Tribute To Clinton
8/8/024

Hey everyone....it has taken me a few days to be able to come here & write these words...my beloved Clinton went to the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday August 3rd, 2004. My beautiful little boy was having problems staying up on his hind legs, he would just fall, his hind quarters would just "droop" down to the floor as he was standing there. He hit the floor very hard so many times, his one hock was swollen from hitting the floor & the ground. My Mother was taken to the hospital on July 9th. She went into the ICU unit immediately and altho' she "rallied" for a week, she lost her battle with her emphysema on July 26th. She never came out of the hospital. Because of my tending to my Mom, her home, her cats & all her responsibilities I was not even able to make an appointment for Mr. Clinton until the day after Mom passed. My Vet was very understanding & supportive as he knew I was also now tending to my Mom's funeral. He kept Clinton for 2 & 1/2 days. They x-ray'd his spine, as there was a possibility that the Lyme's disease he was struck with last May could "have settled into his spine". The inflammation surrounding his spine was "great" so he put Clinton on a IV cortisone. I called the following morning, they said he was worse off then the day before, not able to get himself up from the floor. They tried a different steroid. I picked him up on Friday. Dr. Gibbons showed me his x-rays, he has arthritis(severe) from his 3rd vertebrae...down, most of his spine. They sent me home with Prednisone to help alleviate the swelling around his spine. The medications did absolutely nothing for him...he couldn't stand, walk straight (without "slamming" into walls) he fell down the back porch twice..it was heart-wrenching to watch this very brave boy try to continue on as if nothing afflicted him. NEVER once did he cry out, moan, groan or show any sort of discomfort. I lifted his 85 lb. body into my bed every night, as that is where he slept, from the very first day we got him home, he slept with his Mama Lady. I know he knew something was wrong, as he lost the sparkle in his eyes. I think my little boy just wanted to be here with me thru my own sorrow. He knew his Mama Lady was suffering too. I stayed with him in the Doc's office, held my lips to his head and continually told him how much he was loved and I begged him to wait for me at The Bridge as I will surely be looking for his sweet face when it is my "time". I am lost without him..my boyz miss him dearly too. Bogey keeps sitting by the door waiting for him. We will all wait to see our "Lil Wiggle Butt".