Today is a very sad day for our family. Nigel, our black lab of twelve years, had to be put to sleep today. This past weekend Nigel collapsed several times. He had very little strength and every movement zapped what strength he had left. Our kids slept side by side with him on the living room floor last night, wanting to be close to him. I wasn't sure he'd make it through the night, but he did. For five months now, we have known Nigel was on borrowed time. It was late June when Nigel collapsed the first time and he experienced a total nervous system shutdown. Out vet made a house call and told us he could possibly live six to nine more months if we really baby him. I no longer took him on morning walks and he didn't go down our back stairs, but went out the garage door to do his business.
It was a rough time in June for our family; I had just begun chemo when Nigel had his first collapse and we knew he was not going to live long. It just seemed to much to bear to loose our dog of twelve years at such a trying time in our life. I remember praying so hard the day of his collapse that he would live long enough to make it through my treatments. We are grateful for that tender mercies that allowed him to remain with us through this summer and fall.
He'll be missed so much, but we know he is in a better place.
