Future and Progression

Here is a picture I took this week of Ella having a blast riding in the care.  I would like to say that I do not recommend this but we had a little fun.  She has a car seat that I talked about (I think) that has a harness for safty and allows her to look out the window.  I had it before she had SM, but when she couldn't get up, it was good for her to be able to look out.  So I am going to focus on these moments.  A dog with SM is not a death sentence. However, it is quite frustrating because you don't know what will happen. Take time to enjoy these moments and not the outcomes that you have no control over.  Doesn't she look cute?

I am overwhelmed by the response of people reading this blog and having similar stories.  I am truly touched and my heart goes out to each one of them.  I recently joined http://www.cavaliertalk.com/ and the people have been so nice about Ella and there are several different discussions other than SM.

When someone learns that their Cavalier has SM, it is frustrating.  Mainly because each case is different.  I have talked a lot about surgery vs. medication etc, but I read these stories and people are wanting answers.  I wish there was some way to know if a dog will progress.  I wish I knew what Ella's future holds.  I think I was so concerned about what Ella's future was, that I missed some of the joy of her present.  It feels like a roller coaster ride sometimes and right now she is doing great.  She is shaking her head and scratching some but she is enjoying life.

I got a camera so I could start filming her and taking pictures, but she had so much fun at the park last weekend.  She was running after the birds and I could not hold her back.  It was truly amazing.  This dog that I thought would not be here now, is having a blast! 

This is what I would say to others.  I think for a long time I have been thinking of how long.  Will there be scar tissue?  Is it going to progress fast? How hard will it be when she gets really bad?  All these thoughts kept me from seeing the positive.  I don't know those answers and if I did know, what good would it do? Now that I wrote that, I think it would just make me sad.  I how good she is doing on the medication and I can control that.  The other part, I have no control over.  I think maybe people looking at surgery might find that information helpful, but all I know is in my heart I did all I can.