"MAXDOG" is now available on Amazon.com!!
Click HERE for the 'Print-on-Demand' version
Click HERE for the Kindle (USA) version
Click HERE for the Kindle (UK) version
Caryl Moll's author page on Amazon, click HERE

Dear Readers and faithful friends,

After a number of years of wonderful blogging, this blog has effectively become dormant - except for occasional updates regarding my book, MAXDOG. I have left this blog as a legacy to my dog and a place of sanctuary where we can reflect upon his life. Take your time, peruse the pages spanning Max's 18 months in cyberspace. Feel refreshed and uplifted because his story is an amazing one of..."LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX!"
My activities have now moved on to my new blog entitled "LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX". Please join me there where you can read about my family and canine companions. I also invite you to visit MAXDOG's FANPAGE on FACEBOOK. You can follow the specific links by clicking below:

* 'LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX: click HERE
*MAXDOG'S FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: click HERE
* MAXDOG, the book: click HERE

If you would like to follow me on a deeper, spiritual level, then I invite you to visit my more personal blog:

May God bless you and thank you for following me!
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

MAXDOG's CHRISTMAS TRIBUTE

Monday, May 17, 2010

100 DAYS OF GRACE!!!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!!!
 


Hello there to all our friends across the globe!
Can you believe ...
We have reached this amazing milestone...

MAXDOG'S 100th DAY OF GRACE!!!

---xXx---

If I look back over the past 100 days, I realise what an incredible journey it has been
... and continues to be.

I have leaned to take each day as the blessing it is but I must admit that at times I have forgotten all the amazing events which have made up the past 100 days.



 Today is indeed a milestone.
 Our Maxdog is a living, walking, breathing miracle!!!


I thought I'd try and summarise some of the highlights and lowlights of these past 100 days

---xXx--- 

On the 6th February, Maxdog was sent home from the Specialist Veterinary Hospital, together with his distraught Maxmom (me), with the instruction to simply 'love him' and bring him back for euthanasia the minute he starts struggling. There was nothing more that the Vets could do for him as he had been diagnosed with a tumour which occupied 9/10ths of his liver. The general understanding at the time was that Maxdog only had only about 2 weeks left to live!

Little did we all know!....here we sit...100 days later!!!.

Following this announcement, our cyber-community banded together and we received an overwhelming Tsunami of cyber support from around the globe. Emails, comments and various messages of support arrived on our doorstep. 
Over the past 100 days we have received over 4000 comments of support! The world has embraced the plight of my beautiful dog and I am so grateful! Prayer groups were set up and we rode those first couple of weeks on  a high of goodwill from people we'd never met.

It was a heartwarming moment when the family of our little autistic friend, Murray and his service dog, Clive, in Ireland decided to sponsor the training of a service pup by the name of Stan in Maxdog's honor, so I that I would have a pup to follow when Max had finally departed across the rainbow bridge.

On Valentines Day (14th February 2010), the blogging community gathered their collective creativity and posted a series of "Max Tour Stories" on their personal blogs for our enjoyment. These were embellished with photographs of Maxdog being 'hosted' by their countries, cities and homes.  What amazing hospitality came our way as we were able to visit and read every one of those posts.  There were 42 bloggers involved in this drive.

Soon after that and unbeknown to me, the blogging community also conspired to commission a beautiful painting of Maxdog by the artist, Kathleen Coy. This was affectionately entitled
The 'Maxterpiece' and the 'Maxproject'.

Friends from around the globe collected funds to pay for both the painting and its framing.  It was also a great surprise to discover that there were even more funds left over from their gift, so we added our own bit and gave a donation of R1000 to
The Society for Animals in Distress
here in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Over the past 100 days, we have enjoyed many events in cyberspace including the amazing
Iditarod in Alaska.
Soon after the announcement of Max's illness I became desperate to collect hard copy photographs of Max.  I realised I have very few of him and I together.

This prompted the
"Mom and Me photo" drive
 as I tried to encourage my readers to get that photo of their pet and themselves as soon as they could.

 Our blogposts over this time period have also included snippets of the build up to the
FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010
which is due to take place in a few weeks in our country.

I have written various poems over the time and presented many photographs of Maxdog which I have collected. I've included scenes from South Africa and a written about a range of
"Feel good moments."

