Things I am learning from my newly blind pup, Cocoa.

Recently I wrote about the medical necessity of having our sweet 6 year old mixed-breed dog, Cocoa, taken to our vet to have her severely diseased eyeballs removed. 

It was tragic and it was traumatic...for our whole family. It has also been very healing for all of us, including Cocoa.

In her healing, she's taught me a few very key things:

• Terrible times hit all of us and we just simply don't deserve them. Cocoa is an amazingly kind and sweet dog. She does not deserve to lose both her eyeballs. Yet, they are gone...
• We "think" we know where things are and when any type of "blindness" hits (ignorance, fear, loathing, anger, etc), we either get bitter or better. At times like these, we come to know where things REALLY ought to be. And we are thankful. She is more wag, less bark. So should I be.
• Seeing isn't always seeing.
• God's use of senses is remarkable. Some compensate, surely. Others just come to the forefront, because we HAVE to use them. Sort of like "losing to gain"...
• We never can REALLY be sure of how long we'll have what we have. Things leave us.
• An animal without eyes isn't ugly. She's simply different.
• Love costs. Cocoa's operation was expensive. Some folks thought we were foolish to spend the amount on her. Like I said, " Love costs".
• Hug while you can. Quit wishing it wasn't this way. Just hug while you can.

Not bad for a "dog-trains-master" lesson, do  you think?

Den

Comments

[Dennis Mansfield]

Thanks, DCR. I figure that members of my family are INDEED members of my family!

Thanks for your kind words.
Den

[DCR]

I'm with you - the expense is well worth it for a family member. Good on you for taking care of your special little friend! You both are very lucky.