My Miss Sophie

How I met Sophie... I fell. I was in pain. I scheduled an emergency appointment with my chiropractor. When I went in for my appointment, behind the desk and on the floor was a thin frail puppy. I could see every bone in her body. Apparently, she had been found in a hospital parking lot. Starving. Mange. Worms. A respiratory infection. One of the women who worked for my chiropractor had taken her to a vet. According to the vet, the puppy probably only had three days to live. I sat down on the floor next to her. Though extremely weak, she still managed to move herself close to me. She whimpered. I took her home. How could I not? I knew it would be painful to watch her die, but I wanted her to know love.

That was nine years ago. During the first three days, I fed her and held her and massaged her and listened to her breathe while she slept and fell in love with her. On the third day she sprang to life! Suddenly she was wild and crazy and capricious and wonderful! I named her Sophia Camille. Sophia after the goddess of wisdom and Camille after a particularly strong hurricane that tore up the East coast of the United States. The name definitely suited her.

Today I took Sophie to the vet. She is having surgery. Her blood calcium levels are high and she has a growth on her leg. The growth will be removed and the vet will continue to monitor her blood. To say I am not worried would be a lie. I am. I so am. She is my girl. My baby girl. My first rescue dog. And the truth is I may have rescued her, but she has saved my life every day... I love you, Sophie.