STUPID Cancer

I am writing this today with a very heavy heart. It seems our family dog, Rascal, has been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. I keep hoping and praying that the doctors are misinformed and it's something treatable. I can't even begin to tell you the number of times I have cried in the past few days. As I type these very words, I can feel the lump rising up in the back of my throat. I feel like I am in the same spot I was a few years ago, when we had to tell our sweet Gunnar bye. I am just not ready for this. That day keeps playing over and over in my head. I try so hard not to think about it, but it is never to far from my mind. I love that little dog. He is not just a pet, but a part of our family. I can hear the little pitter patter of his feet right now. I love you Rascal! If I have done my math correctly, then I believe Rascal is now 10 years old. We got Rascal when I was still living at home with my parents. You see growing up we always had a dachshund. Before Rascal, we had a dachshund named Oscar. Oscar was my dog and literally followed me everywhere I went. Every night he slept in the bed with me and when we had to say goodbye to him, it literally killed me inside. It was a long time after that, that I even wanted another dog. Living in my parents house, my Dad had literally said "No More Dogs" In order to make him change his mind for months, I placed little notes stating "I want a puppy" in all his belongings. Now when I say all his belongings, I do mean ALL. I placed them in his uniforms, in his wallet, the console of his truck, his shoes, his toothbrush, his beer cans, the toilet paper...you name it and I guarantee you would find a little note. This went on for months, until finally my Mom gave in. I will never forget it. It was Christmas morning and my Mom had wrapped my younger sister and I a gift. We were each to open at the same time. We tore into the wrapping paper like little kids. It was a picture frame with a picture of the most sweetest looking dog ever...he was to be our Rascal. I am immediately starting jumping up and down with excitement, then the flood of tears came. It was and is to this day, the best Christmas ever. We picked up Rascal on New Years Eve. He was just a little ole thing and cute as cute could be. I think my Dad was still up in the air about having another dog in the house, but within a few weeks, you could tell Rascal had melted his heart. We spent the next few days picking out a collar and new leash for him. We had fallen in love. I remember we picked out a black collar with spikes on it. Here Rascal was weighing a whopping three pounds and a nice spike collar to give him some spunk. I can just see him now. Rascal used to love to curl up in the bottom of our shoes and when the dryer would go off we would wrap him up in a nice warm towel. He would be out like a rock. We would fight over who he was going to sleep with. That is something else my Dad had said "NO" too. He was not to sleep in anyone's bed, but rather he was to stay in his crate. Funny thing is....he sleeps in the bed with my Mom and Dad now. Matter of fact, my Dad would do anything for that dog. His little "Bushsky" that's what he calls him. Rascal has so many nicknames now...Rascal Roo, Rackey, Ba boo skee, Rascal Roni...the list goes on. One thing is for sure, he is the sweetest dog. I don't think Rascal has ever growled at anyone, matter of fact, he would probably just lick you to death. I love to see that little tail get to wagging. Mom has him spoiled. She gives that dog more table scraps. Then she wonders why he sits and barks the whole time while you are trying to eat dinner....hummm...I wonder???? She even makes him his own little hamburger patty. Can you say spoiled rotten? Rascal sure loves attention too. He would sit for hours and let you rub his head and behind his ears. He has gotten to the point now, that if you stop he nudges you. If you try and walk away, he starts barking. Again, spoiled rotten! Rascal just has a way of making you smile. You could have the worse day ever, come home and see that sweet little face of his, and instantly be cheered up. When you are sick, it is like he knows it. He will lay by your side until you feel better. He gives the sweetest little kisses. It's as if he is saying it will all be okay. Rascal that is what I keep hoping and praying for...that it will somehow all be okay. I look into those innocent eyes of yours and I see love. I see someone who loves unconditionally. You don't have one mean bone in your body. It's just not fair! To be quite honest it simply SUCKS. There is just no other word to describe it. STUPID Cancer! Rascal Roo, I hope you know how very much you are loved and I am not giving up on you. You hang in there. Your sister is still praying for a miracle. I love you! -Dallas-