Never give up!

I have learned a number of very valuable lessons in the last couple of months that are worth while sharing. Or shall I say I re-learned some of them. Two months ago my beloved dog Lucy was not feeling so well and seemed to have lost weight and interest in eating, so I took her to the vet. After x-rays, an ultra sound, and exam, the vet told me to take her home and keep her quiet and that she had a very limited time to live. My shock and dismay kept us home and together, but when my daughter reminded me that keeping her housebound was no way for her to live, I began to take her out to her regular haunts again, but cutting back on strenuous activity. I told some friends, wept a lot, and explained to some of our park mates. One of them knew of a dog who had had good results with a holistic treatment by a local vet, and I did some research, and called the vet. He looked at her history and told me she would be a candidate for the treatment but he would have to see her. When I took her to him last week, he said that she looked good and seemed to be a candidate for surgery to remove this tumor that was on the x-rays. With trepidation and fear, I took her in for surgery, signing papers that if this was cancer and had spread, I wanted to let her go, rather than have her suffer for the sake of having her with me a few more months. We have to take responsibility for our domestic animals in payment for the love and comfort they give us.
I am thrilled to report that Lucy came through with flying colors. She tolerated the surgery well and will be home tonight. We will await biopsy results of course, but the vet doesn't think we will find cancer.
Here are some of the valuable lessons that I had to relearn:
1. Let others help you when you need help.
2. Never give up on someone you love.
3. Don't let fear rule you.
These were lessons I learned when my children were young and the doctors I consulted didn't listen when I told them that something was wrong--making me do the research for myself. We had a good outcome then and we have a good outcome now. Had I not told my park friend about Lucy and her dire diagnosis, he would not have told me about this treatment and I would not have called this wonderful vet. Had I given up on Lucy and thought there was nothing that could be done, the tumor might have had dire consequences, even if it isn't cancer. Had I been too afraid of surgery for her, and of making the decision to let her go if I had to, then we never would have had this marvelous outcome.
Lessons in life need to help us get through all of the many things we face, not only the particulars of one situation. So here is my take on what I have learned from this experience with regard to Project Transformation.
We are getting the help we need to make significant changes in our lives, so that this "makeover" will stay with us as life long habits, and keep us in this transformational state that we are achieving. With help from the CHLI staff, I have learned some very interesting lessons about saying "yes" to something that makes me more comfortable, to saying "yes" to the offer of someone doing something for me, like getting me water, and to saying "yes" to help when I need it. I have learned that I don't always have to do my own research, and that there are people out there who know just what help I need and are willing and happy to provide it.
I am a person who never gives up, but it is a valuable lesson to be reminded. Don't be afraid to try the new treatment; parents of children with cancer or disabilities can tell you that they didn't always stop at the treatment plan that the medical establishment suggested to make their kids well. Sometimes we stepped on toes to get the next step, but we just didn't stop because someone shook their head at us, or thought we were nuts and let it show. So we have to never give up on ourselves either. When I take that extra piece of bread, my personal demon, I have to beat back the urge to say, "Oh well, I've already blown it for today, so..." I didn't exercise so much last week because of the heat, but it's not a lost cause, there is always a way. So--NO GIVING UP.
And fear, that old nemesis that peeks out to haunt us. We cannot let it take over. We have to beat it back with all we've got, because it's aim is to make us less than we are, to let us slide into mediocrity because we can't face the niggling feelings in our stomachs. Just know that sure you are going to feel fear, and you may have a darned good reason for it, but go ahead and do it anyway, because you thought about it and it is worth doing. We are in a game that is worth playing--the game of life--with goals worth playing for--good health and longevity.
So when in doubt, think of Lucy, and NEVER GIVE UP!