Beginning of the End

This has been the hardest post I have ever written and it has taken me a month to build up the mental strength to even begin. Exactly one month ago we had to say goodbye to our little coconut macaroon, Mia.

This is how it all started.

Social Media Post 01-12-2021:

Taking Mia to the vet tomorrow. I have to drop her off curbside and will not be able to stay with her. The soonest I could get an actual appointment is the end of the month. But they will squeeze her in sometime tomorrow. I don’t know what’s wrong except perhaps some tummy troubles from getting into sticks.? At least I am hoping that’s all this is and not anything more serious. Today she refuses to eat with the exception of peanut butter. She’s drinking water and having bms. But she’s heavily panting and really stand-offish. A few times she lost the use of her back legs, yesterday. Again I attributed it to stomach discomfort. Please send good vibes to our girl. I haven’t really stopped crying today. I feel helpless not being able to ease her pain and troubles.

Social Media Post 01-13-2021:

Ok. Here’s the skinny. Mia is home and resting comfortably. She seems to be feeling a little better. I burst into tears when they brought her out. My baby!

Basically, she appears to have an autoimmune disease called Thrombocytopenia.

This disease is caused by an immune reaction against one's own platelets. It has also been called autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Thrombocytopenia means a decreased number of platelets in the blood.

We’ll have a long and slow process of administering steroids. But it is treatable and because we caught it now without any internal bleeding we’re in a much better position. But her blood count was very low. Which concerned our vet. And her spleen is currently enlarged and the culprit for her discomfort.

So there it is.

Thank you for sending us your love, positive vibes, calls and messages. She’s a super special girl to so many of us. And I truly appreciate your care.

Social Media Post 01-17-2021:

Macaroon update:

Mia seems to have responded to her meds well. She’s becoming more like her old self each day. Yesterday she lured me into a game of chase around the living room and today she barked at Matty and me consecutively. It was good to hear her voice again. She’s sleeping more soundly and the distressful panting has stopped. She has maintained a good appetite and yesterday we slowly reintroduced her kibble food to her. She gobbled it right up. We’re going to continue to mix the fresh with her wetted kibble. She is an absolute rock star at taking her pills. Peanut butter balls for the win! Because we minimized her food the first couple of days to allow her tummy to feel better it appears she has lost some of her cuddly fat. She looks like a wirey pup again. Her face looks smaller because she lost a roll or two around her neck and even her lipoma in her thigh feels like it has decreased in size and in firmness.

Operation chicken nugget is underway.

She goes back in for a follow-up on Wednesday morning.

Praying it’s good news.

Social Media Post 01-20-2021:

Marshmallow update:

Mia had her follow-up check up today. Great news! Her platelet count went up drastically meaning she responded enthusiastically to the medication prescribed. Her spleen and liver are a bit swollen however her vet said it was expected as it can take some time to go back to their normal sizes. We have yet another follow up in four weeks. The therapeutics will be a six month trial. But the vet called me and said he was overjoyed with her rapid progress.

Now we’re dialing in on her new food situation and trying to keep her comfortable and as happy as can be.

Social Media Post 01-27-2021:

This morning I woke up and told Mia I was not going to give up on her.

So today we did some minimal muscle training and balancing exercises and just returned from a block and a half and back brisk walk. She picked up her pace quickly and did so good even with going up and down and on and off the sidewalks.

Now she’s relaxing in my lap

Social Media Post 02-01-2021:

We just dropped Mia off at her vet. Hoping this sudden and rapid decline is due to the prednisone, and her platelet count is up enough that we can lower her dosage. The waiting is the hardest part.

Later:

02-01-2021.jpeg

At first it was large and low platelets, now today everything is low, platelets, red blood cell count, calcium. I can’t remember everything. Her Vet just called. I am so scared and cannot stop crying and feel sick. He is very concerned and perplexed. She’s getting a blood transfusion now and we’re waiting for results from more tests. One in particular for Addison’s. Looking at possible Addison’s disease or pancreatitis. Still may have AITP and one of her new meds caused the pancreatitis. Though her liver is functioning it is still enlarged as well as her spleen. We’ll be able to pick her up tonight with iv for fluids still attached and then must bring her back tomorrow morning.

