Friday Things
Thank you to everyone who has asked about Einstein and offered up good thoughts and prayers for him. It’s been quite a long week for us. He had a great therapy session last Friday afternoon and we immediately started seeing improvements over the weekend – he began sitting up and standing up on his own, and being able to lay back down on his own, much steadier on his feet, hardly any knuckling while walking, and he even walked from his dog bed near our entryway over to the kitchen while Joseph was eating dinner on Wednesday without any issues (they both love mealtimes!).
Less than 2 hours after we snapped that picture above, he had a seizure while I was putting Joseph to bed. My husband rushed him to the animal hospital while I waited for my mom to come and stay with Joseph. After a complete blood workup, chest x-rays, an abdominal ultrasound, and finally an MRI, our worst fears were realized late yesterday… He has inoperable brain cancer that has spread to his lungs. The neurologist put him on a steroid to reduce swelling, alleviate his symptoms and allow him to be comfortable and happy. We get to bring him home today, but the prognosis is not good… the neurologist said that six months would be the very high end of expectations.
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My heart is broken into a thousand pieces. He is just the best dog, and this happened so suddenly with seemingly no warning signs. I really thought I had four or five more years with him. I just want to hug him and never let go.
I had a bunch of other things lined up to talk about in today’s Friday Things, but they all seem trivial given the news we got yesterday, so I’ll save them for next week.
Thank you all for loving Einstein as much as we do ❤️
So sorry to hear that your fur baby isn’t well. Sending you hugs and smiles.
I’m so sorry about your sweet boy. The same thing happened to our first golden when he was only 8. My heart breaks for you.
Yours is the only blog I follow regularly and I feel I know Einstein and the whole family. Thank you for sharing him with us. I am so shocked and sorry for this news. He’s a lucky dog to have you.
I am so sorry to hear about Einstein’s devastating prognosis. Losing a pet this beloved is saying goodbye to a valued member of your family. I hope this final journey will be a good one for all of you
I am so sorry about Einstein, my heart is breaking for you all! Sending lots of hugs and good thoughts your way!
I’m so very sorry to hear about Einstein, my heart is breaking for your family! I’ll pray for his comfort & your peace of heart!
I’m so sorry about Einstein. He is such a love and it’s been so fun to see his interactions with Joseph, and all of the funny pictures. Wishing you all a peaceful transition, we will miss him too. Hugs to you and your family.
So sorry to hear this Michelle and for how you and your family are feeling. We had to say goodbye to our dog earlier this year after several months of illness. But it was a blessing to have the time with her. Sending prayers your way.
I’m so sorry. I never comment on here but this broke my heart into a thousand tiny pieces. I’ve been reading since we both only had fur babies and now we are both moms of human ones too. I wish Einstein could live forever… I’ve enjoyed his funny pictures for a long time. Hugs to you all. And when he crosses the rainbow bridge he will be able to still play fetch and eat snacks with new friends. Xoxo
Words can not describe the heartbreak of the impending loss of a beloved furry family member. I know how difficult and impossible this can be to endure. Love and prayers for Einstein and his human family.
This breaks my heart. So sorry for you and your family. I know how special our pets are and its heart breaking to see them hurting. Thinking of you all and wishing you, your family, and little Einstein peace and comfort.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Asking God to comfort and give peace to Einstein. Be Thankful for the memories that will carry you through this difficult time.
Michelle & family……My heart is so sad for you all! I have enjoyed all the pictures & stories over the years about both dogs, & your family. We had a 13 yr. old Golden Retreiver who got thyroid cancer & lived about 6 months with it. It was tough to watch him slowly decline, after having him in our family for so long. He was the dog that grew up with our kids. It’s never easy to say good-bye to our beloved pets. ?
Prayers to you all!! Enjoy each day you can with dear Einstein.
I am so so sorry to hear of Einstein’s diagnosis. I sit here writing this email with tears in my eyes. I know how I feel about my Sadie and I can only imagine how you must feel. I know you will make him as comfortable and spoil him until it is time to cross the Rainbow Bridge. He will be in my thoughts and prayers as well as you and your family. Big hugs to all.
No matter how much time we have with them, it’s never long enough. When you feel the time drawing close, slip him a chocolate chip cookie (or 10 chocolate chip cookies).
So sorry for the news. I know what it’s like to loose a precious fur baby. Lots of love to you all and prays for comfort.
My condolences on your pup’s diagnosis. We just put our terrier down earlier this summer after 9 1/2 years, with a brain tumour too. So many hugs sent your way. Spoil that doggy with love and fried eggs and peanut butter (or whatever his favourites are) . As terrible as it is losing them, I’d take the sadness ten times over not having had the privilege to love them. <3
Michelle, I find myself having to ask your forgiveness. Several comments before this one, I made a terrible mistake. When I wrote, I failed to go back and re-read what you said about Einstein. I thought you had said that he had an inoperable brain TUMOR. Now I know that it is cancer. Michelle, I don’t have the words to say to you how very much I regret not making sure I had the correct information before writing that long comment. I suppose I was so eager to offer you a possible way for more life. I certainly can see, with all the testing that was done, that the diagnosis is dire and sadly, no doubt, correct. Please give this dear, beautiful boy a love hug from me here in Virginia. I will think of him and pray for him daily, for all of you. Duke will soon know that something is wrong, if he does not already. May God give to you grace and a peaceful soul for the coming days. Shelby
How lucky Einstein is to be part of such a loving, caring family. His remaining days will be filled with much love and many hugs. My dog and I will keep you all in our thoughts over the coming weeks.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. He is so beautiful and full of love. Wishing you peace and hoping you get to spend as much time as possible together.
I’ve been a fan of Einstein for years. Your pictures of him have always put a smile on my face. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Am praying for you all tonight -pets become part of our family and I am so sorry for the heartbreak you are going through…treasure the days you have left with him….hugs!!
I have been following you for years and have always admired how much your dogs mean to you. It breaks my heart to hear about Einstein. In fact, since I’ve been following you, I have have gotten a golden retriever as well. I’m not sure if you’re familiar but there is a Golden Retriever lifetime study. Daisy is enrolled and hopes that they can determine why Golden Retrievers get cancer more often than other breeds. Our thoughts are with you and Einstein during this very sad time.
I am so sorry to hear about your sweet Einstein. My heart is absolutely bleeding for you. He’s had such a wonderful life and is lucky to have a family who loves him like you do. You’re all in my thoughts and please give that special guy some extra pats from me.
I literally gasped after reading this sad news! I’m so sorry to hear this! He’s become a part of all of our lives through this blog.
I’m so sorry, dogs become such a part of our families it is hard to lose then. My thoughts are with you all.
I’m very sorry to hear about sweet Einstein. I’ve enjoyed reading about him and I know he’s truly a part of your family. It’s so hard to lose a friend! many thoughts and prayers to you all.
Sorry to hear about Einstein. He always looks so happy in his pictures. I’m sure if he could, he would tell you how loved he feels and what a wonderful life he has being your fur baby. Enjoy the time you have with him. Thoughts and prayers for Einstein and your family.
Was so pleased to hear Einstein was doing better but then so sad to read the next paragraph. I am so so sorry. Really enjoy the Einstein and Duke stories and photos and know how very much they are loved. You are in my prayers.
I am writing this with tears rolling down my face. I always look forward to your Friday Things post to see Einstein and his baby brother Duke. I have my own fur baby and I understand the kind of joy and love they bring to our lives. There will be plenty of time to miss and mourn him when he’s gone. Just enjoy every moment you still have with him, and try to remember how lucky you both are to have such a wonderful (although far too short) life together. My heart and prayers are with you.