Jaxon is seven years old now...

...and for these past seven years he has continued to prove to us that he is an amazing, loving, exceptionally wonderful boy.  He deserved a chance, and my daughter gave it to him. Today was a very hard day, as Jaxon began to suffer from grand mal seizures.  After such a long, emotional day of being treated by emergency veterinarians, having more seizing episodes, staying at the ICU, and having a phenobarbital IV administered, Jaxon is resting comfortably this evening at the vet hospital.  Pending getting his medications balanced to avoid any further seizing, he may get to come back home tomorrow.  Tonight, my daughter, Jaxon's momma, wrote: 

"Since he was five weeks old, Jaxon has slept in my armpit. For seven years, he's been my best friend. He's comforted me when I was at my lowest, protected me against an attacker, and loved me unconditionally. This is my child. Watching him have seizures at 4am, and leaving him in the emergency vet ICU has thoroughly been the most excruciating thing I've done. Hopefully the  Bobos will be home, tomorrow. I've taken the next seven days off to monitor his medication levels. Thank you to all who understand my connection with Jaxie. He may just be a dog, to you. But, he IS my child."

 

As a parent, I can attest that the most painful, difficult emotion I have ever felt has been directly tied to the suffering of either of my two daughters.  And as I watched Jessica today, tears streaming down her face, her husband's arms wrapped around her, I felt so much sadness seeing her feel such pain herself.  My heart ached to see my daughter hurting so.

And I also felt so thankful that Jaxie was "saved" on that spring morning seven years ago, when he was only five weeks old.  His presence in my daughter's life has brought an immeasurable amount of unconditional love and steadfast comfort to her when she needed it most. He is truly the child of Jessica and her husband, Bruce.

We don't know what is in store for Jaxie's immediate future.  If the medications can be administered in the correct doses, his seizures may be controlled easily, and his symptoms abated. Sadly, likely one day the seizing will slowly become more frequent and begin to last longer, even with medication.  I know that my daughter's unselfish love for Jaxon will not allow her to let him suffer.  I trust she and her husband will do what is right for their big white bubs when it is time to do so.  But for now, they will provide him with quality days, hopefully seizure-free.  He will continue to sleep in Jessica's armpit each night, pose for photos taken by his momma's camera, watch TV with his family, and run around the backyard with his brothers and sister.

He was so deserving of a chance.  And we have been so blessed that we had the ability to give him that chance.  Here's to many, many more wonderful years with our Jaxon.