Maxdog has also shared stories about his
Golden family,
'Life lessons according to Maxdog'
and also attempted to introduce
 King Toffee as a potential substitute Tour Guide.


We have posted videos of Maxdog and Tammy's tricks as well as explained How we taught Maxdog to talk. We were also invited to participate in the BBC Programme examining the power of the internet (you can see the video by following the links in the sidebar)

On a sad note, we have seen the passing of our dear friends...
Hamish (in Scotland) on the 19th February 2010 and
Digby (in France) on the 10th May.
Numerous other fur-friends have sadly passed on and all these friends have left a big pawprint on our hearts.

So there has been a lot of water which has run under own own bridge over the past 100 days but the overwhelming thing has been the incredible cyber-friendships which have come our way.  Through your support and encouragement, we keep hopeful and take each day as a blessing it is meant to be.

After 100 days, Max is still comfortable and painfree. Whilst he is very lethargic and picky with his food, he still enjoys his afternoon walks and simply being in the company of a loving family.

We have learnt that we should never discount his need to live life to the full. We have also learned that Vets cannot predict when a dog will die. We have learnt too that each dog is unique and each owner's personal paradigm is also unique...that is is impossible really to give advice to or pass judgment on situations which are not our own. We have learnt that with every closing door a new one opens, that in the journey with a dying dog, nothing is guaranteed or certain. Our most important lesson however has been...

LIVE EACH DAY FOR WHAT IT OFFERS!!!...
Carpe Diem!

So instead of toasting to the next 100 days, let us simply celebrate...
THIS DAY!!!...


Thank you to all our cyber friends for serving to uphold the vision of
MAXDOG's BLOG:
(SHARING, CARING AND UPLIFTING!)

What an incredible journey this is!

With lots of love and thanks
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

65 comments:

D.K. Wall said...

Happy 100! Keep proving them wrong, Max. Carpe Diem.

kks said...

wonderful! congrats Maxdog! loved the recap of the last 100 days...wow...we love you Maxdog!
xoxo

WFT Nobby said...

Happy 100 days Max! What a wonderful fellow you are. I am so proud to know you.
Lot's of love, Bertie!
Gail says - it's been an amazing 100 days, hasn't it, Caryl? I confess that for the first few days after Hamish died, I struggled a bit with the fact that you still had Max, whereas I had lost Hamish so suddenly. But once over the shock, I was more that happy to be able to join in with everyone else in sharing in Max's days of grace, which you have written about so beautifully. And now I have Bertie and am learning all about what it is to have young life in the house again, and that is another wonderful thing.

The Life of Riley said...

Congratulations your 100th day of grace Max - you are truly one amazing dog!
Love from
Riley and Riley’s mum

Anya said...

Congratulations !!!
Happy 100 days my sweet woof friend
I hope you are feeling good
Take care .....
you are always in our mind :))))

Hugs Kareltje & Anya

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

Max has been a wonderful mentor/teacher for all of us - take each moment as it comes and enjoy it.

XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh, Ruairi and Becky

MySpecialDoggies said...

Happy 100th day of grace Maxi. May you & yours be blessed with many many more days!

Love & hugs/licks,
Nadine, Apples & Neeli

My Mind's Eye said...

Hi Max and Mom!!!
Happy 100 Max...the power of TLC is amazing.
Big hug handsome boy,
Madi and Mom

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! Happy 100 day of grace MAX. I would like to share a quote from Buddha : " Do not Dwell on the Past, Do not Dream of the Future, Concentrate the Mind on the Present." Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

We are here to celebrate this wonderful special day with Maxdog. May he continue to have quality of life for as long as pawsible.

Yoo are right to live in the day, and enjoy the moment ~ we would all be wise to do that.

Huge smoochies for Maxdog from us all. And love to all his fambly.

Emma Rose said...

Amazing and awesome!


Kisses,
Emma Rose

Angus said...

We've followed each of Max's 100 days with you . You summed it all up so well in todays post. Live each day as it comes and enjoy every second of mischief that your given. Someone sent an e-mail to us this time last week with the line " To those that love there are no dead, only the long sleepers ". That makes a lot of sense.

JD and Max said...

Wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL! We're smiling and wagging over here in the UK! A truly uplifting post! Schnauzer snuggles - JD and Max.

Ina in Alaska said...

