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End of Life Care for Lucy

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Hi Everybody.   I am Karen, Lucy's mom.

This story is about Lucy.

Those who have known me for ten years or more have certainly met Lucy.  She was as unique and special.


You could say we were attached at the shoulder!

While everybody loved Lucy, I was 'her person'.   Lucy had a wonderful ten and half years.

She loved to run in the sand at the beach, lay out in the sun, watch for me to come home from my bedroom window, lay in the back of the car on sunny days, wrapped herself around my neck when we traveled, loved to be under my hoodie, loved going for walks, loved to chase squirrels, loved to curl up under the covers with me in the winter.

Lucy was sweet yet stubborn, tough yet frail.  She will be missed by all who came to know her.  She was the alpha and smartest dog in the house - at only 5 pounds!

Photo of the Pack 5:

Lucy in Lewes Beach, Delaware:


Lucy in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware:



Lucy and her Brother, Bear hanging out!


 
Here's the story:

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you Lucy died at 0730 on Saturday morning, June 16, 2018.  She slowly stopped eating about three weeks earlier.  I took her to the  Pet ER in Towson, Maryland, three times in one week, was admitted once, and to her Primary vet in search of an answer.

Doctors could find nothing wrong at that time.  But Lucy and I knew there was something wrong.  I tried to hydrate her around the clock with water and pedialyte and canned dog food watered down through a syringe.

Last week, I took her for a dental consult because I was told that could be the problem.  The dental specialist looked in her mouth and told me it was most definitely not her teeth, that Lucy was sick and needed to be admitted urgently for hydration and an internal medicine consult. 

She was admitted on Tuesday, June 12.  

Leaving Lucy behind on Tuesday afternoon.  She did not want me to leave nor did I want to leave her.  Broke my heart.


I am told she was the cutest and a very good patient and that she watched the technicians at their work!

After testing on Wednesday,  I was told her liver, gall bladder, and pancreas were inflamed on Ultrasound (which was normal seven days ago) and that Blood tests (which were normal two times, seven days prior), now showed liver problems.  It was advised that if we couldn't get her to eat, she will need a feeding tube placed because her nutritional status was at a critical level.


Trying to get Lucy to eat before surgery.  She would drink water, that is all.

Still trying to get Lucy to eat the night before feeding tube placed.  We brought scrambled eggs and cheese, chicken, cheerios, ground beef.  Nothing worked.


 Feeding tube placed.  Lucy never liked anything around her neck :(


 
 
We were hopeful this would help turn things around but it did not. 

Friday night her blood tests were worsenin
g and she was getting weaker.  Her body was accumulating fluid and the vet called to tell me Saturday morning.  Said they could take fluid out with a needle and start a plasma transfusion.  I got there as soon as I could.

When I saw Lucy, It was obvious she was in very bad shape.  She didn't lift her head when I called her name but she did look at me. I could feel rattling as she breathed when I held her. When she coughed up blood while I was holding her, I drew the line.  No more.  I never imagined that I would ever utter those words but Lucy suffered too much those last four days.

Lucy very sick Saturday morning:

I quickly took her outside, told her we were 'going
home', that we were going for a 'ride in the  car' (all the buzz words that she knew) which I did.  The rest of her pack was in the car.  I put her in my lap, drove around the parking lot to a sunny spot where the vet, vet tech, and my friend Jan were waiting.


And this is where and how Lucy's life ended. 

Lucy, Jan, the vet, and vet tech at Columbia, Maryland Pet ER:

 
Lucy's end was tragic and I regret now the putting her through all that.   She never liked anything around her neck and when I saw that bandage around her whole neck, I cried.  Had I known she was at death's door, she would have been kept comfortable, at home, with me.  But medicine is not an exact science.  She was alert through every test, every ultrasound, every Xray, every stick, placement of a feeding tube, and except for the last morning, for my visits.  I regret that I could not be with here more in the end.  She licked my tears during my last visit with her that last Friday night.  Lucy comforted me.

Not the exact picture from Friday but you get the idea:



Stopped at the cemetery on our way home. The is last time Lucy will sit with me on the bench.  My world will never be the same.
"If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again."

Since then . . . 

Lucy may be the first pet buried at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery on Grindon Avenue in Baltimore.   This is all bittersweet.  But it is proper and fitting.  This is a cemetery close to our house where for ten years Lucy loved to go for walks and play.   She and the pack went there regularly.

Lucy and her brother, Bear, near the entrance of the cemetery:

Photo of Lucy, ironically, where the Pet Cemetery portion will be:
 
The caretaker, Don,  who knew and loved Lucy is making a casket out of cherry wood.  

Pastor Arwyn Gohl from Epiphany Lutheran Church in Baltimore has agreed to do a burial service.  I am working the details out.

Why the Go Fund Me Page?

If any of you has had an ill pet you will know the Pet ER is not a cheap.

While I haven't had the heart to tally up the final bills from her last few days, I know it was pushing $10,000.00 the last time I added it up.   This included Lucy's doctor's visits, tests, inpatient stays, medications, special food, etc . . .

There was never any hesitation about cost - just wanted the best for Lucy and worry about finances later.  Now I am worrying.  Plus, the expenses for burial, head stone, etc.  now on the horizon.   I am struggling with the premature loss of my beloved Lucy and I have this huge bill looming.  This is reality.  No amount of money will bring Lucy back, but I am humbly asking for your help to ease the blow.  I know I would do the same if you were in a similar circumstance and that is why I set this go fund me page up.   I would be grateful for anything you can contribute.  It all adds up.

I thank each and every one of you for reading this.  I hope you enjoy all the following pictures of Lucy - she was special.   Lucy had the best life! 

Floating around in the pool last summer!

Fell into the Middle River once.  Never again.  Doggie life vest modified for Lucy by our dog whisperer, Joyce!

Lucy and her Brother, Bear hanging out on the bench at the cemetery

Lucy standing on 'the rock' at the cemetery

Lucy liked corn on the cob!

Joined at the shoulder

Lucy, Bear, and Auntie Joyce. I hope that Lucy and Joyce are together now.

Selfie with Lucy - her favorite spot.

Lucy waiting for me (in the window)  to get home from work

Lucy under my truck hanging out

Lucy, Bear, and Mattie on the kitchen table.  Shhhh  . . . don't tell!

Lucy visiting me when I was in the hospital last year.

Lucy after a bath.

Lucy and Bear sunning themselves on the front porch

Photo of Lucy next to a picture of her when I first got her.  She was coal black!  Lucy is wondering why I woke her to take a picture of a picture!

Candle at the Pet ER that was lit right after Lucy died.
 
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  • Anonymous
    • $50
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Karen Klima
Organizer
Baltimore, MD

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