Merry Christmas to All

[trackrat]

The Trackrat had his most successful handicapping year in a year that was highlighted by personal tragedy. My 87 year old mother passed away on November 7, 2012, after battling brain and lung cancer for 21 months. This past Friday, December 21, 2012, I had to euthanize my constant companion and best friend Milo, a ten year old rescued Lhasa Apso. Milo manifested his first sign of illness on December 12, the day before my hernia surgery. The first vet, on December 14, diagnosed a brain tumor, but the second vet on December 15 immediately diagnosed non-regenerative red blood cell anemia and put Milo on steroids and antibiotics. Unfortunately, Milo did not respond favorably to the medications in the next six days and by the morning of December 21, he was so weak he could not stand up and struggling for breath. So I had him put to sleep. He was my best friend for nine years and I miss him so much. The apartment is empty without his constant presence.

He was also a protector and comfort for my SO, Kathy, a stroke survivor confined to a wheelchair. He provided her with companionship, the will to make herself better so that she could better take care of him and unconditional love for both of us.

We were prepared for my mother's passing because of her lengthy battle with illness, but Milo went from being a frisky, inquisitive, loving companion to his death in ONLY six days. This will take some time to get over.

Jim

[jimhorseman]

Jim:

My condolences on both the loss of your Mom and your dog Milo. I know through the PM's we sometimes exchanged when this board was in its heyday how important they as well as Kathy were in your life. My mom has been widowed over 16 years now. My in laws are in their late 80's and besieged by medical problems - especially my father-in-law who is wheel chair bound due to advanced Parkinsons. They all require significant time commitments from my wife and I. Despite that and knowing time and medical history are working against them their eventual demise is difficult to conceive. Ironically my youngest daughter works for an Animal Hospital and we recently took in an abandoned dog who my daughter helped nurse back to health. He is now a big part of the family and perhaps received more Christmas gifts than anyone else. A loss of a good pet is as devastating as losing a family member.

Hang tough. Once the grieving process becomes more advanced with the passage of time I hope 2013 can eventually become one of happiness, good health and joy.

By the way, my time is so limited between work demands and family needs that the few opportunities I have to handicap and wager have been complete disasters. Perhaps you can throw an old board member friend some of those nice priced horses you seem to have been hitting.

Jim