Friday Things
Thank you to everyone who has asked about Einstein and offered up good thoughts and prayers for him. It’s been quite a long week for us. He had a great therapy session last Friday afternoon and we immediately started seeing improvements over the weekend – he began sitting up and standing up on his own, and being able to lay back down on his own, much steadier on his feet, hardly any knuckling while walking, and he even walked from his dog bed near our entryway over to the kitchen while Joseph was eating dinner on Wednesday without any issues (they both love mealtimes!).
Less than 2 hours after we snapped that picture above, he had a seizure while I was putting Joseph to bed. My husband rushed him to the animal hospital while I waited for my mom to come and stay with Joseph. After a complete blood workup, chest x-rays, an abdominal ultrasound, and finally an MRI, our worst fears were realized late yesterday… He has inoperable brain cancer that has spread to his lungs. The neurologist put him on a steroid to reduce swelling, alleviate his symptoms and allow him to be comfortable and happy. We get to bring him home today, but the prognosis is not good… the neurologist said that six months would be the very high end of expectations.
Save This Recipe
Enter your email address, and we'll send it straight to your inbox!
My heart is broken into a thousand pieces. He is just the best dog, and this happened so suddenly with seemingly no warning signs. I really thought I had four or five more years with him. I just want to hug him and never let go.
I had a bunch of other things lined up to talk about in today’s Friday Things, but they all seem trivial given the news we got yesterday, so I’ll save them for next week.
Thank you all for loving Einstein as much as we do ❤️
Michelle, So sorry to hear your news about Einstein. I am thinking of you and your family at this sad time and sending love and hugs from UK xxx
I’m so deeply sorry to hear that Einstein is so unwell. Your pain must be unimaginable.
We are heartbroken for you!! All of us who have furbabies know exactly what you are going through. Taking one day at a time is the best you can do. All our love to your wonderful family!!!!
I will be praying for a miracle for sweet Einstein.
So sad to hear about Einstein. As someone who’s had pets with cancers that left them with short timelines remaining, it’s hard to fathom that soon you will have to let them go. You guys have been so good to him, he could not have asked for a nicer life. <3
Prayers sent for your family
I’m so sorry to hear about your pup. This week I had to make the choice to put my baby boy Zeus down. He was a golden retriever mix and was around 14-15 years old (unsure of his age, shelter estimated he was around 7-8 when we adopted him). He was my dad’s dog. My dad is no longer around, so almost five years ago I decided to take him in. I didn’t want to send him back to the shelter. That would have been awful for him. I loved that dog so much and didn’t want to put him through that. Anyway. He had been having issues getting around for a long time. Couldn’t make it up or down stairs on his own. He gradually got to the point he couldn’t get up after laying down without help. He sometimes would fall while trying to eat even when we propped his bowl up higher. The vets gave me a list of possible causes; not enough exercise, arthritis, hip dysplasia, etc. They had no way of knowing for sure without running a lot of potentially uncomfortable tests that they said would cost a lot of money I didn’t have. I’m a broke college student and barely make ends meet. I had to borrow money to take him to the vet. I tried my best. They put him on remedyl and dasaquin. Meds didn’t help. Eventually this week he stopped drinking water. We’re about to move next week and I didn’t want to put him through the stress of a new environment. I didn’t want to see him suffer anymore. I figured him not drinking was a sign of worse to come. So on Wednesday my boyfriend and I made the impossible decision to take him to the vet to have him put to sleep. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. He had lost a lot of weight and was just all around uncomfortable so I believed it was the best thing for him. The vet told me afterward that he likely was going into kidney failure or likely had some form of cancer.
:( :( :(
So sorry to hear about your sweet Einstein.
Oh Michelle…. For as long as I have been following you, I have come to know and love both you and your sweet family… furry children included. My heart breaks for you. Just hug him, keep him comfy, and feed him steak. Cherish all of your memories, and know that you have many prayers coming your way.
I’m so very sorry, BEB and family! This is such a hard thing to go through with our fur babies. Not only is Einstein a lucky dog to have such a loving family but his unconditional love for you all will never be forgotten. Take care of each other!
So sorry to hear about Einstein. May the many memories from the past provide comfort & strength for the months ahead. Thoughts & prayers for you & your family during this difficult time.
So sorry to hear about Einstein. I have been a reader of your blog for years and love the posts with Einstein and Duke in the photos. My prayers for you all. Our fur babies hold a special place in our heart.
I’m so sorry to hear about Einstein. Many thoughts and prayers for all of you.
