Friday, June 6 is Jackson’s birthday. He will be 7. June 6 is not really the day he was born but the day I adopted him. To celebrate his big day we will go to PetSmart to purchase some Beggin’ Strips and a new toy. Of course, that means that one of his old ratty toys has to go away.

I am so excited to see my boy have another birthday. I was very afraid last October there might not be any more birthdays for him. He woke up sick one morning and ended up having emergency surgery the next day. He had ingested some discarded chicken bones while outside and they became lodged in his intestines. He had surgery on Saturday and couldn’t come home until Monday. I know being in the hospital was the best place for him but I wanted him to be near me so I could be sure he was ok—maternal instincts or as close as I will ever have I suppose.

After he was discharged from the hospital, he had go to the vet’s office during the first severals days to be monitored while I worked. At least he got to go home with me in the evenings. He had to have a port for about 3 days after surgery so he could be fed intravenously. He didn’t like that very much. He would pull at the tape a little even in his weakness.

I was very cautious about him jumping on or off the bed. Once I started leaving him at home alone, I would prepare him a really nice comfy bed in the living room with water and a pee pee pad close by. The pad was more for when he was sick at his stomach then for potty. Poor little guy, I felt so sorry for him. He could barely eat anything and he was sick almost every time he ate. For almost two weeks I had to cook him plain rice and hamburger to eat in very small portions. When he had to go out, I would carry him down the stairs and back up again so he would tear his stitches.

Finally he started getting back to his old self. He was able to go back on his regular food in small amounts. He could take longer walks and eased off his paid medication. Life was getting back to normal and I was so thankful. I swear that a few times if I had to scold him for some reason, he would lie on his back, show his surgery site trying to make me feel sorry for him. Yes, of course it worked.

His recuperation was a little difficult and even though I never want to go through it again, I would. It was a payback to him. After I had surgery several years ago, I was home for 7 weeks recuperating. When I started feeling a little better, we would go for walks. I really believe that Jackson knew I was healing. When we began our walks they were very short at first, maybe only down the street a house or two. He would walk very slowly and never once pulled on his leash. He would walk a few steps, stop and sometimes look back at me with an understanding face. When inside, I spent a lot of time on the couch. He was careful to never jump on me. He would lay on the couch as close to me as he could and put a paw or his head on me. He was so sweet.

Today you wouldn’t guess that he had been as sick as he was in the fall. I’m so glad that he made it thought a horrible time and is around to have this birthday and hopefully many, many more!!!