June 18, 2011

Our new addition , Abbie Monette

After a few hours in our back yard , we figured it was time to give Abbie a bath .

Not only did we save her once that day , but twice .

We had no idea she’s an , escape artist !

I made the mistake of pushing the gate open, confident Cooper wouldn’t dart out but not thinking she may run . There Abbie was , gone !

Here I was , frantically chasing her down a busy 4 lane street at rush hour . With cars swerving to miss her , my heart pounding and I gasping for air . I began to think to myself ….

“ We just brought her home . ”

For those who don’t know me , running is not an option .

Knowing that if I didn’t run after her , perhaps we would still be desperately searching for her .

With the lack of oxygen going through my panicked body , I begin to scream ,

“ Abbie , Abbie , come ! ”

Not thinking that calling out her name will do absolutely nothing since we just named her not even 10 minutes prior to her escape .

As I continue to run after her , playing human dodge ball with speeding cars . I began to run towards this very tall apartment building . A gentlemen said as I ran pasted him ,

“ I tried to grab her . ”


I continued to run after her . The there it was , a moment of hope was within my reach . Instead , I began to find myself falling towards the ground . The sense of perception is now becoming a blur . I get back up and there she was , sniffing the grass beside me . I reached up and this time I was able to grab onto her collar . Holding on as tight as I possibly could , thinking to myself , “ I’ve saved her but who will save me . ”

As I lay on the grass unable to move my legs . I thought , “ All I have to do is make it to the sidewalk” , this way my husband would see us and come to our rescue .

I was able to drag myself to the corner of the building , realizing , at this point I may not make it to the sidewalk before I lose consciousness .

I have sever asthma. The simple act of running up a fight of 12 steps gives me an attack . There I am and unable to catch my breath .

I continue to drag my body towards the sidewalk . By this time my limbs were now in the beginning stages of paralysis . I had no sensation within my legs , my left arm and part my jaw was tingly , unable to scream out for help .

As I listened to the traffic pass us by , not 1 vehicle stopped to help out . I continued to lay at the side of the 4 lane street , desperately looking up to see my husband .

I continued to lay alongside the sidewalk , thinking to myself ,

“ Are these my last moments within my journey of life ? ”

Then , I herd a voice .

“ I have a rope , do you want me to hold onto your dog ? ”

My hand was released and I looked up to find myself looking at the man who tried to grab Abbie only moments before .

I repeated myself over and over , “ I have asthma , call 911 . ”

The man casually returned to his vehicle , which was parked on the side of the apartment building , only few feet away from me . He tied Abbie to the back of his truck and continued to smoke his cigarette .

Not only was I slowly living what I thought were my last moments , here I was watching a selfish man just stand there and not offer more help to a person who clearly needed help . I continued to rested my head for a little while longer trying to concentrate on breathing . Losing more sensation within my body . I looked up and there he was . Bright , yellow shirt , black shorts with Cooper on a leash running towards me . My husband was finally going to save me .

As I gasped for a few more breaths , I looked back at the man watching over Abbie and said , “ My husbands coming , can you help me ! ”

He casually started to walk Abbie back over to us , placed her leash within my husbands hand and said , “ At least you have your dog back eh bud . ”

I couldn’t help but feel so much hate towards this selfish man .

My husband repeating himself , “ I’ll be right back with your puffer , I promise . ”

I began to rest my head again , at this point over 85 % of my body had no sensation . I herd the gentlemen come over to me and ask ,

“ Where do you live . Could I drive you somewhere ? ”

I couldn’t believe the man waited this long before offering help . Did he suddenly realize , wow this is serious . I proceeded to explain where I live , one word for every breath .

He began to helped me up off the ground . Walked me over to his truck , placed me into the passenger seat , ran around the front , hopped in and said , “ Right or left . ”

As I was directing him , I saw my husband and said . “ Yellow shirt . ”

We pulled into our driveway , my husband opened my door and gave me my puffer . Within seconds , I was able to be a little more responsive .

The gentleman apologized for his delayed response in helping us . My husband as nice as he is accepted his apology . As I started to slowly make my way towards the house , down the stairs and onto our big couch , taking another puff of my inhaler , my husband gave me some water and asked me if I needed to go to the hospital . I disagreed , I continued to sit on the couch for 2 hours before I was able to move again . My right hand took about 4 hours to have full function and movement . I can honestly say my hand was so cramped up it seemed like a bad dream .

I started thinking to myself , what am I going to do about my job as a photographer . I can’t do what I love with out both of my limbs . Then reality set in and I changed my thought pattern . I reminded myself to be thankful that I was breathing . I shouldn’t take that moment for granted !

When your life flashes before your eyes , all random thoughts are present in ones mind . The simply act of blinking and having the ability to still see the life in which slowly passes us by should be the mindfulness we need to instil from within .

Abbie may just be a dog in the view of others . Yet in the view of my soul , she is our little girl . One who deserves to be loved and rescued !

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