[lucasmom]

Mike, Randy, and all-
Thank you for all of your support and wisdom. My heart is breaking for all of our beloved dogs. I know that the time is near and I pray for every day we have left with our babies. I agree with Warrior that the tumor probably bothers me more than Lucas. God, I hate looking at that thing. It is like a demon growing under his skin. I just want it to stop growing. I cannot imagine it bursting through the skin. I will put him down before that happens...afterall, how can I be so selfish to have him suffer just so I can spend more time with him. I cannot imagine my life without Lucas. He is my constant companion. He sits on the sofa with me and "reads", sleeps next to my bed in his "bed", we used to go for walks every day, but that has stopped because he can't walk well. We still go for "rides", and he loves that.

Mike...I have tears in my eyes from reading about Xena. I am so touched and inspired for the love you have for her. God bless you for that. I will continue to pray for her when I pray for Lucas. That is all we have besides loving and supporting our dogs. I just wish that they were older. Seven or 8 years is just unfair. If they were 10 years or greater, I would understand more, although it would still be just as hard to lose our best friends. I think conceptually, I would accept it better. I guess I feel cheated in some way. Please keep in touch. I really appreciate you sharing with me what your vet told you about the tumor. My vet doesn't really know what to do. He said that there really is nothing to do and he said that if we wanted some oral morphine, he would supply that in Lucas' last days. God, this is like hospice care.

My love and well wishes to all of you - Laurie