Live or Let Die

April 7th 2010

So what is the value of a life? Can Sadie ever live a normal life? Is she so orthapedically challenged that everything will break down? We have gone this far-how much farther? We fixed an elbow and two hips-now she needs her knee cap tightened? Will she be in pain? How can she handle this? It is a six week recovery for the knee surgery. We officially had 4 more weeks left on her hip so this puts us out for two extra weeks-until May 19th before we can walk her. Needless to say-it was a tough day. Lots of decisions to make. The doctor said her right knee is a grade one out of four. Her left knee was a grade two. Grade two means that it will pop out. Grade one just means it is slightly loose and should not pop out-but who knows. Also who knows if she will have ACL tears in the future? If Sadie were a child-of course you would do the surgery-but she is a dog. On the other hand. She is a living creature and has every right to be alive. After she is fixed-she should lead a normal life. I will be nervous to let her run in a dog park. I think we will just go on walks in the forest preserve instead. It was a tough decision. Yes, Sadie will be uncomfortable-especially the first week after surgery. She is strong in so many ways. Her organs are good. She has no allergies and she is beautiful. So what if we have a bionic dog. Yes-we did the surgery. I could not put her down. We need to hope and pray that this is it-no more surgeries! She is only 14 months old. By the time this is hopefully over-Sadie would have had 4 surgeries and would have been under house arrest for 6 months! With me taking care of her the entire time. It is a good thing that I run my cupcake business (sweet home cupcakes) from my house.