Mason Memories: Our Sweet Maggie

Back in the fall our Maggie Mae developed an unusual cough. We didn't think much of it and did't see the need to spend hundreds on invasive testing. We put her on a cough suppressant that seemed to help.

We noticed she began to lose weight and feel very skinny to touch. Other than that she was our usual Maggie.

In February I was giving her a bath and tears started streaming down my face. She was a skeleton. She had lost a lot of body mass and while she was still eating, her weight never came back on. Back to the doctor we went and had x-rays done to ultimately tell us to see a specialist.

We were told there was fluid on her chest and abdomen, and that her heart had a funny sound to it.

At the veterinary emergency hospital they told us that Mae Mae was very sick. They were able to successfully drain the excess fluid but she would need to stay over night for observation. It was so hard to leave her there! The next afternoon Maggie came home with several prescriptions that would hopefully stop the fluid and the protein loss she was experiencing.

It didn't. Maggie behaved just fine and did all the normal things she would usually do. However, two weeks later she had a fluid sack on her chest again.

The ER vet drained her again and we brought her back home. We were also told that if the meds didn't help she may have stomach cancer.

The medicines just were not working over a month into taking them.

I told Travis that if she were not acting so lively and eating normally, our decision of rather or not it was her time would be easier.

I have had that sweet pup since I was 23. She has seen me through lonely times, moving multiple times, meeting Travis and getting married, bringing two babies home from the hospital, and all the while she remained my ever faithful companion.

Suggie calls Maggie the Golden Child because she can do no wrong.

On a Monday morning in March the kids and I (and Maggie) were in our schoolroom doing that day's assignments. Lucy Mills sat on the floor next to Maggie and said "Mama, Maggie has a different look in her eyes. I've never seen her eyes make that look." Sure enough, where Maggie's eyes had always appeared so lively, now they looked tired and dark. The fluid was back filling her chest and she refused to lie down. I think it was just too uncomfortable for her to do so.

At CBS (our weekly Bible study) about a month prior, a girl in my group just happened to mention the name of a vet who would come to your house to help in the end.

Maggie hated going to the doctor and I could not bear to even load her in the car one last time.

I called the phone number I had stored away and the kindest voice walked me through her advice. Oh, and she just happened to also work at the emergency vet where I previously had taken Maggie. So Dr. Katie had complete access to review her file.

The hardest part was making the decision that Monday, March 6th would be our last day with our Mae Mae. Dr. Katie was scheduled to come that afternoon at 5pm. The hours leading up to 5 were brutal but I am so thankful for our time with Maggie. We were able to soak up the remaining hours with her.

Let me back up a minute. Before I even took Maggie to see the specialist, I was picking her up from her regular vet's office one afternoon and a woman was in front of me in line at the receptionist's desk. I noticed she was bawling and quickly realized that she was there to put her dog to sleep.

Tears spilled out of my eyes too and I begged God for just a little more time with Maggie. My heart just wasn't ready yet.

He gave me more time.

But when the Monday came and Dr. Katie arrived at our house, Maggie sat up and greeted her, tail wagging and all. However, she was so frail and winced if you pet her.

I sent the children to play at the neighbor's house, and held on to my sweet Maggie Mae one last time. Travis fed her her favorite treat of peanut butter as she peacefully drifted off to sleep.

I couldn't have made it through that day without my mom and Travis there.

Travis carefully buried her in our backyard.

When they kids got home of course they were heartbroken. Lucy Mills wrote a note and placed it at Maggie's grave. McClain walked around the yard and cried.

The house has a different feel to it when someone is missing. The next morning Lucy Mills went to sit at Maggie's grave. I could see she was talking but could not hear her words. She later told me that she just talked to Maggie about heaven, and told her she loved her, and asked her to lead us to the next puppy that was for us.

The next day I picked the kids up from Excelsior and Daddy met us for a celebratory smoothie in honor of our Maggie. We agreed she would not want us to be sad. But man she is missed!