We got Gemma as an 8 week puppy. She was my official first dog since leaving home.
Over the years she brought us laughter, happiness and won the hearts of all those she came into contact with. She loved her poppa who looked after her for 12 months when I could not but she also loved and adored her nanna who we described as 'red' cordial to Gemma because she would go stupid and not settle. She saw her nanna as a never ending treat supply as with every visit she would always bring with her schmakos or treats.
She never grew up, even after being neutered and the vet telling us it would settle her down she was still as vivacious and excitable by everything and anything.
On August 2007 we took to the vet as I was concerned about some lumps under her 'arms" and on the left side beneath her ribs. At that stage they said from aspirating with a needle some fluid that they appeared as fatty lumps but they did say to keep a check on them, especially the one beneath her ribs. At this stage they were 'pea size'.
In January 2008 we took her for another check up as I felt concerned that the lump under the ribs had increased too fast in size. On 17/1/08 it was diagnosed that Gemma had Stage 3 Soft Tissue Sarcoma, the vet giving her with no treatment 3 months to 2 years or they could operate to get wider margins of the tumour however she was an older dog and she had lived a happy and fulfilling life thus far. We didn't want to put her through any more surgery and opted to give her the best of what she had left.
In August 2008 the lump that was partially excised started to increase rapidly in size. She was still not showing any discomfort. Up until recently the lump started to interfere with how she sat and laid down. She would constantly lick it making it red and aggressive.
We knew the day was nearing but I didn’t think it would be today. That one last car ride sitting in the back with her was the trip I dreaded the most. Still full of life, alert and responsive I felt so gutted by the decision I had to make but I couldn’t let her suffer any longer or make her suffer for that tad bit longer just because I didn’t want that day to come where we would have to say goodbye. Before she close her eyes they locked on mine and it was if she said to me in her own way, ‘hey mum I know we have to say goodbye now but everything will be okay. I know you will but please don’t worry or be too sad for me I will be in a better place..,’ watching on with a heavy heart, and tears in my eyes you had gone to sleep for the very last time and words I could not speak. Until we meet again Gemma will always be my baby girl.
