. But is she ok otherwise, in spite of her blindness/deafness? Does she feel comfort/happiness within your arms when the chore is done and you are sitting together afterwards?

I have a small dog too. We have a close bond. When he hurts, he is like my child. If he was suffering all the time, I think I would make that decision to put him down if pain was 24/7. I don't think our Lord would strike you down for easing her pain.

On the other hand, just because a dog is blind/deaf doesn't make them any less for being? Does this make sense? I would ensure my dog is kept comfortable and safe during the time I was out of the house, perhaps having a radio playing nearby or a recording of my voice.

Something to soothe jitters while its left alone, until I could be with her. I'm quite sure your dog is aware when you clean her eyes, it's for her benefit. I'm sure she hears it in your voice that you love Daisy very much.

It's a troubling question and only you can determine what's best overall because you LIVE through this situation. I'll pray for a resolution to come from above. And if you determine she's ok for a little while longer on earth, I'm sure its a good decision. God bless you. I'm very happy I stopped by to take a better look at your page. I admire anyone who cares in the way that you do. You're a very special person.

Anonymous said...

Dear Marti,
I meant to answer this the first time I read it. So sorry I got sidetracked.
I don't know if your Daisy is still with you or not. I do know God would not consider it a sin if you released her from this life because of the pain. There is no right or wrong answer, only the answer that would bring peace to both of you... whatever your heart tells you that is.
I'm so sorry you're going through this, my friend. I love you.
Dee