Tuesday, October 02, 2012

One Weekend and Two Stories




I. It sounded like a machine gun banging on the living room floor.  Two women and two little boys ran from the dinner table to a gruesome sight, lasting a minute, wild thrashing and chattering teeth. 

Seizure. The boys were tender and sweet and more loving than afraid. And for a few moments the next day this dog who was meeting children probably for the first time in his life ran with them in the back yard, all three chasing a purple ball. 

"We have to be gentle or he could break," three year old Drew said. And then, later, after asking BB, "People have those seizures sometimes too."

This darling dog had a weekend of non stop two big and many small seizures. All day and all night. He paced; he tried to rest, only to jump up as if shocked by a lightening bolt. His new family took turns sleeping on the floor with him until dawn, not daring to say aloud that this might be too much. 

Monday morning, his neurologist from Angell Memorial Hospital and a local vet conferred and a plan was presented. A higher dose of medication, a one time emergency dose, a supply of liquid Valium in the mail to be administered by catheter if and hopefully only if not when such a serious confluence of seizures were to happen again.

The little boys hugged this darling dog and rubbed his ears as they had been shown. They kissed him and told their parents how sweet he is. 

The darling dog has recovered and has tripled bonded to his new home. 

The two women, now exhausted, looked at one another. 

"Can we handle this?" one asked.

"Yes," they both answered. "He is the sweetest dog. Look how grateful he is."

They both looked. Definitely grateful. In just four weeks. Bonded.


  

2. "Don't tell me you spent  that much money on a camera for a five year old!"

His mother my daughter did not sound pleased. But I did and I am. The kid camera with the plastic case and awful memory didn't work out one bit. It was too complicated for too little. Mr. Ryan and I want to take pictures together. So I told him in August that I was going to give him a new camera for my birthday. But I told him I had to save for it first and I did.

On Saturday Mr. Ryan and I his grandmother went to a very nice camera store for information on an indestructible drop proof, water proof, dirt proof camera. A very nice man showed him how to point and shoot, zoom in and out, save and delete. He told him that a grown up should change and  charge the battery for at least a month, until he was experienced enough to understand how to do it properly.

We bought the camera. It came in red, black or aqua blue. Mr. Ryan chose aqua blue. We bought a little case with a strap. 

When we returned to my house and into the next day, I wrote out lists: fireplace, kitchen window, birdbath, bedroom light, green cricket chair. I read the lists to Mr. Ryan and he took wandered in and out taking photos. He deleted most of them, preferring pictures of Chase so he could show his parents how wonderful a dog he is. 

He dropped the camera five times and wore it around his neck while wrestling with his brother. I told him ten times that this is a big boy camera and it requires special care. We decided where he would keep it in his room and how he and I will learn how to use the flash and maybe some of the settings.

"He's five years old!" my daughter told me. I know. It might be a bad idea after all. But maybe someday he will remember that his grandmother believed he could do it, and maybe someday he will have a special asset he is proud of. And maybe someday when he is a man he and I will look back and remember that we have spent years together, in the park, at the beach, on a trail, during dinner, over Christmas, hanging out: taking pictures. 

Worth every penny.


Love
kj

42 comments:

  1. That poor doggie, that lucky doggie. wonder what sets those seizures off? how lucky he is to have you two.

    I think you did the right thing with the camera. Yes, he's 5 and if he screws it up - well then...big lesson learned. if not, he might just learn a thing or two and surprise everyone.

    sweet weekend overall I think

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  2. I hope the dog is ok. He's had a hard knocks life, but now is in the care of loving parents, and maybe his nerves will settle.
    I think the big boy camera is a great idea. My niece was able to shoot with a 35mm when she was five. No telling what kids can do. And the memories will last him a lifetime.

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    1. We're hopeful, Barbara . Things are calm now.

      Thanks for telling me about your niece xoxo

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  3. You're worth every penny, too. I've often heard it said that the truest measure of character is shown in how we treat those who are more vulnerable than us. You are a character! :)

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  4. Loved the camera tale, and hope your doggie can stabilize and live a long happy life with you...Remember it's not the day in your life but the life in your days!