We will be parted for only a minute....Lovely post, you summed up the fabulous 100 so well... Lovely pictures of the King. He looks tired... such a hard working little ruler xoxoxo

Angel Tucker, Daisy and Leo said...

It's so wonderful that Maxdog has had 100 days of grace, and we hope you have many more. It has been and continues to be an incredible journey.

Tucker, Daisy and Heidi

Anonymous said...

Happy, happy 100th Day of Grace to Miracle Max! Oh, I am so very much happy I started blogging when I did so that I gots a chance to get to know you and your mom and follow you along on some of these 100 days. You always inspire me to be a better doggie and your mom always reminds my mom how important it is to cherish each day with me and my furry brudders and sister. We feel very much lucky to haves you both in our lives!

Wiggles & Wags,
Mayzie

Jake of Florida said...

Maxdog, you've given us so much these 100 days. We will be forever grateful.

Wirey love,

Jake and Just Harry

Heather and Kelly said...

It's a day to CELEBRATE!!!!

You're amazing, Max, just amazing!

Congrats on your 100 days. It's amazing how much joy we can get just from seeing that number.

Well done, Maxdog!!

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

Carpe Diem! with you, Max, we have truly learned the value of each moment that life gives us! We are just so pleased to be part of this wonderful worldwide community of friends.

Andrea said...

I, too am learning to enjoy the blessings of each day. Isn't it amazing how our dogs can teach us so many life lessons.
Praying for you guys,
andrea and the perdue zoo

Mrs. JP said...

We here in the holler in Tennessee are so happy to be a part of your cyber-family/friends. I've learned to love Max, Tammy and Toffee through these 100 days.
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE
LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!!!

Kelly said...

Happy 100th Day of Grace, Max!

What an incredible journey that we are all on together. Thank you for your perspective. We all love you!!!!!!

xoxo
Pearl

brooke said...

Max you're amazing! Happy 100th D.O.G.!!!!

3 doxies said...

What a most wonderful day to celebrate. I am so honored to have met ya'll and to walk this journey along side you.
It's amazing what you can learn during a an upheavel...
Seize The Day!!!
Puddles

Becca & Mandy said...

Congratulations! That is a truly remarkable feat! You should be very proud of your pup! I know how hard it can be to put down a pet and Mandy and I are here to support you whenever the time comes! You have a truly amazing dog who will certainly not be forgotten!

~Mandy and Becca

Anonymous said...

Happy 100! From someone who had a beloved dog that was given 6 months left to live from liver cancer (multiple tumors on the liver) and actually lived 3.5 years longer, I can say, don't be surprised how the will to live and love can be so much stronger than the disease. It truly is amazing.

Carpe dogiem Max!

Noll's Nip said...

Love you Max dog. Happy 100th day of Grace =^..^=

♥ Sallie said...

Beautiful!

To Today!

Sunny,Scooter, (sometimes Jamie) said...

100 days of grace, with it's ups and downs. We keep you in our hearts and prayers.
No vet, no MD can ever tell someone with certainty how long someone has left. Educated guesses are GUESSES. Being a people nurse, I have seen it time and time again. And the same applies to vets and dogs. I have seen miracles(there is no other word for it) in people. There can be the same miracles in dogs. Whichever way it goes I still believe we learn lessons from these situations.
You are full of grace yourself Caryl. Remember that.
This dogblogging community is full of so much understanding and love. Dog people in general, I believe, are good people.
Enjoy today for that is all any of us have. Moment to moment, we do not know what the future brings.
Carpe Diem indeed! Scritches to Maxdog and a big hug to you.
And, if Maxdog could talk, he would surely tell you, I am still here, still loving you. Do not mourn me yet. I am not gone.
(This is hard in your situation, and I never have managed it very well...)
Lessons for all. Dogs give us that while young, when old, when healthy, when sick. This I believe.
{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Jamie and the kids Sunny&Scooter

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Congrats Maxdog! This calls for celebration! We are wagging our tails extra hard. :)

Sam & June

Ms. ~K said...

Today is my 57th birthday and this post is the best b'day present you could give me...Happy 100th Day Dear Max!!!!
xoxo
Kit

Sheila and Bob said...

Wonderful statement, we live by faith and that is what Max's is doing.
God Bless you Max and MaxMom, may you continue to share many more happy and loving days.

