Happy 13th Birthday, darling Joy!! You made it!!! When you collapsed onto our living room floor just before New Year, we thought, that was it... we rushed you to the clinic at half past ten that night and fought for your life. The diagnosis was devastating: Severe heart deficiency, arrhythmia, partial fibrillation and and - plus lung edema, caused by the heart, that was not beating properly any more! 

The summer before, you had the usual signs of old age: Some problems with the legs or not being able to cope in hot weather; so we bought you a cool coat and you were happy as ever. Uphill became more difficult but after a short break, you did not show any signs of slowing down. Little did we expect that your heart was probably already severely ill.

You enjoyed the autumn of your years together with us and were still on tour with our new camper van, always happy, always active and always keen to explore new areas. 

After your collapse, the vets saw no chance and wanted to put you to sleep - but the cardiologist tried one last treatment with a different medication to dehydrate the lungs and one hour later, your lungs were clearer and with the beginning of this treatment and your enormous will to live, we went, on what we thought were our last walks, enjoying a bit of snow.

Day after day, you became stronger and managed longer walks. You started to eat properly again and gained weight and strength. You defied the odds and jumped back to your old self, pulling on the leash like always. The vets shake their heads and wonder how you made it, because even with the new treatment, they did not think, you'd live that long.

The first photo on top is from today: Joy had a nice walk of nearly 4 km, was twice in the river and does not look ill or tired but happy and content! Every day is a gift now, a bonus, so to speak - I doubt, you will enjoy another B'Day. So we will celebrate your Birthday for the rest of your life and are thankful for the Joy with which you enriched ours!!!