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    1. Hello Teri, nice to see you here. Quality not quantity; yes.

      Love
      kj

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  5. oh gosh kj - how heartbreaking to have to see your new pup endure these seizures....and yes, you and jb are amazing 'parents' filled with love to take on chase and all his issues. i have no doubt that, as you say, one look at his grateful face, that he is worth it.

    and yes, grandma and grandson is a special bond. ryan will remember the camera, but more importantly he will remember your faith in him as a big boy.

    xo

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    1. Amanda, thank you. We so hope the increase in meds stops the seizures and doesn't sap chase's energy. I'm told greyhounds sleep as much as cats, but I don't see that. I do know he's a doll of a dog

      I hope you are right about Ryan. I will love to be his fan for life. And for his brothers too :-)

      Love
      kj

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  6. Replies
    1. Oh! Happy happy to see you here, milady!!!

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  7. OH, poor Chase! And poor you, too. Maybe just plain too much activity with extra small people in the house. But you were great for him. All of you. "His new family took turns sleeping on the floor with him until dawn, not daring to say aloud that this might be too much." Yup; good thing.

    And if the world is going to have good photographers, it may be useful if they start young.

    Well done all round, kj.

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    1. We were exhausted, rob. We wondered about the activity with the kids too and it worried us. We want activity! The neurologist says that shouldn't be a trigger once the meds get control.

      And how is your photography coming along? And your camera?

      Love
      kj

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  8. I think it is one story. A story about love.
    Poor Chase but he couldn't be in better hands and in a more loving home than where he is right now. Let's hope e day like this will be less in the future. How sweet the boys fell in love with him from the start...
    And the camera Yeah he will always know his grandmother had faith in him. And he will have a head start in taking pictures this way. Wouldn't it be fun that one day when he is famous he will say My Grandma gave me my first camera that's how it all started....... even when he won't get famous he will say so ;)
    ♥M

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    1. Marianne, you are so sweet and I love you!

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  9. I fully agree with Marianne. Let's hope the medication is doing the right thing for Chase and that you two are able to help him.
    Maybe it was a bit to busy with the two youngsters?
    I had a big laugh about Ryan and the camera. I never make a mistake about the smartness of very young children. We like to keep them a baby, but beware!!! ;-)

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    1. Ah wieneke, I was discouraged this weekend but not so now. He is our dog. I think Stella chose him. I do believe that

      How I loved to see your beautiful face!!!!!

      Love
      kj

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  10. Unbelievable about Chase, and your swift action for treatment, and your tender words following up the scene. Bonded, I guess. And forever. What a wonderful family you are! ♥

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    1. Thanks Lydia . Our action wasn't fast enough but we didn't know and it was a weekend. Now we will have to learn how to stop the seizures using a catheter and I won't say how! Yuck. But we will learn

      Love
      kj

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  11. My heart broke at the story of Chase, and I felt tears welling in my eyes. You write with such poignancy and heart- and that is whay I will always be your no ONE fan. The love just oozes from this page. Of course the second story made me smile again and the tears soon vanished. xxxxx

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    1. Joss, I love that you are my # 1 fan. It means the world to me. And likewise ditto, my talented painter

      You would buy the camera too!

      Love
      kj

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  12. having grown up having seizures...i understand how scary they can be....i grew out of them of course...but...smiles on the camera, we all need someone to believe in us and maybe he feels that....it is scary to give a camera like that to one so young but..hoping he surprises you...smiles

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    1. Very scary, Brian. I have a friend with occasional seizures but I'm always spooked.

      I figure the camera is supposed to be able to take abuse. I'm saving the receipt :-)

      Love
      kj

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  13. Oh kj, you have such a wonderful way with words. I am so sorry that your sweet new pup is having such terrible health problems. If anyone can make things better for him, you and JB can. I really hope the new meds help stop those terrible seizures.

