Saturday, December 6, 2008

Remembering Max

Last year at this time we lost our beloved Maxwell SilverHammer. I miss him everyday. He was a wonderful companion to our children and a devoted friend to me. My sweet boxer looked so intimidating and anyone coming to our door would cautiously step back when they saw him run up, but he was such a marshmallow and wouldn't hurt a flea. He let the babies that I would babysit ride on his back and pull his little stub tail. He would sit patiently as his daughter dog would sit on his head to get closer to me.
By the way, neither of them were allowed on the couch - don't tell dad!


My sweet boy was afraid of thunder and would climb on my lap and tremble when he would hear it. He was afraid of the UPS man and would stand behind me and bark at him when the man would try to hand him a treat. He would break out in a little puppy dance and wiggle his little stub tail when we would come home. (we would call this "the severe wiggle")

Our lives were so enriched by this sweet little boy.

He was only 6 years old when we lost him. We believe that he died of a brain tumor. He had been demonstrating signs of small tremors the week he died. He would wake up from his naps and his head would shake. Only his head. One day, when my husband had just left on a business trip and I was getting ready for work, my sweet boy's legs buckled from underneath him and he fell. I screamed and tried to help him as he floundered around- trying to get his balance. He looked like a fawn trying to stand for the first time. I called my girlfriend who came over immediately and we tried to lift my 65 pound flailing boy into the car. I sat in the back with him and tried to comfort him as we sped down the road. By the time we got there, Max seemed like himself again. He jumped out of the car and waited at the door. When we got him inside - there was another dog waiting to be seen. I reached toward Max to be sure that he didn't try to go to the other dog. He just stood there and urinated as he went into another seizure. When the vet finally was able to see Max, he decided it was best that they to keep him for awhile. They sedated him to try to give his poor body a rest from the seizures. My beloved Max never left the hospital. When he came out from under the anesthesia, he lapsed into another severe seizure, and stopped breathing. I lost my best friend that day.

I have never been that crazy about dogs until we happened across this cute little puppy in a pet store. Every day he filled my life with joy. I can't believe it has been a year already that he has been gone.

Goodbye again my friend - I will run with you again in Heaven one day.

8 comments:

Glenda said...

We lost our dog to close to the same thing yours seemed to have. He lived for 18+ years and for most of that time was medicated daily to prevent seizures. We acquired him as a pup from DH's cousin's neighbor. Sambo's mother was a purebred poodle and the father was the traveling salesman terrier living next door to the mother.
You never get over the loss, but you do get by it. This was a very fitting tribute to a gone but not forgotten friend.

kymber said...

Thank you Glenda,
I have the daughter doggie of my beloved Max, but there was definitely something different and special about my Maxxie boy. You are right - he may be gone, but never forgotten. It really was a blessing though, I was scared to death to have to bring him home and have to keep him on seIzure meds for the rest of his life. I was terrified to see another seizure like he had. It is funny - I work in the health care industry and I have been around death and dying situations yet, when it is a pet it is so hard because they don't understand what is happening to them. It is so much harder to stay calm - at least for me it is. I can't imagine losing a dog after 18+ years! That must have been so hard for you!
Take care,
Kymber

Glenda said...

You may have seen this before. For me it pretty much explains it.

The Power of the Dog by Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie --
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find -- it's your own affair --
But . . . you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone -- wherever it goes -- for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept'em, the more do we grieve;

For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long --
So why in -- Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

kymber said...

Thank you Glenda,
How true that poem is! I am glad to have my furry friends though - I would do it all again to have had the chance to be loved by them. Their love in unconditional that in a sinful world is sorely needed at times. God is so gracious to give us these furry companions to love and to be a friend when we are lonely.
I am TRYING to convince my husband that I want another one - he isn't as convinced about all of the trouble that they create. We'll see who wins :)
Blessings,
Kymber

cindy santiago said...

Oh, that is so sad! They become such a part of the family! I think I will be a wreck when I have to go through this with my dog. He's the first dog that I've been really attached to. I've had other pets that I've loved but this one is by far the closest to my heart! I feel for you!

Cindy said...

sorry, that was me that left that comment...I wasn't signed in correctly!

Anonymous said...

aw i miss my maxwell so much. reading this post almost made me cry. I remember that day i was vacationing in hawaii and you called me with the news, i wish i could've been there, by your side and his side to say goodbye.
i love you, kimmy<3

~Ashley

kymber said...

Ashley honey,
If you stop back by and happen to read this - I love you! Max was such a special dog - I am glad we were able to enjoy him together for the time that we did. He enriched all of our lives didn't he?
Love you kiddo!