Hamish & Sophie &
Mom & Dad Sheila & Bob

Golden Samantha said...

What a wonderful and thoughtful post - CONGRAts, Max on your 100th Day of Grace. I agree... live each day to the fullest with those you love, doing what you want and need to do. I am pawsitive that you do that - and you've been an awesome teacher to those of us who have trouble with Carpe Diem, but... you know? Mom's getting better at it! Like the TH said: "keep proving them wrong!"
With Hugs and Hugs xoxooxxo

Sammie and family

sprinkles said...

Congrats on making it to 100 days, Max! This post is a wonderful reminder to continue living life to the fullest every day which I tend not to do.

I hope it's not too much to ask but here's to another 100 Days of Grace!!!

Paco,Milo, Maya and mommy Simona said...

What a great great great day is today dear Max!!!!
Happy happy happy 100th day!!!!
And what a wonderful way to celebrate it!!!!
Lots of special memories about you...your life...your friends....We're thankful to you sweet Max for everything you taught us during your journey throught those days....
You're a miracle and the evidence miracles could happen!!!!!!
THANK YOU MAX!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy all your days with your family and your dogblogs community friends!!!!
We're honored to be a little part of it and proud to have you as a special friends!!!!
CARPE DIEM!!!!!!!!!!
Your furever friends!!!!!
PAco,Milo & Maya & Mommy Simona!!!!

Anonymous said...

Animals are Amazing!

But..

It is obvious that MaxDog

is

PAWSOME!!!

To say the least!

Congrats on 100 days Max, may you have that many more!

Love you so much Max,

Tessa and Blu

doyle and mollie said...

incredible!!!!

Mango the Maltese kiddo said...

Yeah Happy Maxdog's 100th Day of Grace.
Yes Max you're a living, walking, breathing miracle.
And Happy Belated Mother's Day to your great Mom, lets kick my mom's behind for being so behind blogging.
Love y'all

the magic sleigh said...

Wooos Max! Congrats on your 100th day of Grace!
Live each day to its fullest as you never know what tomorrow may bring. May we all learn to live by the small blessing of each and every day!
~husky kisses~
-Kira The BeaWootiful

Molly the Airedale said...

Happy 100 days, Max! We hope you are blessed with many more days to come!
We love you!
Maggie and Mitch

Brandon - The dog with a blog said...

Happy, Happy 100 days!

Unknown said...

Woohoo! Max! What a wonderful day - and a wonderful achievement!!

You continue to be a great inspiration to everyone!

Slobbers,
Honey the Great Dane

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!! 100 DAYS!!!!!!! You are such a fighter MaxDog! We are glad you are sticking around as it is giving us time to get to know you better.

Big purrs and kitty hugs coming your way!

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

You are truly a wonderful special dog.. Great to be reading you are 100 days.. Sweet Max . Love GJ xx

houndstooth said...

We're so happy to be sharing Day 100 with Max! It's a wonderful thing. Maxdog has taught us so many lessons, and for that we are truly grateful!

Bunny (A diligent student)

JacksDad said...

Max has made me so happy these past few weeks! Thank you!

Clive said...

Max

We cannot tell you how happy we have been to have had this extra 100 days with you! We celebrate along with you today.

Your pals in Dublin
Clive and Murray

Stella said...

Hey Max!

Happy 100th Day of Grace! As I said back about day 50, I can keep counting as long as you can keep going! Give it a try!

Love and hugs,

Jo and Stella

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Happy 100!

See woo here tomorrow fur #101!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

By the time you read this, it will be "101 Days" so I will add my congrats on this milestone too!! Looking back at all that's happened, I can see the miracle in those days and all the goodness that has come about during that time as well!! Thank-you for letting all of us be part of this amazing journey!!

Piappies World said...

Happy 100th Max!

What a special day and we are happy to be with you to witness how amazing you and your family is.

We continue to shower you with positive thoughts and lots of prayers.

-Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai and WAI-MAX =)

Anonymous said...

Yay! 100 days! Hey, I'm all up for another Max World Tour if that's going to work for the next 100 days and then another and so on... :)
xoxoxo
Twinkie

BRUTUS said...

How amazing! MAx is certainly a legend in his own time! Cheers!

Snorts-
Brutus the Frenchie

Cloud the Wonder Dog said...

