Cooper RIP

Sanibel sunset
None of knew this would be Cooper’s last sunset; however, we were all together for his last sunset at our favorite spot.

 

Unless you’re emotionally attached to a sad event, it’s challenging to care about it. This post is asking for your empathy or your prayer. This post is asking that you think the same way about your own misfortunes.

When something ‘bad’ happens, particularly when it blindsides us, we are left in shock, and deeply hurting.

The antidote, at least from my 57 year perspective, is to cling to gratefulness as if our very life depends on it.

Find the reasons to be grateful, even as you cry uncontrollably.

There is literally no exception to “it could be worse”. It can always be worse. And often, it can always be much worse.

We all have shocking moments in life. July 14, 2014 was one of them.

The upside is that we were all together at our favorite place. It could have played out so much differently. i’m grateful that it didn’t.

 

__________

 

This website is about our mental attitude. To easily leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s physical health website, click here.

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

 

RIP Cooper (July 14, 2014)

Note: Today is July 15, 2014… deleted the original post scheduled for today (the one written 100 days ago) and wrote this one yesterday, July 14.

 

Emergency Vet consent form

 

(photo: 7am Sunday, July 13, 2014, Estero, Florida)

Forty-eight hours ago we arrived at the Sanibel Island beachfront cottage. Annual Summer tradition officially begun. A 25-year old tradition.

Forty hours ago, felt two peach sized lumps – one on each side of Cooper’s throat.

Googled Sanibel emergency Vets.

It was 10pm Saturday night. We are four hours from Orlando.

Found and called the closest option.

Other than some drooling during the day we arrived Cooper had not demonstrating anything unusual.

Thirty-two hours ago Cooper and I drove an hour to arrive Sunday morning at 7am.

His blood work showed virtually all his white blood cells were gone.

The next 26 hours were focused on three things. Breaking his 105.5 fever. Antibiotics. IV fluids.

His fever never broke.

Six hours ago, Cooper stopped breathing and was immediately intubated.

Moments later his heart stopped.

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