The Good-bye to Milo

We had kind of been keeping a secret at our house. Several posts were started telling about it, but I never published them. I just couldn't. That secret was that in June of 2024 Milo was diagnosed with nasal cancer. I'd noticed a slight swelling, and hoped that it was maybe a bee sting, but when it didn't go away, I knew what it was. 

~The day we met Milo~ 

A visit to my vet a week or so later, and an appointment with specialists in Baltimore in early August also confirmed the diagnosis of nasal cancer. The specialists (there were 3 of them) all agreed, and gave us treatment options. Treatment involved a very invasive surgery to remove the tumor by removing the entire bridge of Milo's nose and upper teeth. The chances of success were not guaranteed. Recovery would be a long one, and even with radiation, the possibility of it being curative were slim. Not to mention what his quality of life would be - Eating and playing ball (his two favorite things) would be a challenge. In the end, I just couldn't do it and wouldn't do that to Milo. The specialists told us that without any treatment, Milo would only live 3-4 months, taking us to the end of the year. 

Of course I was heartbroken. Milo had such a fun and playful spirit, and I don't think he was ready to give up either. So, I looked for other options that took me to our holistic vet. Milo was put on Chinese herbs, and we hoped for the best to slow down the cancers progression. 

The end of the 2024 came and went, and May came marking one year since the lump on Milo's nose appeared. We silently celebrated that Milo was still with us and doing well. And I guess I was superstitious, because I still didn't want to put it out into the cosmos that we were past the time the vets had said we'd have with Milo.

But by the end of May, the tumor on Milo's nose was noticeably getting bigger, and I was feeling a few more lumps on his body, indicating that the cancer was spreading. Below is a photo of Milo taken in April -- It is one of the last photos I have of him. I chose not to take many because it's not how I want to remember him. 

~A rare 'last' photo of Milo~

Through it all, I kept telling Milo that he was so brave and stoic. He really was. But a couple of weeks ago, it was easy to see that it was getting harder for him -- even with more pain medications, he was slowing down, and his spirit was dimming. 

Getting him to eat was becoming a challenge, and when Carl had to go out of town, Milo stopped eating all together, even refusing treats. But when Carl returned 2 days later, Milo perked up and even ate his dinner. Even with his eating again, we both knew that it was time to say good-bye to Milo. I have to add here that Milo of course loved everyone. But his heart belonged to Carl. The two had a strong connection and Carl needed (and he wanted) to be there with Milo when he left this life for the next... We're both thankful that they were able to be together. It was how it should and needed to be. 

We're both beyond grateful that Milo's previous owner trusted us to give him a good home and love and care for him. We really loved having him as part of our lives - The 2 years and 7 months with Milo went way too quickly - He really had a way of reminding us about living in the moment and finding fun and something to smile about -- and to maybe even 'woo-woo-woo' just like he always did, about something in each day too. And like all those before him, Milo taught us about love – pure, unconditional, and boundless like his energy and enthusiasm for life was. Milo was a true treasure. 

Run free over the rainbow bridge, sweet Milo. Chase those endless tennis balls, enjoy infinite treats, and know that you will forever be in our hearts. Until we meet again, our faithful and fun friend ~ Your spirit and the memories of you are now and forever a part of us. ❤