Many of you know that Max, our yellow lab, was suppose to be Gracie's Diabetic Alert Dog, but due to many factors from the start, that just was never going to happen. One of the reasons was that Max was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was less than two years old and the medication to control his seizures dulls his senses, including his sense of smell, which he would've needed to rely on to do the job we'd hoped he'd do. Max and his life still had a purpose along the way, even though it wasn't the one that was originally chosen for him. He and Gracie are still strongly bonded and Gracie takes great comfort in Max, especially when she's struggling with her T1D. He offers her comfort, unconditional love, and no judgement. Max also offers Gracie the opportunity to serve from her heart....as she cares for Max and his needs. They understand one another as they both battle what is [usually] their own invisible disabilities. You see, you'd never guess either Gracie or Max have life altering conditions....that is, until their illness rears it's head.
Back in early December we noticed Max was babying his front foot/leg. He seemed totally normal, so we looked him over closely but didn't see anything and chalked it up to his age and the weather. This came and went, off and on, for about a week. Other than holding his front leg up like it was injured, he acted just fine. He was eating, drinking, running, annoying his sister, barking, playing, everything you would expect any 6 year old lab to be doing. We kept a close eye on him but didn't see anything to really send up red flags. We know what his breakthrough seizures look like, even though he's on medication to control them, and this wasn't even on our radar. By mid-December we were traveling for 3 days, so Tess was zoo sitting for us. She noticed that Max was walking funny, but also thought it was his age because otherwise he seemed "ok". By the time we got home on the third day (really only 2 1/2 days since seeing him) it was clear he was having major seizures and he was really struggling.
I called the emergency vet for suggestions. They advised an extra dose of his meds and to watch him closely overnight. The next morning I called our normal vet and took him right in. He was seizing almost continuously with little rest in between. She gave him valium intravenously, and we took him home along with some anti-inflammatory meds and instructions to increase his seizure meds. He was loopy but seemed better. That only lasted a day and things started back again. If you're not familiar with seizure treatment, you need to understand that the drugs to treat it are therapeutic, meaning it takes a couple weeks to build up in your system fully to work as you want it to. Those couple of weeks are excruciating for you and all those who love you, because you're still seizing and feeling crappy. Through it all Max has been such a good boy. He knows we are here for him, helping him as best we can. But we wait...
Over the weeks since this all began, we realized that we were fighting two things: 1) controlling his seizures, and 2) Max was in a lot of pain from the seizures so any movement was excruciating for him. We promptly put him back on the pain pills to help him relax and not have to fight the pain, but he was still so loopy from the double dose of seizure meds he was taking that he was much like a lump of pudding, unable to do anything at all. Our vet decided to change his meds to see if that would help... but it would mean another waiting game before we would see any results. Each day we loved on Max, fed him by hand, got him water through a turkey baster because he was too weak to drink or eat on his own power. And now he was too weak and tired to even try getting up anymore on his own.
We are firm believers in following our animals lead and Max was no different. We have spent the past 6 weeks meeting every need Max has and allowing him the time to recover on his terms. That means helping him in every way... standing, walking, eating, drinking, even making sure he knows that he is a good, brave, and strong boy, and that he can do this. The weather here hasn't been helpful in all of this. Single digit temps with sub-zero wind chills and snow.... not good for Max and his recovery. But we make sure he's warm, toasty, cozy, comfortable, and loved.... very very loved. I'm not gonna lie, we've had our doubts over the weeks of whether or not he was going to make it through this, or even if it was right for us to ask it of him. But Max and God, both, have been pretty clear along the way, that yes, we are doing the right thing and that Max is going to pull through.
He's eating more these days; of course he gets just about anything he wants (I'm kind of doubting he will ever be willing to go back to his kibble;) and drinking plenty of water. He tries to do these things on his own but becomes tired easily and we help him so that we are sure he's getting enough. He's eliminating well each day, with no problems whatsoever, and his vitals are all strong. And twice over the past few days, he managed to come out of his kennel on his own power. He doesn't make it far, only a few steps out, but its a huge step in the right direction. Not only does it do him good but it also gives us the chance to clean his kennel thoroughly and get it all freshened up and cozy with fresh blankets. At this point he still needs carried beyond those few steps he takes on his own, but each day is another milestone for him, and we see his determination.
Through all of this (and it's been grueling and exhausting), Gracie has been right there tending to her boy, Max. She gently gives him his medications, feeds him bite by bite, by hand, makes sure he gets plenty of water throughout the day, gives him his essential oil rubs several times each day, helps Craig and I deep clean his kennel, and she crawls in with him to love on him, and tucks him in with warm blankets every time she sees he's wiggled out of them. This is true beauty from ashes..... watching this beautiful child tenderly take care of the dog that was intended to take care of her. Yes, God most definitely works in mysterious ways! I know this because I witness it each and every day in my own home and my own family. I watch a 13 year old girl grow her servant's heart as she takes care of her sick dog. I've watched for 6 years a little girl who always felt different from everyone because of her T1D find acceptance and similarity in her dog who shares a battle with his own chronic, life-threatening health condition. These two are true partners; maybe not like we had intended and envisioned they would be, but they are just exactly what each other needs. God Does NOT Make Mistakes...EVER. We have battled for Max from the start and we will continue to tirelessly battle for him in all he needs, because he is a gift and blessing to our family and we thank God for sending him to us.
I will continue to update y'all on how Max is doing. Our big goal right now, especially since the weather will start cooperating for a few days, is to get him walking again. He's weak, especially his front legs, so we are going to help him walk using a sling to help give him the support and stability he needs right now. Please pray he continues to recover fully.
