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My sweet little Mason, a sentinel guarding both my heart and my soul, lays obediently at my side. His chin rests upon my thigh and I feel incredibly grateful that his stroke was not worse - that I was given a gift of time.
I have, however, come to realize that I am now a special needs parent to not one, but two little ones - Jack and my Mason. Sure, Mason is aging, but there is something about being a pet parent that makes it impossible for you to see your beloved pet as a little old man. Instead, I would like to think of him as another special needs child.
It has been somewhat difficult juggling Mason's needs with Jack's. Since his stroke, Mason's mobility has been impaired. He still trips a lot and his legs occasionally give way underneath him, but his ability to move around has greatly improved. He still cannot do stairs, which has caused some logistical issues with managing both his needs with Jack's. I now have two babies who have to be carried up and down the stairs. Unfortunately, I have yet to master the feat of carrying them simultaneously, as that would equal about 60 pounds of child and pug.
What has been heartbreaking about Mason's decline is that he doesn't seem fully aware of his limitations. He still attempts to play, only to find that his legs won't keep up. He'll attempt to jump up on us, but his back legs can't support his weight.
And yet, I find that his spirit is inspiring. He's old, but he's still got some fight in him. He needs assistance, yet he still wants to play.
We're moving forward, embracing our new status as special needs parents to our furry baby as well. He has carried me for so long, certainly I can carry him a little while more.
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(Hopefully) Related Posts:
The Tao of Mason
Rescue Me
"A Heartbeat at my Feet"
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