Greetings from North of the Tension Line

/ J. F. Riordan

The blessings of Saint Augustine.

No, I’m not actually back on the Island. But I do feel that I am back from the brink of grief. We have had a rough month with our six year old German Shepherd, Auggie.

Without getting too gruesome with the medical details, there were times when I left the veterinary hospital sobbing, thinking we would have to let him go. He was in and out of the hospital for the better part of three weeks. Even after his second surgery to remove two enormous cysts, we did not know if he would ever recover. Then he got pneumonia.

We couldn’t explain to him why he was in pain, or why we left him with strangers. The veterinarians didn’t want us to visit because it upset him for hours afterward. It upset us, too.

But…Auggie is nothing if not obstinate…and so are we. We promised each other to do whatever we could to save his life, and we were blessed with a dedicated and relentless team of veterinarians, who studied, and researched, and watched, and consulted, and kissed him, and fed him braunschweiger. He has a neurologist, but not until a week after his surgery could we begin to hope that he did not have a vanishingly rare neurological condition which is, essentially, untreatable, and would have meant he could not go on.

Auggie goes back to the surgeon on Wednesday to get his staples out–he has an incision that must be 20 inches long. He is healing–so far as I can tell–beautifully. I know because we cannot keep him quiet.

He has blasted through two hard plastic cones (the soft ones were too easy for him to get around) and the one he’s wearing now is patched together with duct tape. He has figured out how to use it as a battering ram to open doors and push past his brother, and also how to position it so he can pick up his beloved green ball. He is not permitted to run with green ball, but carrying it comforts him. I have piles of boxes and baskets on the chest on the foot of our bed so he can’t jump up, but he wants desperately to be cuddled. We have had to keep him tranquilized to prevent him from ripping out his stitches, which are both internal and external. In the process he has had nine separate prescriptions which need to be given at varying intervals of six, eight, and twelve hours, which has meant lots of middle of the night, early morning, and late night alarms. Also lots of braunschweiger, freeze-dried tenderloin, and Secret Cheese.

I haven’t gotten much writing done.

But along the way I have learned once again how much it matters to count your blessings. And since I am inexplicably locked out of Twitter, I will be putting my energy into more blog posts, and more serious writing. Please pass the word for me on twitter with @audacityofgoats so people know to look for me here.

Cheers to you all. And to Auggie.

221 thoughts on “Greetings from North of the Tension Line”

  1. Thank you for the update, wishing Auggie a full recovery . What an amazing animal, and what amazing parents you both are to Auggie!❤️💜💚🙏

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  2. Thank you so much for sharing the update. My heart is so happy to hear that beloved Auggie is recovering. As you can see and should know there is a great multitude that loves your Auggie and Eli as well as the humans in your family. Please keep us posted.❤️

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  3. Thank you for your devotion to Auggie. Hugs to his veterinary team . I’ve grown to love your dogs and continue to pray for you all and send love and hugs.

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  4. I’ve been wondering how Auggie is Jan, because it’s been awhile. Glad to hear he is on a road to recovery, which I know (through our own experience) is often a really rough time.
    Sending positive thoughts from down the road to you all.

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  5. I have chosen to leave Twitter for my sanity and was so happy to receive your email with the Auggie update!!!! Continued prayers for continued healing!! My heart is with you and your beautiful family ❤️🐾

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  6. This gives me hope and also breaks my heart. So hard to see them suffer and so glad he’s on the mend. I left Twitter when it became unbearable and often wondered how the boys are doing. Hopefully that big rascal Eli is giving his big brother lots of love.

