[quote="wonderlove" post=24900]To end my dog's suffering has been the hardest thing I've ever done so far, at times I wonder if it would be easier to take any other family member down that path
But it had to be done, and now just the funny moments with that hopeless, silly mongrel remain.[/quote]
hmmm
Try this one for size.
My father had a stroke last year. Basically in January my best friend / mentor of 77 almost died. He was alive, but different. At first it was time... he could never remember it. He was stuck in 1985 and my mum who died of cancer 4 years earlier was still alive. He was seeing dead people, everwhere.
It turn out he had Advance vascular dementia. (Nasty shit) My father also owned a dog. Which was the last attachment he had to my mother (his wife of 49years). This dog was also very old. The dog call tiny was around 14years old and his back passage muscles had collapsed so when he want to go to the poo you had to squeeze him gently for the poo to come out.
Great... not only was my dad slowly dieing I had his dog to worry about
The short months that my dad had left soon dwindled away... ever so slowly fadding away.
The dog was also suffering as was I, squeezing a dog gently every 4 hrs was one of the hardest things I had to do.... I want reward I would get... a lump of poo.
My father was given the all clear but like the NHS they just wanted his bed. The day before my dad was to come out of hospital my dads dog that was at my house managed to push his internal organs out of his bottoms. I knew then that this was the end of the dog.
I went to collect my children (The ones you hear on mumble) from school. They all said their goodbyes to the dog they grew up with.
I proceed on taking my dog which was loaned to me to look after to have him put to sleep. Ive never felt so sick. In the room the dog was shaking... he knew it was the end. Calm as cucumber i walked into the room and the vet said its time. Out come the needle with what looked like a vile of VKD (Vodka ice - blue).
The VET said do I have any last things I want to say but I was to choaked to say anything.
I kissed the dog on the head and vet injected the dog in the leg. Tiny jump out of his skin like it was bee sting. The VET carried on injecting the dog who then passed......
The storys not over there. As I had to tell my dad. Who had turn violent. I called the hospital to notify them that my dads dog had died.
During the journey my wife came with me to the hospital. She was sick in the car as she knew that I was about to tell my dad this his dog is dead, which was the last thing my dad had of my mum.
In the hospital there where nurses waiting, doctors and also a small security team just in case my dad who was slowly turning into a nutcase turned even more crazy.
I entered the ward and indicated that I was going to enter.
My dad of 39 years lay on his bed happy to see me.
He said "Hi Robin where you been its been weeks since you saw me (I was there that evening before)
Me to my dad "Sorry dad I have some bad new".
Dad to me "Whats that Robin?"
Lump in my throat.......
Me to my dad "Tiny was really ill so I had to put him to sleep, I am really sorry"
Dad to me "Thats okay Robin, he has been ill for so long. I was told to put him down ages ago. Dont worry he not suffering now"
Me to myself.... WTF and I have been stressing.
To end this said tale.
Here is summary of some of the other things.
My dads neighbours turning on him
My dad attacking my wife.
Fighting with my dad... was quite funny as he was stuck in ground hog day.
My dad seeing dead people... was funny at first but quite scarey in the end
Talking to a cat in the Stroke unit
Punching an orderly in the face
Walking 4 miles up and down a corrider.
looking for a police station over 100 miles away
Calling the panic alarm to call me at work... 6-7 a day
Another patient stealing my dads wipes from his table whilst he was dieing in his bed in front of us. Basically a hand appear from a curtain.
Listening to the people on the crazy ward.
Having my dad reach out to me one last time and smilling... I will never forget that.
Finally watching my dad die .... peacefully.
What I have learnt:- Advance vascular dementia is a fucker to get and no matter what has happened to me. (from the above) there is always somebody else that is worst off that you.
Pointy - AKA Robin in RL
