The theme of my blog is to be uplifting and to follow your dreams, but I have to share a sad story that happened yesterday only in hopes that it will have a happy ending...

Yesterday when I came home, I found my dog Gates hiding underneath my kitchen table in pain and distress.  As I bent down and got a closer look, I noticed Gates was not only trembling but he was also panting profusely.  My immediate reaction was to reach down, pick him up and bring him out from below the table.  As I picked him up he let out a yelp that will forever haunt me.  Gates was in pain and I knew that this was out of the ordinary.  I immediately called my vet, Blum Animal Hospital, to try and fit him in to see a technician before they closed.  Blum was amazing and immediately scheduled an appointment to see Gates 10 minutes later.  

Frantically, I again scooped up Gates this time with a blanket to hold him, and with tears in my eyes asked my roommate if she would give us a ride to vet.  Immediately upon arriving at the vet I burst into tears, unaware of the other people that were in the waiting room.  A technician came out at once and took Gates back for examination while I was lead to a back room to wait for the results. 

After only fifteen minutes, the vet came in and said that Gates had suffered a ruptured disc in his back and would need an immediate injection of pain medication.  I was told he would need to be confined(i.e. bed rest) for two weeks.  The vet was optimistic and said that if I followed this regiment and made sure Gates did not endure any physical activity he would recover without the need of back surgery.

So now, one day later, I am telling this story while looking down at him as he rests in his dog bed next to me.  If you follow my blog you may recall one of my first posts where I described the moment I saw a photo of Gates and decided he was my perfect match.  He is just a little over 5 years old now and one of the most precious things in my life.  I do believe that he will be okay and I know that this little guy is a fighter and has what it takes to make a full recovery.  

If you're reading this, I'm sure you can recall a time when someone or something dear to you was injured or ill.  How did you cope with this?  I plan on taking it one day at a time and remembering that life is precious and you should never take one day for granted.  Don't be afraid to try new things and live life to the fullest.  Love yourself and others and never give up hope.

This is a photo of Gates and I running and playing in the leaves last fall...we plan on running along the lake again very soon!