Happy 100 days, Max! Thank you fur teaching us to enjoy every single day to the fullest. We love you!!!

Luv,
Cloud and his mom

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Happy 100 Days of Grace Max
May your "courage seeds" spread all over our world.
love
tweedles

Scout and Freyja said...

Yes, seize the day and seize the moment and seize the joy that comes from friendship - near or far - and seize the love. All any of us have is this day so make this day the best day.

Kasha said...

Happy 100 days! That is awesome! We keep on loving from afar. We are all in this journey together. I'm so happy Max is doing great.

Nika + PARKER said...

Happy 100 days of grace MaxDOG - we love you and are sooo happy!

Grand daughter, Sweet Sara said...

Dear Grand Pa Max, I am so proud of you but was also very saddened to hear from my human mom, Sue that you are not 100% well. I am one of your grand daughters and my name is Sweet Sara. My mom is Jody and my dad is Hunter. Jody lives with her human mom Daphne and Hunter lives with his human mom Zena. Grand pa, you are still so beautiful and good looking and I now know where my good looks come from as well as from my dad and mom. I see my mom and dad as well as my one brother, Loftus from time to time. I have a wonderful home and love my human parents, Sue and Steve. They just adore me and have so much time for me as well. I have an adopted brother, Sebastian who is also very good looking but a bit "big for his boots" at the moment. I am sure you will remember what teenagers are like!!! Mom Sue keeps him in his place though as he can be a bit heavy going. I do however love him and we play so well together. Grand Pa, you must be strong and keep your chin up, you are such a wonderful example to everyone especially your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I will keep in touch. This little note comes with lots of licks, hugs and smiles. Love you Grandpa Max. From Sweet Sara

Kari said...

Happy 100 days, dear Max. We are a large family of kitties and we are doing the happy dance and purring loudly in your honour. We are sure you can feel the love and joy comming your way. Mum sends her love and prayers too!

Jacqueline said...

YAY Max!!...100 days is quite an accomplishment with your original diagnosis; what a strong, brave boy you are, an inspiration to us all!...I am so honored and grateful to be included as your friend; you have entered my heart and your paw prints will never leave it sweet boy...Blessings of love and joy and comfort to you everyday!

the booker man said...

i'm sorry i'm late, miss maxmom, but happy belated 100 days to mr. max!! i'm super duper glad that he has defied the odds cuz he is such a special guy. there is no doggie i look up to more than mr. max!
*woof*
the booker man

ocmist said...

I just keep feeling that God has used Max and your blog to show the power of prayer and love... To show that we never KNOW what God wants to do and what He can use to give others faith to live through their own trials.

The gift that He has given you of a time to learn to "Live for the Moment" AND the WONDERFUL job that YOU have done to pass that precious gift on to all of us who have read your journey with Max... felt your pain... felt you joys... felt your love (the precious giving love that will do what's right in following your heart)

None of us know the day or hour when it will be our time to leave. The love of many is a healing thing, and has sustained not just you, but all of us on this journey with you! Thank you... and again, PRAISE GOD! Grammy and the Country Corgis

Josie said...

That was just the most beautiful post. I love coming here to read about MaxDog and MaxMom and everything you are going through, everything we are going though with both of you. Never, in a million years, did I think I would find friends, that I would care about the way I care about all of my blog friends, and I've never met them, but I do. And I keep coming back. Not because I am curious, but because I love and care about what is happening and going on in their lives. I am so happy that you see the beauty all around you and that you have made it to 100 days of grace. May you make it to a million days of grace MaxDog and MaxMom. You deserve it. We love you so much.

Hugs and Woofs,
Josie and Blues

Anonymous said...

Hey Maxdog & Max Mom,
It is not the extended period of Grace alone that is a miracle; it is Max's very existence that is a true miracle. His impact on others throughout the world is a Miracle. The relationship between you both is also a Miracle. We pray daily for Max to have just one more day of Grace in comfort and pain free manner. We feel in our hearts that he Max will be with us forever; we know in our minds that he will not. We aspire to your philosophy of living one day at a time and making the most of the moment. You have both had the chance to be made aware of you frailty and to accomplish the things that hadn't been accomplised togeteher; a "bucket list" so to speak. We continue to hold you ALL close to our hearts and in our minds and prayers. We love you Maxdog and Max Mom.
- TBH&K