Moose is Two Years Old Today
Moose’s second birthday came with some rainy weather and bad news from the vet. He began limping over the weekend so I was keeping a close eye on him. The dogs and I are all very active and the occasional sore muscle is part of our lifestyle. A few days later it was clear that this was not a minor injury from the everyday chipmunk chasing and roughhousing that goes on around here. I called our beloved vet “Dr J” and got him in to see her pronto.
After a thorough exam and a consult with an ortho specialist at the same vet clinic, we learned that Moose has a torn ACL in the right rear leg, and his left leg is already showing signs of injury as well. This is likely something he was born with and he’ll have to undergo two consecutive surgeries to fix the problem in each knee.
I’m heartbroken for Moose who will have to endure these procedures, each one coming with a lengthy recovery period. And I couldn’t be more empathetic as I’m currently going through my own lengthy recovery following a surgery I had just one week ago. The blessing here is that my surgery is behind me, and while I’m on forced rest for five more weeks, I’m now able to get around independently and can take care of Moose.
On the drive home from the vet, I pushed all negativity aside and got my mindset in a positive place. First, we were going to celebrate Moose’s birthday despite the bad news. And second, we were going to embrace the concept of rest, not as something being forced on us, but as an essential part of life, especially a full and active lifestyle like ours.
Our birthday celebration included cake followed by a group nap, an activity that will be a big part of our days moving forward. Beforehand, I got today’s photo of Moose, whose easy smile speaks volumes about his resilience and worldview. His bouncy demeanor has always been a source of inspiration for me, but now more than ever.
Happy birthday to my sweet Moose! I’m going to be strong for you and we’re both going to emerge from this even stronger than before.