I am so sorry to hear about Einstein. I have fallen in love with him from afar cause I can tell he is such a nice dog. I lost a Schnauzer to cancer a few years ago and the time the vet gives you goes so very quickly….but he will be in a better place, free of any pain. Enjoy your time with him and remember how lucky you all were to have him share your life.
So so sorry Michelle :( Losing a dog is so painful. We had to put my dog down a few years ago and I still miss her. Einstein is a lucky dog to have you to help him through this time! Our thoughts and prayers are with you!
Hey Michelle, I’m so sorry to hear about Einstein. It was so special for you to share this with all of us. I woke up and read your post and shed a little tear for ya’ll. I’ve been following you for a long time, and I’ve always enjoyed your pictures and posts with the doggies and babies and family. Give Einstein lots of hugs and enjoy every moment. Sending you all much love!
I want to think of the most comforting words to share with you, but nothing seems right. This is one of the hardest parts of being an animal lover, of bringing a fuzzy creature into your family, and it is never something you are ready for. For what it’s worth, I think Einstein is the luckiest pup in the world to have shared his life with you and your family. So much love which is so evident to anyone who has spent any time reading your updates. Please know that your entire Brown Eyed Baker extended family sends their thoughts, their support, and most of all their love.
My heart is breaking for all of you. I’m so sorry to hear of Einstein’s prognosis. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. Seems so insignificant to say at a time like this. Love and hugs.
This is just awful. I just went through a similar thing with my beloved cat. Cancer, chemo. Finally nothing worked and I had to euthanize him. I am in tears for you and your family. Oh poor Einstein. Poor Duke and poor family. So, so sad. We love our pets soooo much and then we have to give them up.
Life is so not fair.
Oh my…..I’m so sorry.
Michelle, So sorry & saddened to hear this about beloved Einstein. :( Praying for strength for all now & throughout the coming months. <3 & ?
I am a relative newcomer to your blog, Michelle but as a long-time dog owner, I loved those posts with the pups and those with Joseph. Having read all the heart-felt comments here today, whose pain and grief I share deeply, I thought I’d make a suggestion: Why not put together a pictoral retrospective on Einstein from his puppy hood to the current day. We readers would enjoy this timeline memorial and tribute to him. Not only would it be a tribute to him but also a tribute to his constant companions and wonderful pals; namely, the brothers of his heart, Duke, and Joseph. With the new baby coming soon, this project may not be feasible but it might be therapeutic for you and for us readers to deal with our grief. On a personal note, I lost my beloved baby, Chloe, a small Italian Greyhound, to a tumor on her heart. She was 6 months’ shy of her 15th birthday when it became time to let her go; in the Summer of 2015, I lost my two adopted Italian Greyhound girls who had been raised together but who were not from the same litter, Sophia and Gia, within twelve days of each other from end-stage kidney failure. The pain, anguish, grief and loss are indescribable, but I believe in the Rainbow Bridge and hope to be with my girls again when my time comes. My wish for Einstein is a peaceful end of life with his beloved family all around him.
I am so so very sorry to hear about Einstein. It is so very hard when you receive bad news regarding a family members health. Please know that you & your family are in my thoughts & prayers. Give Einstein a big hug & muzzle nuzzle from me. I grew to love him & enjoyed reading what he & Duke were doing. Please know that I am thinking about you during this very sad time. Much love, Margo in KS
My heart bleeds for you and your family. The loss of a pet is so devastating. Give Einstien an extra hug from me – I do so enjoy all the photos and stories of him <3
I’m so sorry :(. It’s so tough to see a beloved pet go through that. I lost my dog to a brain tumor a few years ago. My prayers go out to you, your family and Einstien.
I’m so sorry Michelle, My heart aches for all of you. I feel like I am losing a pet. I have been with your blog since the beginning and have enjoyed all the pictures you post of Einstein and Duke. I sit here with tears as I write this. My German Shepherd, Rex just turned seven and I hate thinking of the day he won’t be around. Give Einstein some extra love and hugs. My prayers are with you all.
I am so sorry about Einstein. I always look forward to pictures of him, Duke, and of course Joseph. They have all brought countless smiles to my face. I am praying for you.
I’m sitting here crying for you and for Einstein. Blessings on you and your family. Our dogs and cats are part of our families. It’s hard to lose one.
So sorry to hear of Einstein’s diagnosis. I couldn’t hold back the tears as I read your post. We have a Golden who is almost 11. We got her as a puppy when our youngest son was 8mo old. They definitely become part of the family. Hugs to Einstein, you and your family.
I’m so sorry for all of you and Einstein. My heart is sad as I know firsthand what you are going through. WE have Rebel, Caicos, and Brando waiting for us in paradise (heaven.) I will keep all of you in my prayers and positive thoughts.
Sending ((Hugs))