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  7. Oh My!  What a stressful time Auggie and his family have been going through.  I’m praying for a full recovery. Years ago I owned a German Longhair Pointer, Annie.  She had an infection and was having to wear the cone for several weeks during winter in the Chicago suburbs.  She was never smart enough to escape the cone but when she went outside it became a snow plow.  Filled the cone with snow and whatever else she had left in the lawn would fill the cone.  I’m relieved to know that Auggie is using his to keep his green ball close. I’m grateful for the update, I was getting so concerned. Jill Hampe🙏 Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

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  8. OMG! So sorry to hear what you & Auggie & Charlie & Eli have been going through. I surely will send up a prayer that he continues to recover and is on the right path. I am on Twitter @IAmOld5. I will try to let others know. I’m surprised, with all the stuff that I see on there lately, that you would get locked out. ❤❤❤

    Sent from Mailhttps://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986 for Windows

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    • Oh my, I have been a wreck worrying. Having lost my 4 yr old GSD last year and your tragic loss of Moses, I couldn’t imagine what was happening. So pleased to hear from you and learn that Auggie is healing. Hope the smoo is giving him proper TLC. We love all of you 💕💕

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      • I am so grateful that Auggie has you to watch over him. He’s a lucky dog and you lucky parents.

        I look forward to reading another book by you. I just enjoyed the Washington Island series so much. I got my friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time about them. She said they were just what she needed.

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    • I am so very, very sorry Auggie and you have been going through all of this and relieved that his strength is seeing him through. Sending prayers and love to you all.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I’m glad he is healing. I know it’s hard when our fur babies get sick or hurt. I have been looking for you on Twitter and am glad to know where to find you. You all will be in my thoughts.

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  13. Praying for Augie – and for you! So difficult to not be able to explain to Auggie what is happening. Very glad to hear he is doing better. Keeping fingers crossed and prayers flowing for full recovery!

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  14. I’m so glad he has you both. I am so grateful for his stubbornness. I am sending prayers, good wishes, and all manner of good thoughts your way.

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  15. Sending healing energy to dear Auggie, and much love to you and everyone caring for, and worrying about him. Maybe his doctors will approve a whole-body t-shirt when his incision is further along in its healing process. I put one on my 75 pound “lap dog” Labrador retriever for brief times, to give her a break from the dreaded e-collar. When she had it on, we’d spoon together and cuddle on the floor in one of her big dog beds. Heartfelt wishes for healing and peace.

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  17. First, may I say, you have been greatly missed. Auggie has been on my mind since we first learned of his condition. I’m so sorry for the suffering you all have had to endure. I pray dear Auggie is now on the mend. Secondly, I can’t believe you’ve been locked out of Twitter. That’s insane! Please let us know if you’re posting elsewhere so we can keep up with Auggie’s recovery. I’m sending love and prayers to you and Auggie and Eli, who must wonder what this is all about. You are loved, Jan, and we miss you.

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  18. Sending you and Auggie so much love. I’ve thought about you both and prayed a million times. This is such a beautiful post to read. I am here in Mississippi trying my best to get my wonderful brother elected as Governor. Since tomorrow is election day, I’m pulled in a thousand directions, but this was a gift to my soul to read right in this moment. Sending kisses to Auggie and sweet Eli from way down south. Thank you for your shining example of goodness in this world. Love, Greta Presley

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  19. Oh my goodness!! I am so sorry to hear about what poor Aggie has gone through! AND you! Furthermore, I have missed seeing you on Twitter. I can’t believe they would do such a thing as block you! The audacity of it! I always look forward to seeing your tranquil , interesting and fun posts. I am praying for Auggie and his continuing recovery and know that you are cared for by so many of us that are big fans of your books, your pups, Charlie and of course YOU!! ❤️

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  21. So very sorry to hear about Auggie! I have not been on X for a long time so have missed your news.
    My admiration for you is boundless. You are doing what I would do for one of my 4-legged kids – anything and everything for their health and well-being.
    I am rooting for Auggie’s recovery. Hang in there.

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  23. So good to hear from you! You & the pups are very much missed! Glad to hear Auggie is getting better. You’ve obviously been busy! Many prayers for you & yours!

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  25. I am so sorry for all you have been through, but it does sound encouraging that Auggie will make it through all this. I’ve missed you on Twitter. Please continue to send me emails.

