Samantha

Sam helping to open a gift at a baby shower.

Rolling over all cute!

The supervisor checking up on the painters in Alena's room.

Alena and Sami.

Last week was a very sad week (well, end of the week) for the Hawkins/Cance household. Our beloved dog of 13 or so years, Samantha, was put to sleep. We all knew that her time would be soon. She even lived for much longer than we had anticipated! She was diagnosed with a tumor on her shoulder in late fall. There was really not much that the vet could do. Surgery would just prolong the inevitable, so Mom decided to just make her comfortable with pain pills. The vet thought that she would live for 3 months, max.

She really started to go downhill as the month of April started. When we visited, I could visibly see her tumor for the first time. We think it spread to her lungs as she began to have breathing problems. She had a tough time eating, too. So, it was decided that it was her time to go :( She lived a good life and will be missed. Funny coincidence: we got her on Maundy Thursday and she died on Maundy Thursday!

The whole family thought it was cool that Alena got to meet her once before Sami died. Neither one of them seemed to care about each other, but they met nonetheless! Eric, Alena & I made last minute plans to go to Chippewa Falls that Thursday and stay in Tomahawk that night. We found out on our way there that Mom & Mitch were putting Sam down that day. It was great timing to have Alena as a joyful distraction for Mom after such a sad day! We'll miss her, but we all know that there are changes in life and this is one of them.