We Won't Give Up...

Last night we talked and decided the next course of action for Hurley.  I have to be honest - I/We contemplated doing nothing and letting him live out the rest of his days as comfortable as we would be able to keep him.  But ultimately, he's not ready to leave us.  He shows no signs of sickness, not a single symptom - he's a friggin ox.  And that's what made our decision.  If he was sick in any way it would have been another story.  But not our Hurley - he's a fighter.  We decided the "rescue" protocols weren't for him - maybe IF we get to that point - but not yet.  We did consider CCNU, which is a chemo pill he would take every 3 weeks BUT it only has a 30% chance of being effective.  So how can we give up on him when he's not ready to give up?  So another round of chemo it is - he will go through another 15 weeks of chemo and we are hopeful that he will respond well with minimal side effects, as he did the first time.  Thursdays were chemo days during round 1, and it worked out that Thursdays are chemo days again.  He was at Tufts today starting round 2.  The nodes in his neck as well as behind his right knee are enlarged.  He will go back on Prednisone and have weekly appointments alternating between chemo and exams.  We are also changing his food.  He's just not ready and we feel that when he is, he will tell us - but we aren't there yet.  When he is ready we will do what we have to do for him, always with his best interest as the priority.  Yes, we are just postponing the inevitable but we know our dog and will do what we can for him until his time comes.  Not today my sweet Hurley boy, and not without a fight.  We won't give up...

                             When I look into your eyes

It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not, and who I am

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up, still looking up.

Well, I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

*Jason Mraz ~ I Won't Give Up*

Keep up the fight my sweet boy, and we will fight for you until you tell us it's your time...

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” 
*Anatole France

~E