I know this blog is supposed to be about my journey to the marathon, but we had to say goodbye to our beloved Brandi the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I actually started this post last month (almost to the day), but it was too painful to continue writing at that time.
Unfortunately, the cancer that was discovered too late in Brandi's spine appears to have been in her brain and nervous system as well. As it was explained to us by our family vet, these things usually go undiagnosed until late in the game because dogs have various compensation techniques that allow it to grow unchecked. By the time you see the symptoms, it is probably too late to treat the cancer successfully for more than a few weeks at best. So, rather than continue to hold on for our sakes, we had her put to sleep for hers. A terrible decision to face but one we ultimately believe she was ready for.
We miss her very much, but we take solace in the fact that we got a great, symptom-free summer out of her, which we know she enjoyed as much as we did. For all of you who knew her, please remember her in the spirit of playfulness and as a being of pure unconditional love and a source of boundless joy.
Much has happened since then and I will recount that in a future post as I try to get back into a routine. Happy Holidays!
