MrsDragon

I haven't posted about my son in a couple of months

Shortly before Christmas he was at dinner one Sunday and told us that he had went back into counseling with the doctor he worked with originally. He had been going a month, and waited to tell us until he had made a personal commitment to continue. This is what we had been praying for.

He also got the idea that be wanted to get a dog for Christmas. Also his girlfriend (he seems to have settled on one now; she is very nice, works in his profession, doesn't use drugs, and for those that remember she accompanied him to Mustique months ago). She has a little dog, and seemed to support this idea. So they went to a local shelter group and he adopted TWO dogs instead of one, adult dogs. He thought they would provide companionship to each other.

We had wonderful holidays, and my husband reinstated him at work as of January 1st. Things have been going well.

He has a large yard, so the dogs are able to play outside. He hired a petsitter to come over during the day to check on them, play with them, let them in/out of the house, whatever was needed.

Then one of his dogs got sick. Regular vet, emergency vet, he ended up at a cancer specialist. the dog has now been through exams, blood-work, xrays, ultrasound, cardiac ultrasound, biopsy, CT scan, surgery, and is starting on chemotherapy soon. Our son has already spent over $8000 on the dog. The prognosis of the dog is "good" if he responds to the chemo as they think they got out all the main tumor, but it was close to a vital organ, and was a form of lymphoma.

Some of you may recall our sons child died of cancer, then he and his wife divorced, and then he started drinking too much, and the cocaine use started. He is not handling this with the dog well at all. And although we have not seen signs, his girlfriend told me in confidence that she thinks he has started using cocaine again in the past week.

I haven't mentioned this to my husband. I've been holding it inside for a few days. He has professional help available and he has to make the decision to turn to it now vs going in another direction. I am praying that he gets hold of his emotions. I may be wrong not telling my husband, but it is hearsay, and there is nothing he can do; besides we both already realized it was possible because the situation with the dog had to be a huge trigger.

Prayers please for my son, and for his dog.

tjp613

Is your husband drug testing on a random basis?

MrsDragon

no, there was never a formal write up about his drug use, my husband just forced him to take a leave of absence, so it is not being monitored. But, I think my husband is closely overseeing his work at this point.

interrupted

The parallels really are uncanny between the dog and your grandson. It seems like a lot for your son to handle because I think you're right that it must be extremely triggering, but it also seems like this could be a very direct way that God is working to help your son learn to accept his powerlessness when it comes to cancer and disease.

Dogs are very spiritual creatures to me. I pray that somehow God is using this situation to help your son finally find the solace with his past that he so desperately needs.

allforcnm

Im so sorry about his dog. That is horrible especially since he just adopted him. I mean you dont expect to immediately have a dog that is sick like that. Well God bless him for taking such good care of doggie. It sounds like he is getting the best of care, but I know that doesnt help the situation your son faces with the similiarities in what happened to his son, and how he will deal with it. But maybe in some kind of spiritual way, this is a way for him to face down the past, and maybe he will benefit from this dog being placed in his path. I will send up a prayer for all of you, including the doggie.

Sunshine2

I will pray for your son, MrsDragon. On the up side, if he does manage to save this dog and the dog thrives, he may feel somehow that he has redeemed himself a little. Life works in strange ways and I hope the outcome of this is eventually positive.

JMFburns

Mrs Dragon,

I'm so sorry to hear of your suspicions about your son. I will keep you, him and the dog in my thoughts.

Freedom1990

You have my prayers here in Kansas.

Sending you hugs of support.

dasiydoc

Wow, what an awful thing to have happen to your son. I hope he keeps working on his recovery and maybe somehow this can help him, and not do more damage. The dog is lucky he was adopted by your son though, lots people wouldn't be able to take care of him like that.