(3.26.02) - On March 20, 2002, my little Maggie Sunshine tragically, suddenly and shockingly had a stroke at the doggie park that has so far left her with paralysis. Maggie is an athletic, active “young” 11 & 1/2 year old border collie with a fighting spirit and a feisty will to get up and go. How we came upon each other in the summer of ’91 was a Godsend. Ironically, that was the beginning of my battle with Lupus. Maggie has been the one steady, stable, tangible, constant, bright light who has never left my side all these years.She has been through the most trying years, the most life-threatened, and the most creatively productive years of my life. Maggie has been a blessing beyond words. As I look at the vulnerability in her precious face, I see my own vulnerability. She doesn’t understand why she can’t get up and go. But she trusts me. She knows my voice – every tone, every word.

My little Maggie went from running 2-3 miles daily to, in seconds; needing full time nursing care. Here’s what happened. Every day we either jog/walk at the beach, around the golf course, or go to the off-leash doggie park in Santa Monica and play ball. This day we went to the park. Typical day. I kicked the ball for Mags. She ran down the hill and caught the ball. As if in slow-mo I watched her back legs give out from under her as she collapsed and let out a shrieking, echoing scream. I raced over to my poor little girl who was shaking and panting, frantically trying to get up, but couldn’t. She just cried. A kind soul in the park, Nick, got my car. I raced her to my vet whose preliminary tests showed a neurological problem. A mylogram concluded a stroke/spinal chord injury.

Maggie was immediately hospitalized and put on iv meds to reduce the swelling I visited her in the hospital. She didn’t wag her tail or use her voice. She could move her head and neck and made attempts to move or change her position. She had a glazed look of confusion and disbelief on her face. She didn’t understand why she couldn’t get up. Still doesn’t. The vulnerability I see in her makes me so very sad. It reminds me of the vulnerability I see in myself.
After 48 hours of IV meds, my vet thought that little sensitive Maggie would do better at home in her familiar surroundings. I was sent home with my Maggie Sunshine, told to prepare to possibley have to say goodbye. I set up a little “camp” in my room for her. She seems content. I put wee-wee pads everywhere. I learned to get her up and outside by putting a beach towel under her belly in the back by her hind legs. She shuffles her stiff front legs and we “walk.” Gradually she is making tiny improvements. Her back left leg just wobbles and drags. She can put a tiny bit of weight on her other back leg if she is held up. click to continue next page...