Well, it’s been a month since my last post. Yikes! My goal is to blog much more frequently than once per month, though much has transpired, so I will give myself grace. For one thing, I was back in a boot for a month (ugh): The ongoing saga of my left foot. Actually watching an episode of  “Doll and Em”) right now as I write in which Dolly has injured her foot, is in a boot, and has just been warned by another character to rest it properly or it won’t heal correctly. Hmmm…perhaps going to Peru (including Machu Picchu) in a boot 11 days after I broke it was a bit too much? Perhaps. But enough about that. On to what’s really important….

BRISTOW UPDATE: This adorable tripawd underwent her 4th round of chemo last Thursday (only 2 more to go), and she flew through this round with her chemo cape streaming colorfully behind her! Here she is, ready to leave for treatment, charging towards the day. I read this scripture that very afternoon, and it seemed so fitting for this photo:

“Because of God’s tender mercy,
    the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    and to guide us to the path of peace” (LUKE1:78-79).

Perfect timing for such a hopeful promise. So desperately needed. And the Light truly did shine upon this round’s recovery, for sure. Didn’t even need her usual special diet of rice omelets–ate her Honest Kitchen and eggs throughout. And though she was slightly more resistant to walks than she typically is on non-chemo days, she would go if encouraged–meaning, Dad would walk out the front door with Jed Bartlet, which would send her running from my lap (where she took refuge when Dad initially tried to put her leash on) to follow them, never one to allow herself to be left out. I do think the extra load on her already arthritic hind leg that is left (actually, right 🙂 ) is now challenging her occasionally, but for the most part, she continues to Rock the Casbah…I mean, Tripawd.

She inspires me continually. We have both been down a leg–her in a more extreme manner, of course–and we both deal with chronic pain. She does so more gracefully than most humans, including me. She has such a resilient spirit. After chemo last week, she took a grand tour of the entire office area to say hello to every employee, and then she greeted everyone who came in and out of the waiting room with a word and a wag. And she unknowingly encouraged a woman on her way out with her beautiful, brindle Great Dane. She had just learned her dog would be heading along the same path as Bristow: Hind leg amputation and subsequent chemo to fight osteosarcoma.

I sincerely believe this encounter was not a matter of chance. Through Bristow, this lovely woman (and her fur-kid, though I am not sure he was paying attention) was able to peer into the future and see a joyful, thriving tripawd, wagging and dancing and flirting her way into everyone’s hearts. And I believe she was able to grasp a glimpse of hope for her tripawd-to-be. She mentioned she wished her kids were there with her at that moment so they could meet Bristow for that same reason.

So I felt led to share my website–this blog–with her as a way for this dog-mama and her family to not feel so alone on this journey. A way for her kids to know what to expect once the leg is gone. A chance to watch a (mostly) healthy tripawd run and play and prance about, if only on the screen in front of them. I may never know if this little blog-that-could helped in even a Jed Bartlet-sized manner. But I pray for that gorgeous Great Dane and his humans every night while I pray for Bristow. I pray for healing and strength and mercy, for wisdom and patience and hope. And I will continue to pray this ancient prayer over us all:

May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
    and give you his peace (NUM6:24-26).

Ooo, a creative and fun note on which to end this post: I took some golden faux fur pillow shams from a bedding set that we are no longer using and recovered Bristow’s favorite chair to give it a more luxe color and texture. I think she likes it. It’s like napping on a chair-shaped teddy bear.

Before the recovering, cuddling with her Tia Amanda…

…and after, cuddling with herself. 😉