April 24, 1994 to September 2, 2003

In October 2003, Paige Reder sent us a tribute to her special guy, Casey.

Suddenly on Thursday August 21,2003, Casey refused his breakfast. My husband and I tend to react immediately with every unusual sign from our pets. Casey loved his meals and could never get enough. Refusing one meal, even on a very hot day, was enough for us to schedule a visit with the vet for that afternoon. The exam by the vet indicated an enlarged mass in the abdomen and an ultrasound was scheduled for the following day. The ultrasound done on Friday August 23,2003, confirmed a large tumor on the spleen. The lab work returned also that morning reflecting anemia, elevated bilirubin, and a high white blood count. Casey had the spleen removed on that Friday morning and we brought him home that night. Even though the majority of tumors on the spleen were benign, the surgeon felt that this was going to be malignant since there were multiple nodules throughout the very large tumor.

For the next week we had almost daily lab work done to monitor the profound anemia. The biopsy results returned and confirmed our worse fears. Casey had malignant histiocytosis, a progressive cancer that invades the liver, kidneys and lymph nodes. Despite this startling news, Casey began to eat and enjoy short walks.

One week after his surgery, we had our annual Christmas photo taken at the house. We didn't think Casey would want to sit for pictures so we were going to digital him in. However for the next two hours, Casey wagged his tail and followed us around proudly sitting for all the pictures. Our Christmas card this year will be very special. The next day we had the lab work done again.

On Saturday, August 30,2003, exactly one year to the day Riley died, we admitted Casey to Helen Woodward Hospital with profound anemia and vomiting blood. The oncologist caring for Casey had recently lost his dog to the same disease. He was given two units of blood followed by a chemotherapy drug that was moderately successful with some animals . . . but unfortunately not with Casey. Despite it being the holiday weekend, Casey received the highest level of professional care . . . from the techs to the critical care physicians, to the internists and oncologists. Ed and I know that every possible avenue was explored in the hopes of saving Casey. But, it just wasn't meant
to be.

Ed and I spent Labor Day with Casey at the hospital, taking him out to the lawn to sit with him and talk with him. He knew we were with him and wagged his tail as we talked with him, his eyes not moving from ours. Long last looks. We walked him back into the hospital at 7:00 pm that night and the staff promised us they would call if his condition changed.

At 9:30 that night the hospital called and said it was time to come for him. He knew us and his tail was wagging when we picked him up. The staff prepared us to be ready for a long tough night as the vomiting of blood was profuse and occurring every hour. We all slept together that night. Casey slept peacefully that night without vomiting and he was in no pain. The next morning at 6:40 am he took a few deeps breaths and crossed the bridge to meet with Riley and Clancy.

We are so glad he picked us nine years ago. The blessing in his passing is that he got to grow his angel wings in our arms. We had the "time of our life" with him.

Below, is the memorial card that Paige and her husband Ed created for their special guy Casey. Goldens Clancy and Riley are actually captured in the 'toes' of the paw.