02-02-2021.jpeg

Social Media Post 02-02-2021:

My little baby bean. She slept through the whole night waking up at 4 for a little piddle. Just trying to be with her this morning before taking her back to the vet. Hoping with all my heart her body accepted the blood from yesterday’s transfusion and her counts for “everything” are better. And I hope we can get some answers today.

Later:

Coconut flake update:

02-02-2021 (2).jpeg

She’s again back home with us for the night. She got lots of fluids and new blood pumping inside her. She seems more alert and is walking better. We’ve ruled out Addison’s disease. Vet is still thinking AITP and Pancreatitis. She’s going back in tomorrow morning for a day of more fluids and observation. She’s back on a low dosage of Prednisone. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I hope our girl can pull through this and be back to her old self soon. Thank you for all your love and care.

Social Media Post 02-04-2021:

Our little nugget left us with both Matty and I holding her. I held her face in my hands, she and I locked eyes as she drew her last final breaths.

We picked her up from the vet last night. While waiting to speak with the Dr. Matty took her outside to pee. She saw some rabbits and immediately perked her ears up and tried with all her might to chase after them. We spoke to the Dr. and were going to see how the night and morning went before committing to bringing her back in the next day. But we were in the mind frame she’d be fine staying home with us and we’d come back Monday for a follow-up. We drove to the market to get some goodies and meds for her. She and I stayed in the auto. I petted her and talked about how proud I was of her and gave her many good girl praises for being so strong and getting better. When we got home she drank some water. And shortly thereafter she began panting heavily and breathing rapidly. It never let off. We tried to keep her as comfortable as possible. Her little body couldn’t find any comfortable position to lay down to sleep. We were up with her all throughout the night. I kept taking her out to potty. She did a couple of times. Then back to the panting. It was agreed we were definitely going to take her back to the vet as soon as they opened. Because Matty had to get up early for work, she and I went into the living room around 4. I lay next to her, repeatedly apologizing for her discomfort and that we’d get her to the doctor in a few hours. I pet her and rubbed her paws and cried with her. I took her to the sofa and she calmed down for a bit. I stroked her fur, slowly rocking her back and forth in my arms and hummed and sang to her. I put her back in her bed. I closed my eyes for only a bit and woke up to her in another bed, groaning and staring at me. So I crawled over to her and held her. I felt a little warm liquid on my arm and joked that she was peeing on her mama. And said it’s ok baby girl, I hope you’re feeling better. I allowed her to finish but she appeared to start convulsing. I scooped her up to take her outside for perhaps a potty, I don’t really know. As soon as I reached our kitchen my coconut ball just fell limp in my arms. I set her down on the floor and screamed for Matty. We held her and cried and told her how much we loved her. And then just like that, she was gone.

February 04th, 2021 @ 6:30 Thursday morning, Mia left us.

We’ll be able to pick up our little macaroon’s ashes on Monday.

I love you, my sweet baby girl. You are no longer in pain. I know you wouldn’t have wanted to be looking into anyone else’s eyes other than mine in end.

The 12 and a half years spent with you as my sidekick has been absolutely the best years of my life. So thank you for being such a delightful co-piglet.

You are so loved, always and forever.

I got the (I heart U) marquee lights for our Valentine’s Day photoshoot. But ended up using them for her memorial vigil. From the moment we shared the devastating news of her passing, flowers, cards and condolences began to flood in. We have received sympathy messages from friends and even strangers who said, Mia’s photos had made their days brighter and she would be missed. She was a very special girl who touched so many, far and wide throughout the entire world. I will be setting up her own Mia So Frenchie landing page on the website and I have a few more photos to share.

Mia So EnDEERing

And this was our holiday card.

Mia So Beetlejuice! BeetleJuice!! BEETLEJUICE!!! 

Beetlejuice!

BeetleJuice!!

BEETLEJUICE!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!