Success Story:
Ripley Bounces Back
Ripley
We got him on Mother’s Day. It wasn’t the kind of gift my mother wanted, but who could resist a little brown and white puppy. Yes, he did all the stuff puppies do. He tore up things he shouldn’t have, wanted constant attention and learned how to jump on the couch at an unprecedented young age, but he became part of the family, a permanent fixture in our lives.
Ripley was there for every birthday, holiday, or graduation. He took part in family gatherings, using his big, brown eyes to entice anyone to feed him. He went for rides in the car, took walks in the park and he even got his picture taken with Santa.
But he lived for Sunday mornings with my dad. As an exceptional bird dog, Ripley yearned to be out in the fields. It was during this time that he perfected his hunting skills. “What a nose,” my dad would say. He was so proud.
Ripley’s patience was tested when we brought home Rocket, an energetic twelve week old. But, they became best friends instantly. Where Ripley went, Rocket was not far behind. Rocket’s constant motion energized Ripley’s days.
In December of 2005, Ripley became extremely bloated, lethargic and refused to eat. Our local vet told us the sac around his heart was filling up with fluid, preventing the heart from expanding properly and not pumping enough blood to his body. We were hit hard. As his health deteriorated, so did our hearts. We had the fluid tapped three times before we were referred to the University of Pennsylvania and drove the hour and a half to meet with the veterinary team. More tests showed that Ripley has a benign tumor on his aorta. The doctors suggested placing windows in the sac to allow the fluid produced by the tumor to be reabsorbed into the body. We decided to go for the surgery, anything to prolong a healthy life. On March 8, 2006, Ripley was admitted to the hospital. We didn’t know what to expect as we silently said our goodbyes.
In the weeks following his surgery he’s back to his old ways, stealing toilet paper and annoying my mom. We believe every day with him is a blessing, one that we will never take for granted. As I write this, both dogs are laying next to me in my bed chasing imaginary squirrels in their sleep. Both are comfortable, stretched out across the bed. I, on the other hand, have been pushed into a corner, unable to move my legs. But I guess that’s the price of love.