Last week, our youngest dog, Bailey, had to have surgery to repair a cruciate ligament injury. Yes, I know she is a dog. Yes, I know the surgery is expensive. While people have been very supportive in their responses to this information, I know there are some who are probably wondering why we would invest so much in a dog. I will answer that question later.
We had to drop Bay off for surgery on Tuesday morning. I will admit that I almost cried leaving her at MedVet Pittsburgh, but I knew Dr. Snow and her staff would take great care of her. I also knew if Bailey was going to return to her active level of exuberance, joy, and craziness (I call her Crazy Train), this surgery was absolutely necessary. Bailey is one of our hiking/backpacking dogs. Since her injury, including her inability to take long walks, let alone hike, she has been visibly depressed. (yes, doggie depression is a real thing). And she had to stay overnight.
Fortunately, we spent Tuesday evening at our son’s house, having dinner and then doing a little shopping for home improvements with him. That kept my mind off of Bailey, who, by that time, had come through surgery with flying colors but was in ICU recovery for the night. The team sent us pictures of her following her surgery and called with updates. She was monitored throughout the night. They would call in the morning, letting us know when we could pick her up.
By Wednesday morning, both my husband and I were ready to get Bay. And her canine siblings were beside themselves with worry. They had no idea why we left with Bailey and then returned without her. Each dog thoroughly searched and searched the house and vehicles for her, to no avail.
Dr. Snow called by 8:30 a.m., and we picked Bailey up at 10 a.m. We had thorough training on what to expect, how to care for her post-surgery, when to administer her medications, and even how to help with rehabilitation and administer PT. We were told that she was the best patient they had ever had. I’m not surprised. She is such a good dog.
Because she needed to wear an e-collar whenever she was not monitored, we made every effort to be with her. She has been with us 24/7 since she came home. We have even adjusted how we sleep so that she does not have to wear the cone of shame. My husband and I have taken to sleeping on an air mattress on the floor with her between us. We split our time during the day, so she is never alone. And our other dogs are so happy that she is back in the pack. I think they even know that she is recovering and are quite gentle with her.
I share all of this because this is what love looks like in our family. And the dogs, all of them, including our sons’ dogs, are part of our family. Love looks like doing what is best for another in need (including your dog). Love looks like distracting your mom, so she doesn’t worry. Love looks like sleeping on the floor. Love looks like the treats that your own mother brought over for the recovering patient and her siblings. Love looks like the phone calls we got checking on Bailey. You can find love everywhere if you look. It’s not too hard to see love in action.
Love looks like a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But what real, true, unconditional love really looks like is Christ on the cross dying for the sins of all. You and me, even those who don’t yet know Him and even those who don’t want to know Him [but Jesus hopes (as do I) that they will come to].
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
So today, show some love to someone else. It can be a kind word, a phone call, an invitation, a hug, an email, a text, a meal, a note, or your time. It can be a hello to a stranger, a wave to your neighbor, giving the old lady your seat, or letting the frantic young man ahead of you in line. Love is limitless. And today, show me some love; please pray for me. I will continue to pray for you.
Tattoos, Motorcycles, Beer, Bourbon and Faith 