A Beautiful Photo of Healing

The beauty comes in the journey from pain and frustration to healing and comfort.

Cora is a Healthy, Wonderful Pup

Cora following Floyd around the yard.

For some reason I'm having troubles writing this even though the news is wonderful. I keep wanting to cry whenever I start to write. I'm just so happy, relieved and in awe of Cora. Yesterday she got her sutures out. It wasn't the same dog walking into the vet office. Lately, I've been carrying her in and out because she was in so much pain, but yesterday we explored a bit outside and then headed in. She was curious and relaxed in the office. She did well with getting her sutures out. Everyone was so happy to see her doing so well. Cora got a lot of velveeta and praise and when we walked out the door she was straining at the leash to go back in. 
 

Cora saying hello to Floyd, the toy hog, after she got her sutures out

 Just two weeks ago I was torn up inside wondering why I had put her through a second surgery. She was so miserable and I feared for her future. Blind, "retarded", three-legs... how was she to have a future? Was I prolonging her pain? I really wondered and now things are better than I imagined they could be. She is so much happier I'm still amazed.


Perhaps this is why I haven't been able to write because I'm still not finding the words I want. How can I say what it's like to have quiet when before there was the ongoing barks of frustration and what I now know was pain?  How can I explain the settled feeling, as we navigate through life without the chaos? Something as simple as taking her harness off and on, becomes meaningful, when it was such a battle before. Then there's the relief I felt when Cora stepped on the scale and her weight had gone up. She's still just a pup but she stopped growing when she injured her stump. It's such a relief to have a growing pup.I don't want to explain how I feel, when I think about the fact she's been in pain the whole time I've had her and I didn't really understand. I am profoundly grateful she is finally leaving pain behind. And I will never be able to explain what it's like to sit and cuddle with my beautiful, courageous Cora. I've stepped inside her world and she's entering the world of a healthy, loved dog. 

Cora tonight, tired after her longest walk ever.