Word of the Week 26/6/15

Hello and welcome to Word of the Week. One of my favourite parts of my week is reading everyone’s words, so thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and link up.

If you’re new here, Word of the Week is a nice and simple weekly linky, with everyone welcome to pop by and share. You reflect back on the past week and sum it up in one word. Then share your word with us in a blog post, with as little or as much explanation as you like. It’s a fun and friendly linky, so please do be lovely and visit as many of the other blogs as you can and share with them your thoughts on their words and weeks. I do comment on every entry to the linky, and if you add the Word of the Week badge to your post to help spread the ‘word’, I also tweet them out.

My word of the week this week is:

harry wotw

If you read my post last week, you’ll know that I spent much of last week worrying about Harry, our dog, and suspecting that I may no longer have him this week.

Well, he is home and safe, so much of this week has been about caring for him and helping him to recover from his surgery.

He has had his spleen, along with a big tumour removed, so it’s been major surgery. Our parents have been great helping out so that he needn’t be left alone for the first few days, and we’ve cancelled plans and stayed home with him for most of the week, as I didn’t like to leave him for too long. Last Friday saw me spending much of my day, in between entertaining and looking after Little Man, lying on the floor stroking him, trying to tempt him to eat by hand-feeding him, and obsessing about how to try and get his tablets into him. Oh, and clearing up blood. That’s been a continuing theme all week. We were advised that there would be ‘seepage’ and that has most definitely been the case – my carpet may not recover!

He started to perk up a bit over the weekend, and at last started eating. This was bothering me, as before his operation he’d stopped eating and I suspected something wrong with his mouth rather than a loss of appetite. Along with removing his tumour, the vet looked in his mouth and found and removed a cracked tooth, so we were hoping that would be problem fixed, but until he ate I was still worried that it could be something else. But phew, he can eat again and is trying to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, though, we can’t feed him too much too soon, as it could compromise the surgery if his stomach expands too quickly. He’s been getting brighter every day since then.

Then on Tuesday we got the call that we really didn’t want. Tuesday was a bad day. Harry has stage 5 lymphoma. Chemotherapy may lengthen his life by a few months, though it may not as the cancer is so advanced. We’ve decided not to put him through that, at 10 years old, and especially as he hates going to the vets. The vet can’t say how long he has, it might be a few weeks, it might be a few months, it depends on where the cancer chooses to go and attack next. At the moment, he’s looking better than he has done in months, so we know that for now he is comfortable.

So we will spoil him, we will hug him, we will treat him and we will enjoy him. I’m trying to prepare as best I can for losing him, and I know I also need to think about how the kids will react and be ready to console them, too. Each day I will be looking for signs that he has had enough and that it is time to call the vet. I just want a bit more time. I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.

Harry resting

What about you? What one word sums up your week best? Please grab the badge, link up and share.

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61 thoughts on “Word of the Week 26/6/15”

  1. This is so sad. I have 7 dogs in the Philippines when I left. Now we only have 3 in there and its very heartbreaking that they left and I werent able to say goodbye.

    Enjoying every moment and showing your love is the best way to make him feel better.

  2. Oh Jocelyn, I am so sorry to read this, what a heart-breaking week for you. Enjoy all those cuddles with Harry while you have him and sending you a virtual hug too x

  3. Jocelyn, I’m so sad to hear this. Preparing your kids for losing Harry must be daunting, whilst having to deal with your own grief at the same time. I’m sure you’re all showering him with the love he needs at the moment. Sending you hugs xx

    1. It is daunting, I am worried about how my daughter will take it. We will see when the time comes. Thank you xx

  4. im so sorry to read about Harry. My parents dog is called Harry – great minds! It’s so difficult when a pet is poorly. It’s too easy to say it’s just a pet but it becomes so much more. Especially when you have children and they love them too. I hope you all enjoy all your time with him and it sounds like he’s in a very loved place with you all xxx

    1. It’s hard, and I know he is ‘just a dog’ but he’s so much a part of the household, he’ll leave a gaping hole when he’s gone. Thank you xx