    And Mr. Drew and Mr. Ryan! What amazing little men they already are.

    Hugs to you all,
    xoxoxo

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  14. Poor sweet Chase ... I'm sorry he's had a tough time and hope the new meds do the trick! And I love five year-olds with cameras. :) We gave both girls our camera to take photos with at that age (as long as the strap was around their necks and I was nearby), and they caught some very cool images. Love to all! xoxo Melissa

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    1. Fingers crossed, Melissa

      For chase and for the camera!

      Double love
      kj

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  15. Sounds like the same camera we bought our Soldier for his first deployment; has the same description at least! Indestructible! Your Ryan will think back on this one day when he is grown and realize how much you believed in him.

    Poor poor Chase. Hopefully the increased meds will keep the seizures at bay. Such a wonderful (yet sad) teaching moment for the little ones though...he will break ♥♥♥ Big Love to you, Deb

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    1. Hi deb, I do believe in this little guy!

      Both boys showed empathy, not fear. That was so good

      Love
      kj

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  16. oh my gosh kj, such beautiful stories both. i don't even know what to say, chase is there with you because of your dream, because of fate, it's just so, looking in his face seems to say it too. i know you don't like this, but i nominate you and jb for most kindest persons.

    and another nomination: best granma. i LOVE that you did that with ryan. it's so much more than just the camera (but what a wonderful way to encourge what could become a lifetime love and even profession). it's having the belief in him. children are amazing i think, and want to do the right thing, he knows he has something important now and i bet he will treat it (as best he can)with pride and respect. i was also given a camera at a young age, not a great one though. when i was 16 i recieved my first slr and at 17 my dad built me my own darkroom, and that summer our family took a 2 month trip all around the u.s., my parents put me in charge of photographing and journaling it. now almost 40 years later, i'm still at it and love it more every year.
    such a cute photo of ryan concentrating, and that little strap around his neck. sigh.

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    1. You know, Lori....I know you do.

      We don't need the world to believe in us, just a few special people

      You learned 49 years ago and you carry it still. How inspiring, how affirming

      Love
      kj

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  17. Gosh, KJ, your daughter sounds so terribly cold. I'm so very sorry for your poor doggie, and I do hope he can be helped to have a retirement that will give him all the happiness and peace that his earlier life didn't.

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    1. Hi snow, no, my daughter is a peach! She knows that toys get damaged by little hands and she was I think flabbergasted that I bought a $ 100 plus camera . But she will support the hope.

      We start this weekend, she and I and mr Ryan, snapping the sea and sky :-)

      Love
      kj

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  18. poor chase. to suffer so. but surrounded by love, he will heal.

    hey, isnt that what grandma's do? Outrageous things.

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    1. Definitely outrageous , suki!!!!!:-)

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  19. I'm glad Chase is in a house of love. He'll be okay because he is with people who will care for him.

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  20. 1. If the dog has a seizure and it leaves no lasting pain or harm beyond your on fear then leave the dog be. The body chemistry will either self correct or not, in any case if there is no pain then there is no problem.

    2. Grandchildren are a grandparents revenge on their kids for being little shits when they were teenagers. It is a tradition to spoil them. Tell Daughter to back off or your going to start saving for a Jag for his 16th birthday. My daughter knows better than to say anything to me about what I give my grandkid. She (my daughter) knows I'll just buy her (my grandkid) more stuff to annoy my daughter.

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    1. Mark, you can't let grand mal seizures be. They assault the brain and body and are disabling . Our dog spent 48 hours at their mercy and it was awful. It would be unconsciable not to treat them

      As for Jess, I like to think we're on the same team. Except sometimes I do pull my grandmother card , as she does as Morher
      :-)

      Love
      kj

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  21. Kj - Chase has found himself the perfect home. He is a sweet and lucky pup.
    As for expensive cameras for little boys - PERFECT USE OF MONEY!
    He will never, ever forget the gift, or the time you spend together.
    You're a good grandma. :) xox

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  22. Hi Pam, why thank you /-)

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