The Lesson Plan

In Raven's page on my website, I talk about all the things I have  learned from her. And I know that going through this battle against osteosarcoma will teach me much more. But I want to clarify one thing. I don't have the idea there is a Great Lesson Master in the Sky,  some sort of cosmic and sadistic school principal devising a Lesson Plan for Christie. Raven's cancer has no pre-ordained purpose, even though it will in fact end up serving  one. A young, healthy dog didn't lose her leg and risk dying of a horrible disease just to teach me something.

Raven got osteosarcoma because her parents gave her two copies of a gene for osteosarcoma. There may or may  not have been some environmental influences, such as the fact that she was on a deficient diet for 90 days while she was still growing (she was on an allergy elimination diet) or perhaps small micro-fractures of the bone during her puppyhood, but without that underlying genetic susceptibility, this wouldn't have become bone cancer.

Of course we learn from experiences.  But Raven did not come into this world so I could learn something. She came into this world to live, and the fact that I will learn things from her life does not mean those lessons were her reason for being here, and certainly not the reason she got this disease.

Comments

[Susie]

It's a comfort to some people to think there is a lesson to be learned or a greater purpose in tragedy... to answer the "why". But most often, "why" is just because crap happens sometimes.

[James McHugh]

Your blog has been very helpful. Our seven yeard old male Greyhound, Seamus is having a biopsy today for suspected osteosarcoma. If it is confirmed my wife and I no doubt will allow the left hind amputation. We are more interested in coping with the effects after the surgery than the decision to have it done. Thankyou, James and Deborah in N.J.

[Christie]

I am wishing you the best, James... please stop back in and let me know how your dog does!