  5. Oh Jocelyn I cried reading this post. First tears of joy and then sadness. I’m so sorry to hear your news. I hope when he drifts away, it’s peacefully with no pain. Sending big hugs xx

  6. Oh Jocelyn, I’m so sorry about Harry.
    It’s very hard preparing to say goodbye to a much loved pet and Harry is one of your family.
    It’s always a personal choice but I feel you’ve done the right thing by not opting for potentially distressing treatment and spending his days surrounded by you all and lots of love.
    Xx

  7. Sorry to hear about Harry but glad he’s eating again, I’m sure he knows just how loved he is and loves you all too in his own doggy way. It’s so very sad when they’re poorly because they mean so much to us – hugs x

  8. Oh Jocelyn. I’m so so sorry for you and for Harry. I cried reading this post as I know how hard it is to say goodbye to a dog. They aren’t ‘pets’ they are part of the family and so often our close friends and companions.
    Enjoy all the time you have left with Harry and know that when he goes, he has had a wonderful life with you. Thinking of you xxx

  9. Oh sweety, I’m so very sorry. It’s such a hard decision to make isn’t it, and so awful to get such bad news like that.
    Sending you huge hugs and love.

  10. Pingback: Word of the Week Preparation 26/6/2015 #WOTW | early rising mum

  11. Oh no!
    This is so sad, brought tears to my eyes. what a beautiful dog he is and I’m sorry you’re so close to losing him. I feel for you all, they really do become part of the family, my mum have 2 and they’ve been here since I left school which feels a lifetime.
    I can’t imagine how you’re feeling, I send you all massive virtual hugs and hoping your suffering isn’t too harsh on you.
    XX

  12. Oh honey I’m so terribly sorry to be reading this my heart aches for you and the family. It is such sad news. I have no doubt that you’ll all make the most of the time Harry has left. He’s so lucky to be blessed with such a loving and caring family!

  13. Oh Harry 🙁

    As you know, I’m playing a similar watching and waiting game with Stella; it is heartbreaking and I’m dreading the day I have to make that decision. Cherish every moment, and I know you’ll do your best to get the children through this difficult time too.

    Sending love xox

  14. I’m so sorry to hear about poor Harry’s diagnosis. It’s so hard when a much loved pet is ill and especially when they are nearing the end of a long and happy life. I have tears in my eyes remembering all my lost pets, still much missed. The good memories eventually outweigh the sad ones but it can be a long road. Sending you all love and hugs at this tough time. Jo xxx

  15. Oh, what a beautiful dog. Losing a family pet is so hard. I am really glad that you have time, as a family, to spoil him with lots of cuddles and love xx

  16. Oh this must be such an emotional time for you, Harry is clearly very well loved and looked after. I do lose you manage to get months of hugs and good times and that Harry remains rain free
    *hugs*
    Xx

  17. I am so so sorry to read your news, what an extremely sad time for you all. I know how heart breaking it is to lose a beloved pet. Treasure the time you have left, what a lucky boy he is to have such a devoted and loving family. Sending love and best wishes x x

    1. Thank you, Emma. It’s hard, but then I knew this day would come, of course. We’ll treasure it until then x

  18. Biggest of hugs to you, the kids and most of all harry. Sending all our positive thoughts and hope you get some good, quality time with him over the coming months. Lots of love, all us brennans xxxxx

  19. We lost our beloved dog Edward 6 years ago to a brain tumour we were lucky he lived to the ripe old age of 17 so was old but we were still devastated, Chris and I more so than the boys we got him the year we got married so was like part of our relationship if you get what i mean, our first baby. I cried reading you post as I know how you are feeling, you will know when the time is right. I just looked at him one day and made that awful decision, I thought the vet was talk me out of it when I took him but he agreed it was time, it broke my heart but I stayed with him a cuddled him on the vet floor till the end. I know we did what what was right and kind for him at the right time for him. I will be thinking of you xx

    1. Oh, that’s a lovely age, though of course, so hard to then say goodbye. I know just what you mean about them being your first baby. We got Harry just after we moved into this house together, so every memory of the home involves him, too. You did do the right thing, but that doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking, does it? Thank you xx

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