Back in December, I posted about my American bulldog, Rooney. Many of you have emailed and asked how he’s doing (which I truly appreciate), so I figured I’d give an update.In November, after a surgery to remove a questionable mass, Rooney was diagnosed with cancer. The vet recommended chemotherapy. They wanted to inject poison into my baby, over and over. Or we could do nothing and hope for the best.
As tough as it was, I chose chemo. I wanted to give him the best fighting chance possible.
I cried. A lot. Through many tummy aches, weak limbs, scratching his eyes and face so much it caused infections (chemo made him itchy), and lots of hair loss. But he’s still here.
He’s still wagging his tail, playing with toys, and smacking me with his mammoth-sized paws when we wrestle. He still snuggles up beside me as I type on my laptop for hours, still gives his sister, Moby (lab/border collie mix) lots of kisses, and he still snorts with happiness and jumps around when I ask him if he wants to go for a walk or ride.
(See that blur where Rooney's tail is, that's him wagging cuz he's cuddled up with his sis.)
If he hadn’t gone through chemo, I’m not sure I could report any of the above. I don’t know if he’d still be here. The vet estimated 2-6 months without chemo. I can’t fathom that. Not after all we’ve been through together. Rooney endured a rough existence before I rescued him. I want him to enjoy a long, happy, love-filled life. With each day that passes, and with each night I get to kiss him goodnight, I say a prayer that we will have many many more together.
Just like I said in my original post, Rooney and I have learned…
Where there is love, there is hope.
And that hasn’t changed.
