Camper-Share

where campers connect + share

My Sad, Sad Heart

My girlfriend and I go camping all the time and last year in June, we added a little bundle of joy to our family. We named him Sir Cornelius Clancy Jones. You might have seen him in my many pictures that I have posted on my site. He's a brindle French Bulldog and each and every moment of every day of our lives for the past year have been filled with him. He became a great little camper, we took him camping the first week we brought him home. He took to the tent right away, he would run into the tent and dive into the sleeping bags and wiggle all over them on his back. He did however seem a little bit scared of the dark.

In August he was diagnosed with a severe heart problem. We took him to Oregon State University to have a balloon valvioplasty done on him. This was supposed to open up the right valve so his blood pressure would be lessened. His surgery went well, however, in October when we took him back to be reevaluated, the Vet told us that the surgery didn't relieve enough of the pressure on his heart and that he would live with heart disease for a while. We were devastated. It was very important to us that Cornelius live the best possible life he could so we didn't discourage him from running and playing, he was allowed to be a dog.

So, things were great, we had our little dog and Christmas came and went and Winter turned to Spring and then Spring to Summer and it was time to camp. We went to Crater Lake, Wyoming, North Dakota, Westport and Staircase. Our next trip was scheduled for Penrose Point State Park in the lower Puget Sound area. The trip was planned for July 30th - August 2nd. Wednesday night, July 29th at 10:30pm our little Cornelius jumped up and chased a cat about 20 yards. He then collapsed and had a heart attack and passed away to the other side. Now our house is too quiet and our hearts are broken. We are mending and we did go on the camping trip to grieve, but our lives will never be the same, he changed us. Momma's little baby will forever live in our hearts.

Mamma's love The Cornelius. Now you can run and play and it doesn't matter how hot it is or how far it is.

0 members like this

Next Post >

Comment

You need to be a member of Camper-Share to add comments!

Join Camper-Share

Comment by Monnette M. Rancour on August 15, 2009 at 7:24pm: Susan, thank you for sharing. I too think that it is weird that we both went though such a tragic event on the same day. I am truly sorry to hear about your loss, it sounds like Prancer was a great little companion. Like Cornelius was to us, I'm sure Prancer was one of your kids. We believe we will see him again when we too return home. Again, thanks for the kind words and for sharing.

Comment by susan on August 14, 2009 at 10:36pm: I can so relate to this. 8 years ago I brought a Mini Schnauzer for my daughters for xmas, his name was Prancer. He ended up becoming my dog, cause I was the one that took him for all his groomings shots ect. Well July 1st he went in for his grooming and when I went to pick him up the groomer informed me that he had a know on his head. I looked and sure enough it was the size of a nickle. Well I took a wait and see aproach, but by July 12 it had grown to the size of walnut. So I took him to the vet, the vet said he had massive head injurys so they put a drain tube in it. it drain for a bout another week. by the 17 was in for the removal of his drain tubes. Over the next 5 days, July 24, Prancer was taken back in so we could put the tubes back in cause that bump had grown 5 X's the size it was originally. Well went they put him under, the Vet decided to take another Xray and see if there was any changes. What was thought to be massive head injurys was in fact the deterioration of his skull by a very agressive form of cancer. The Vet said I could treat it but there were no garentees, well I told him I would put Prancer down by the end of the week. That night Prancers seizures started. I also had to work at this time. We comforted him as best we could talking to him through his seizures. Wednesday July 29th, Prancer had a large number of seizures while I was at work, and it had frightened my kids (ages 17, 14, and 10) I decided to go ahead and put Prancer down instead of letting him suffer. Thats the hardest thing to do is let go. Well Prancer is now with my dad and no longer in heaven. We went to Vallecito Reservior August 1st and I hunted for a large enough flat piece of granite to mark his grave in my garden.
Camping without Prancer was very hard but it was a good way to mend.

I just thought it was ironic that it was the same day as yours. My condolences to you for your loss.
They are in a better place and I know we will see them again!!!

Comment by Monnette M. Rancour on August 9, 2009 at 10:51pm: Thank you Sandra, it is kind words like yours that makes this easier day by day.

Comment by Sandra on August 9, 2009 at 7:53pm: Oh no. Too sad. Makes me cry; I know how hard this is for you. Cornelius is running and jumping without any physical problems now on the other side. My heart truly goes out to you. You were blessed by a great dog in your life.