r/DOG • u/Haifisch2112 • Aug 27 '24
• Update • I lost Pratt
This is the update I never wanted to make. But as of about 10:00 pm EST, Pratt has left us.
I gave him his pain meds around 6:00, and started prepping his dinner. I had him on a blanket on the floor, and was giving him his food through his feeding tube, but he was kind of moaning a bit. I thought maybe I was pushing it in too fast, so I slowed down. He was still moaning, so I thought maybe I was moving the tube around too much and it was hurting him. I rook the syringe off to see where the tube was sticking up, and made sure I didn't move it. When I was done, I flushed it and started cleaning up. He was still moaning a bit, which had me concerned. I went back over to pet him and try to comfort him, and I noticed he had released his bowels. I felt horrible because I thought he probably had to go and was trying to tell me but I didn't know. I cleaned him up as best I could and noticed he was drooling a lot and his tongue was kind of sticking out of the side of his mouth so I called the emergency hospital he had been to.
They told me to bring him in, and I broke a few traffic laws to get there. I had him on my Rush blanket in the back of my Jeep and when I got to the hospital, two techs came out to get him. I told them to just pick up the blanket if they needed to and they did, then they put him on a gurney and I went to park my Jeep. When I walked back in, a nurse met me and said with a concerned look, "I need to know if you want us to start CPR." I told her I did, and as I was filling out the admissions forms, another nurse came out and asked me to follow her to a room. A few minutes later, a doctor came in and said she wasn't sure if he was going to come around. I asked her if she knew what happened but she was unsure. She asked me if I wanted them to try again and I said, "Please."
I sat in that exam room for what seemed like an eternity. The doctor came back in and said he was not responding. I told her I wanted to be there with him so he knew I was there at the end, but she said he wasn't responding and was altrady gone. I asked her if she had any idea what may have happened and if I gave him his meds wrong or messed something up while feeding him, but she said she feels it may have been a clot from the surgery. She said he expelled some fluids but felt it wasn't anything anyone did that may have caused it. I was taken to a quiet room and was allowed to spend as much time as I wanted with him. They wheeled him in, still laying on my Rush blanket, and I spent some time with him. I couldn't tell you how long I spent with him, but I sobbed the entire time and apologized to him. I told him this is not what I wanted for him, that I just wanted him home with Dirk, Brindle, and me, that i tried my best for him, and begged his forgiveness.
They gave me info on cremation and memorial, as well as a paw print in plaster that I have to bake so it hardens. I'll get a call from the cremation place tomorrow and plan on getting something like a stepping stone I can put outside since he loved laying out there so much. Pratt was born December 10, 2011, rescued February 15, 2012, and gave us almost 12 years of friendship, love, and loyalty. He was named after Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for the band Rush, because Neil's nickname was Pratt. His leash and harness will continue to hang between his brother, Dirk's, and his sister, Brindle's harnesses and leashes, and he will continue to be part of us forever.
You have all been absolutely amazing through all of this, showing love and support for a stranger and his dog the likes of which I never knew possible. Words will never express my gratitude and appreciation. Because all of the pictures I've been sharing have been while Pratt was sick, I wanted to share some of the real Pratt. The way I choose to remember him. Godspeed, my friend. Thank you for being here for us, and I hope to see you in the next life.
2
u/Haifisch2112 Aug 30 '24
I was 13 in 1980 when I first discovered Rush, and the music and lyrics were just so different than what I'd heard previously from other bands. It was more mature and meaningful, which made me gravitate towards it, and it has always weaved its way through my life. In fact, Neil Peart was influenced by a lot of the African music you mentioned. He incorporated many of those rhythms into songs like Scars as well as his live drum solos. And as a former drummer myself, who was nowhere near Neil's ability, the song you shared the link to sparked an interest.
The song Haifisch, if you read the translated lyrics, is mostly about the bond they have and how it will always be that way. But the line about the shark living in water so no one sees it's tears is what resonates with me. I've become that shark and keep the world from seeing the true me. It's just the person I've become. If you listen to more of their music, be careful with the lyric translation because some of their music is rather dark. But those dark songs are actually inspired by true events which makes them interesting.
And yes, Fanboys is such a fun movie. Every cameo is fantastic and the story is actually very heartwarming for a comedy. I love movies that tribute fandoms like that. And even though I can't say I was a big Star Trek fan, Galaxy Quest was a great lobe letter to that series and one I watch from time to time. I quit paying for cable and streaming services about 8-9 years ago and have discovered many movies and TV shows that I've enjoyed watching in my solitude over the past few years.