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| Bee on salvia, August 2012, Lesley Beeton |
Today is as a Sunday should be. Quiet, restful, thankful. Yesterday was a horrid day. Themba had three severe collapses. The first two times, Mr B and I did chest compressions, cooling down his body with cool water and a towel. He took over an hour to come round. I managed to contact the cardiac vet specialist, who helped us decide on how to proceed, and we agreed not to attempt any resuscitation on future collapses. She advised on a change to his medication and said she would come to the house to put him 'to sleep' if he became distressed over the weekend. We were relieved to have a plan, at least. I put aside a clean sheet and my list of contact numbers (vet, crematorium etc). I thought over and over again about the poem The Rainbow Bridge, reproduced at Me, Myself and I.
At 5pm, he collapsed again. Mr B made sure he was on his bed when he actually fell down. We sat back, holding hands. Brin hid behind the sofa. After an age, Themba started breathing on his own, a hideous rasping sound. We had agreed that we would not attempt to give him water or food, that he should instead feel motivated and well enough to eat and drink on his own.
Around 8pm he got up, had a drink and asked to go outside for a wee. Then, back into his bed until 8am this morning. We didn't know what to expect today, but while he is quiet, he is perky with a waggy tail. He ate a good breakfast, with bacon scraps! Perhaps yesterday was just a bad day. Perhaps the change in medication is working. Perhaps it just wasn't his time.
Whatever the reason, we are so pleased that Themba is still here with us. And in his honour, we will all have a little lie-down after lunch today.
If you have time, please pop over to #BlogFlash2012, where you will find the link to many other contributors to a fun creative writing challenge for August.