Day 72: Mission Accomplished 🏆🥇🎉🍾

Samantha Knight

Apr 15, 20223 min read

I’ve been giving this thought all week. Is he ready for a little run on the beach?!

It’s a hard judgement call to make and of course the last thing I want is to push him too soon and end up back at square one or worse.

I wake up early this morning and the weather report is showing it will reach a freaky 20 degrees today! From the average of 12 degrees and showers all week to have a bright sunny day upon us on bank holiday Friday I am taking as a sign..

So I pack up his bag (Thank you Aunty Mirelle for his beach bag bought for him in anticipation of his one day return to the beach!) …. It looks like today is going to be the day!!!

It’s a 5hr round trip to the beach so our decision to go is not taken lightly, but the timing just all feels so very right!

On the long drive there I start having second thoughts …

Maybe I should just carry him for a stroll along the beach ??

Then I have a reality check that whilst I’m now attending 2/3 body pump classes a week to build my strength to carry him up and down the stairs, I’m far from body builder material and would likely manage a maximum 5 minutes carrying my baby beast!

I return my focus to the road and belting out the latest Adele album at the top of my voice. There’s plenty of hours practise to get in with this long car ride! Lucky Lloris !!

Well… we’re here!

As we wait in the queue at the kiosk by the entrance to the beach for my bacon roll (we left early?! I’m starving?!!) Lloris is flooded with attention from many families all wanting to know his story from his scars and are all quite taken with him. He’s getting so much attention he’s lapping it all up. His 15minutes of fame! … my heart is bursting…

Now the real fun begins!

The tide is all of the way out, the beach is hard wet sand. Absolutely perfect for him! My worry was the deep dry sand but looks like we have arrived at the perfect time to avoid it.

We get up to all sorts! And whilst I mainly keep him on the lead to avoid rough play with all of the other dogs (instigated by Lloris everytime of course!) we still have a wonderful time!

He becomes obsessed with kites!

We play in the rock pool

He wishes he could chase the other dogs!

We see the coast guard!

We even find some old posts to practise weaving in and out for our physio exercise!

Back at the car I have one very hungry and thirsty pooch!

I jump in the boot with him for a cuddle before we embark on our long journey home.

Home sweet home! Lloris is shattered

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and emotional. 10 weeks ago I had no idea if we would ever be able to have days like these together ever again.

Our world was tossed upside down, completely out of the blue.

We have had 10weeks of hard work, tears and frustration but to see him today, stumbling along, falling over his own legs but straight back up and running off again… pulling my arm out of its socket like the good old days …. Wow … I’m so very proud of US!

So here our journey ends. Our ‘Long Road Back to the Beach‘ has become a reality, we did it and in just 10weeks! The universe was on our side! Long may that continue!

We have a family ‘Wrap Party’ on Sunday for our blog and to mark Lloris’s achievement. I will share our celebration with you all then and reflect on how heart break can have a happy ending … for however long it may last… I know he comes with no guarantees but does anything in life?!

Tonight I shall be opening my favourite bottle of pink champagne… whilst no doubt giving my baby boy a leg rub so he’s not stiff tomorrow!

Until party night! ….

3 Comments

Samantha Knight

Apr 18, 2022

Neil Hamilton

Apr 15, 2022

Today’s occurrence was never in doubt in my mind, I knew Lloris would make it, the fact you achieved it after only 10weeks is testament to your hard work Sam and determination to get him there. Well done 👏🏻 and congratulations 🎉 😊

Gemma Parry

Apr 15, 2022

Absolutely chuffed to bits for you both such wonderful news! An Easter to remember 🥰🎉💖🥂

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THANK YOU’s

Whilst it goes without saying that a big chunk of credit for Lloris’s rehabilitation to being a walking puppy dog again goes unquestionably to him! There have been many helping hands along the way that are more than deserving of a mention …

Thank you to;

Davies Vet (Johnny & Alex) for their remarkable surgery, prompt action and after care. He came home a calm and happy dog…even if his legs weren’t working…his wound has healed remarkably well without scaring.

To Dr Rinnert van den Bergh - The Holistic Vet who never raised an eyebrow at his little accidents and always progressed him further after every treatment. Lloris is especially grateful for the liver paste you would win him over with!

To Nisha from Paws & Hooves - Hydrotherapy. You have been remarkable in your patience with Lloris. Thank you for answering the phone when many others didn’t that day. Finding you was meant to be.

To Willow Vets in Newport Pagnell who took Lloris on as a new case for his cancer straight away and operated within two days. The entire team of staff have been nothing but kind and professional and whilst Lloris will continue to hate you all (hate may be a bit of strong word…. But I’m not so sure?!) I on the other hand think you are all amazing.

To his Uncle Cristian for building his ‘Frenchie Bouncer’ was a big game changer in our rehab!

To his Grandad for building his Pig Pen which he has grown to love

To his Nanny for his the daily love and company not to mention the endless cleaning of him and my house! We truly couldn’t have got through this without you, you gave me the break I needed to keep my sanity.

To Matt the Chippy for his back door ramp!

To the IVDD Facebook support group. I learned so much from you. https://www.facebook.com/groups/178483559398659/?ref=share

To my friends and family who reached out to help me. Everyone of you that messaged, read our blog and paid an interest in both his and my well being made such a difference on both the dark days and the light. Lloris loves people so the visits and gifts all lifted his spirits and snapped him out of the sulks!

To Dan, Lloris’s dad. You stepped up when he needed you the most and answered our cry for help to get him to the hospital that day. It will always be a shame we couldn’t stay the family unit we had wanted for him. We certainly tried! Thank you for letting him live with me, I can’t imagine the heartache of giving him up.

To the friend in my life that gave me focus from day 1 when I asked for help bringing him home … he said something like “I have the dentist so can’t help you that day, I would if I could but … you’re going to have to get used to handling him and lugging him about on your own, so you may as well just get on with it now”. I thought he was being an unhelpful arse at the time but actually that was the best piece of advice I could have been given. Man up and get on with it. You can’t turn back time or change anything. You are where you are, so take a deep breath and in the words of Nike - Just do it.

And that we did!

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