Emma (on right) with her friend.
Emma Black
(by Sue Black)
Years ago I lost my first Aussie, Annie, from hemangiosarcoma. Two nights ago, we relived that horror with Emma, our ten-year old Aussie who came to live with us as a pup in 2005. No warning; we thought she was just tired ― but tests revealed that she was bleeding internally and was anemic. We had hoped a splenectomy would extend her life, but the surgeons found additional metastases on her liver so we had to let her go.
I hate hemangio, such a silently progressing cancer. Here is a picture from happier times – Emma, her head dirty from her habit of dunking her head in a water bucket in the agility arena. And her friend.
I have cancer myself – stage IV ovarian cancer – diagnosed just a few months before we got Emma. She was so brave and fearless. She laid down with me whenever chemo (which I have received once a month since 2005) made me feel yucky. Her loss is so devastating. I can barely breathe.
My house and heart are so painfully empty.