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  26. I am so glad to receive your email about Auggie. I know that you had been having issues with him, my husband follows your husband, and I have silently kept him in my thoughts. Sorry to hear you have been locked out of twitter. I left it shortly after the insurrection. I still use Instagram I’m happy to hear that Auggie is recovering. You have certainly had your share of canine grief over the years. Best wishes to your family. LindaM

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  27. Oh I am so sorry for your anxious times with Auggie’s health scare. I know you love him dearly. I’m not on Twitter now and haven’t been able to follow you so very glad you are going to have a blog. I will definitely follow you there. Thanks for letting us know what is happening in your world.

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  29. So sorry to hear this. Blessings to all of you and positive energy going out to Auggie that he will come through all of this. It is so hard for us to watch our “children” that we deeply love go through something like this. Try to hang in there. Sending loving thoughts to you, Charlie and Auggie.
    Tammy ” fire chiefs wife”

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  32. Hi Janet, I don’t post on Twitter, so I’m sorry that I can’t help with informing your followers of your good news, but I’m replying to this message to let you know how happy I am that Auggie is recovering!!  I have been checking your Twitter frequently for news on Auggie, and I had become worried that things weren’t going well.  As a fellow dog-lover (that’s how your account came into my feed), I have been feeling so sad for you and Charlie, whom I also follow.  It seems to me that I’ve been seeing Charlie more frequently of late of MSNBC, so I was hopeful that Auggie was improving.  I’m so happy for you both to have confirmation of that today! I’ll continue to send positive and healing thoughts to Auggie! Thanks for the update. Natalie Snow

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  39. I’m sure many who follow you and your adventures with the boys have, as I have, felt for many days that something was terribly amiss. I’m so thankful to hear that Auggie is on the mend and pray that he emerges from this with only a physical scar from his incision. I know you have taken great care of Auggie and Eli through all of this. Take time to take care of yourself and Charlie, as I can only imagine how stressful these days have been. Bless you all.

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  40. Love reading your posts. Hope Auggie gets a good checkup today at the Vet. What a fighter he is to have endured the last few months. They sure hate those cones but find clever ways to get around with them. One of our guys always had clogs of dirt and grass in his cone as he ran through the yard scooping up his tennis balls. Our pets are so dear to us – family members. We are on our sixth English Springer Spaniel over the last 54 years. Our current boy Tucker is a wild guy – our first field-bred. He only has one speed – fast.

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  42. I was so worried about you and the boys
    I know what you are going through, been there twice.
    Wishing you and the family the very best
    please keep us posted
    Forza !!

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  43. Oh my gosh! Thank you for this BEAUTIFUL blog post. It made me cry. I have wondered how Auggie is doing. I checked your twitter page and there were no recent posts, so I really appreciate this. So glad to hear that Auggie is recovering. Thank you for taking such good care of him and loving him so much.  It sounds like his vets are amazing people who love him too.  I’m sorry that you are locked out of twitter.  How weird. I think twitter is falling apart.  I’ll keep checking back here for your updates.  Take Care and Warm Wishes to you, Auggie, and your entire family. Sincerely, Nancy Rose

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  46. I have been praying for Auggie. I am ridiculously grateful for this update! You, Charlie, Auggie, Eli and your grandson have been on quite a journey. I think of you all each day and miss your beautiful pictures and writing. Sending hugs to all, especially Auggie! So happy to read this post. I have been comforted by reading your essays these past weeks.

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  48. Oh, my! I’m so very sorry Auggie & you guys are going through this. I’m glad he’s getting better. Please know I’m saying a prayer or two for y’all. And I’ll do what I can on the X platform. Miss your posts. Hope your life is back to normal real soon. Susan Still

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  49. Thanks for the update. I have missed you on Twitter. So glad Auggie is improving . We all do whatever it takes for our beloved pets. Duck tape is a wonderful product! I hope sometime soon you all get some rest. Sending love and prayers to you all.

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