Max's Journey

Well, I pretty much resolved myself to the fact that Max was not going to pee outside for me yesterday.  So, after i signed off for the day I said one more time and then its time for bed…of course never expecting anything but the same blank stare I’d gotten all day.  Fire hydrant…NO!  Tree…NO!  OK, go head up the block for new scenery and then call it a day.  SO, he’s next to a different hydrant staring at my sister and I with those “leave me alone” eyes and lo and behold…he lifts his “stump” and let’s that fire hydrant have it!!!  Tears of joy that he finally did it!  My sister believes that once we took of his new harness he felt better about his business…MAYBE she’s right.  Too much change all at once…          I gave him a few nuggets of his food as a reward and then I let him get his much needed rest.

Today started much like yesterday…not much sleep so lets just get up.  Max and I gather ourselves up and headed out for our first challenge of the day…without the harness.  We hit all the same spots as yesterday, but he would have none of it today.  We headed back in and I decided today was going to be a day of rest, so just going to feed him and let him rest and get him back on his “normal” routine of going potty.  So breakfast was done and Max and I were just chilling out watching TV when i asked if he needed to go out and his ears perked right up.  So much for my plan, if he wants to go then take him I will.  Again, the same routine, then alas he stood at a tree near the “first” hydrant and he pee he DID!

I have learned a great many lessons in my life, but I’m not sure that I have not been learning the most important one to date.  I have watched Max for over a year struggling to walk…between a floating knee cap and then what was incorrectly diagnosed as arthritis and was actually cancer and NOT ONCE did he ever whine or whimper or cry or anything.  He limped along without a complaint.  And here he is now, missing a leg and still…NOT a peep.  He continues to move forward doing EVERYTHING he wants to do on 3 legs without a complaint.  Adversity is something he is unaffected by, challenges are just something he has to do to get to his food bowl…nothing affects him negatively, just keeps on going.  So, Maxwell, I thank you for teaching me whats really important…to keep moving forward and not letting anything slow me down!!!!  I love you little man!

Lisa & Max