Looking back--- I had a lot of "on set" hints of my Rheumatoid Disease- A BIG HINT was C spine surgery, for C spine discs that herniated due to no accident, just a simple bend over to pick up shoes..I wrote this story then, to explain again how the dogs helped in my recovery- Below is Ree-
I had spinal fusion surgery on three cervical discs down at Jackson Memorial on January 14th, 2009.
I came home on Day 4 after my surgery and felt very “beat up”. I was having trouble with range of motion, walking, sitting, and general moving. Not to mention I had a lovely collar prohibiting any movement of my cervical spine. My biggest fear was Hawk, our 3 year old Rottweiler, who has a reputation for being a “bull in a china shop”. The first night, we decided to do a meet and greet with a barrier between me and all the dogs.
On my first day home, Ree, my 12 year old very arthritic Rottweiler, was allowed to meet me. Ree approached me slowly and confidently but with the notorious rottie wiggle, he made me feel comfortable immediately. Belle, the 8 or 9 year old lab was next- she is a little more energetic than Ree. She stopped about 5 feet from me and then took baby steps slowly, until she was finally able to get the tip of her nose on my leg. Once I was able to reach her and pet her, her whole body relaxed and she allowed herself to have her whole head on my knee, while I petted her. You could tell she was very “worried” and once I petted her, the worry melted away. Well, that was enough for one morning…! Hawk was still separated by xpens from me. I would go to the x pens periodically and pet him, but he was jumping around like a crazy man and not settling down.
Later that day, I knew I would have to meet Hawk. I was seated comfortably in my recliner, and Hawk came bounding in…. I tensed, before I could realize what was happening, Ree who NEVER moves quickly, and has to be cajoled to go outside, jumped up and wedged himself between me and Hawk and literally used his body to HERD Hawk out of the way! Needless to say, Hawk, as well as I, was shocked! Once Ree felt Hawk was a safe enough distance he retreated to his bed, but if Hawk seemingly moved too close, Ree was up again. This went on several times a day, with me also giving Hawk a verbal command to STOP. It took about 3 days of constant reminders, but Hawk is now able to walk near me and if he is getting too excitable, a single verbal “stop” and he almost freezes in position.
Ree, however, had not taken himself off duty yet. For the first few weeks, I slept in a spare bed Tom brought out by the TV. The bed allowed me to be near Tom at all times of the day except at night. The first night, I got up to go to the bathroom, and Ree, promptly got up, followed me into the bathroom and barked the whole time I was in there. Remember- this is a dog that rarely moves! After that first bathroom trip, Ree must have realized that he didn’t need the “alert” bark, BUT he did need to accompany me… this went on for the first week. Yes- you guessed it, I was not allowed in the bathroom without Ree! (I often wonder what he was going to do if I had fallen or something!) Poor Ree—we got up to go the bathroom A LOT that first week!
It is no wonder that Ree is now a bit on the lame side and has reluctantly given over his duties to Belle. (Ree is now undergoing a series of Adequan shots for his work). I have graduated to sleeping in the guest bedroom (I can maneuver those beds better). Belle has taken to sleeping in the room with me and she has designated it a “Girl’s only area”. No boy dogs allowed!
I shudder to think what happens if Belle gives over the care giving duties to Hawk!
~~~~~~~~~~~ Post note~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sadly- shortly after my recovery from the C spine surgery -- Ree died a rather sudden death of Bloat. I was with him, touching him and talking to him, while they were trying to save him- until the moment they put him to sleep, as a matter of fact, I asked the vet to stop all treatment and let him go in peace. Later, I was told by a person I trusted that Ree had done what every dog dreams of doing in their life time, taking care of their master the way that their master takes care of them... it took a long time to get over Ree's death-- but I knew he was in a happier place...where he was pain free finally. I will see him again--- and he will greet me with his rottie butt wiggle--
Ask the animals and they will teach you- Job 7 10-12
| Blessings~ Kim |
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