My Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa is one of the greatest loves of my life. It was just Mona and me for many, many years. Mona picked me out at the Charleston pound when I was in college. I was torn between Mona and Kristy "The Hugger." The moment I had my friend bring Mona back outside to play, I knew she had me. The sad part....its been 14 1/2 years and I still have never forgotten Kristy "The Hugger." I should have brought both girls home.

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Mona was my steady companion through the last year of college, working in Charleston, moving to Birmingham for law school, moving to the North Georgia Mtns for my first job and now moving here. I think if asked, she would choose Charleston as her favorite place. She used to be such an ocean swimmer that I would be in BIG trouble if I let her off her leash at the beach. She also liked to jump on the bellies of ladies sunning themselves - very embarrassing and very funny!

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When Mona was younger you could not let her off her leash at all or she was gone. She would always come back, but it was always a terrifying experience. My mom didn't believe me and took her on the beach for a walk. When she was in a nice area without anyone she let ML off her leash. ML ran and ran chasing all of the sea gulls. Then, she took to the water. My mom figured she was just going for a little dip. Nope, when I say ML is/was a water dog, I mean she REALLY was a water dog. She immediately started swimming and headed straight out to sea. My mom had to fly in the water after her fully clothed. She caught up to her when she was neck high. Again, very funny - my mom didn't think it was quite as funny as I did.

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When we got to Birmingham we were pleasantly surprised that we loved it. At that time in my life I was very outdoorsy and loved to be out walking, roller blading, etc. Mona Lisa was thrilled to be in the hilly "mountains" of Birmingham. We found great trails that we walked almost daily - our favorites being those with a water feature. Then, Mona Lisa got cancer.

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I found a tumor on her back leg and my vet had bad news. The needle biopsy she immediately took showed cancer cells. I held it together in the office as I schedule immediate surgery in the morning, but lost it when I called my mom. That was before I was a big boo hoo baby like I am now. Mona went into emergency surgery the next morning and came home the next day.

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Unfortunately she had a stuffed animal "boyfriend" that was calling her name late that night. She was in the middle of "sailing" --as some call it-- and she ruptured an artery through her stitches. It was like a scary horror movie. Blood flew everywhere - across me, my walls, all over the carpet and my roommate. We totally freaked, wrapped her in a blanket and took her to the emergency clinic. When we got there the blanket was soaked. Turned out the tumor had a very large blood source that became un-cauterized when she was "sailing." She was on a strict no sailing policy.

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She did well. Then over the years more tumors turned up. They felt different, but I had them removed just to be sure. No cancer. After doing this several times I now consider myself an expert on palpating a mass to determine if it is fatty or solid! All was well again until she blew her cruciate ligament in her rear leg. In again she went for surgery - this time to a specialist (ching ching) and weeks in a cast. Years later she blew the other one and again she went for more specialized surgery. This time, the result was a pink cast with decorative flowers that the specialist cut into the cast as a 'perk" as a repeat customer.

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In the past several years she has slowed down considerably. She can no longer go on long walks or jump on the furniture. She hasn't sailed in a while, but I would bet she would be interested if the right stuffed animal was left around. She still follows me like my shadow despite foggy lenses. Some teeth have fallen out and last month she started on 5 different meds night and day. In the past several years I have been told many times that she was in likely kidney failure, that she had Cushings Disease, or that it was just the end. We have had some pretty rough calls.

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But...she is my miracle. That may seem insignificant to those that are not dog lovers or insignificant that the miracle didn't make my mom or dad survive cancer, but it is what it is and I suppose that we cannot choose our miracles. Mona Lisa turns 15 this December and, as usual, she is sitting by my feet. She and Harrison adore each other and she is currently the #1 Georgia girl in her dad's eye (soon to be replaced by Baby Sissy when we make her a GA girl). I thank her and God every single day that she is still here with me. A little grayer, less teeth, "robotic" legs, and many surgical scars but she can still act like a puppy any day of the week.

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Thanks Mona Lisa for being my constant companion.

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P.S. Notice how she watches Harrison's movie with him in the car and turns to pose for the camera....brilliant...sheer brilliance :)

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P.S.S. Why does Blogger sometimes allow me to space my paragraphs and then other times I have to put the . there? Drives me nuts.