Oopsie came into my life in September 1996, at the tender age of seven months. I drove home from SC with him on a rainy, stormy day as the remnants of a hurricane were crossing the area. Lying quietly and patiently in the back seat on the long drive, he seemed secure in the notion that he was going to a new good home where he would be loved and cared for. At the time, Red, my first Irish Setter was still living, and I was unsure how they would get along, but my worries were unfounded. They became best friends quickly, and were inseparable.
Sadly, Red, who was 9 years old at the time, developed pancreatitis and passed away in October, so Oopsie didn’t have too much time with him. Oopsie became my only dog, and he and I grew closer while mourning Red’s death. In January 1997, I got a female Irish Setter, and named her Daisy. With a dog named Oopsie, I just had to have one named Daisy too! Oopsie was very accepting of Daisy when she came into our lives as a six week old puppy, and over the years, they became very close. Never a fight, never a growl, they always got along with each other beautifully. Oopsie was definitely a very special boy, he was the most laid-back, easygoing Irish Setter I’ve ever seen. Gentle, loyal, and loving. He was truly a gentle giant.
Time flew by, much too quickly, and it seems before I knew it, Oopsie and Daisy were both getting gray around their eyes and on their muzzles. Both Oopsie and Daisy were there with me, and for me, through some of the most difficult times of my life…my divorce, the death of my mother…and were my total support system. Their love is what got me through it all. Then, in December of 2006, Oopsie wasn’t eating well, and didn’t seem to be as active. I first attributed it to his age, but he kept showing little interest in his food, so I took him to the vet. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis, and while they were doing blood work, they found that his blood glucose was elevated. He improved pretty quickly with the pancreatitis, and his blood glucose came down, so they let him come home. A few days later, he seemed to be getting sick again, so I took him back to the vet. His blood glucose had spiked to over 500. There was no doubt, Oopsie was diabetic. After a hospital stay to get his glucose under control, he came home and began a regimen of two insulin injections daily, and a thyroid supplement as he was found to be hypothyroid. In February 2007, Oopsie went blind due to cataract formation from the diabetes. It was so sudden, when we got up one morning, he was bumping into things,
so I took him to the vet again.
The vet said that he had very, very little sight if any, probably only a bit of light recognition…and that he would probably lose what was left of his vision very soon. Oopsie adapted beautifully to being blind. He could walk around the house as well as ever, without bumping into anything. On his leash, people never realized that he was blind. I simply held his leash a bit closer to his collar, and very gently nudged him in the direction to go. He was so trusting, he would just automatically go in that direction without hesitation. He had another important job to do at this point too, despite his health problems. I lost my beloved
Daisy to bloat on March 31, 2007.
He was right by my side, giving me support, and seeming to understand exactly what was happening. He knew that I needed him as much as he needed me. Oopsie fared pretty well over that summer, as he and I got accustomed to the insulin injections twice a day, and the changes in our lives. In December 2007, his glucose levels began getting really tough to control, and he started what proved to be many hospital stays. He gradually began having less interest in eating again, and eventually developed pancreatitis again. The vet said that it could have just been chronic with him, or perhaps Oopsie had pancreatic cancer.
He continued to get weaker and weaker, refusing food. Finally, there came a point when the vet told me there was nothing more that he could do for Oopsie, and it would be best to “let him go”. On May 13, 2008, at around 9:45 AM, Oopsie left this life to be with Red and Daisy, and for all of them to wait for me at “the bridge”.
Oopsie was an amazing Irish Setter. Through eerything…the diabetes, the hypothyroidism, the blindness…the pancreatitis…nothing ever changed his gentle, loving demeanor a bit. Although his body was failing, his ability to love, comfort, and to be a faithful companion was not.
Yes, Oopsie, I will always love you. You will live on forever in my heart, until we are together once again.
May the shamrocks fall softly, my sweet Irish boy.