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7 Steps to Face Down Your Challenges

I call Missy my wonder dog.

The call came out of nowhere. At 9 am on October 10, my Missy, a rescue blonde cocker spaniel, lost the use of her back legs. Overnight she went from Michael Jordan athleticism to a paraplegic. We had 24 hours to decide if surgery was a viable option.

Missy is the kind of soul who bounds steps three at a time. She ran where others walked. She jumped where others hopped. She lived for a ride in the car where she sat shotgun on the front console. Her will and determination could raise a sleeping adult to go downstairs in the middle of the night when she deigned a treat necessary.

Now we had 24 hours to match a medical miracle with our girl Missy. We hoped an MRI would show a slipped disc, easier to fix with better odds that she would walk again. Results showed damage over a period of time, she just had been compensating in silence.

A team of doctors said surgery may or may not bring back her ability to walk. She is a fighter and we had to give her the chance to fight. On October 11, she was prepped for surgery. She came through surgery well, but there was still no promise of normalcy. Just the promise that there will be a new reality of normalcy.

From Missy and this convalescence period we have learned so much about facing our challenges. Perhaps you can learn about facing your challenges too:

Four months later we all have learned. We have learned to be thankful for a doggy neurosurgeon, physical therapist, oncologist, laser acupuncture and the water treadmill. What I am most thankful for is this dog with a heart and a will and an attitude made of steel.

1. Face problems quickly
We had to decide quickly if surgery was to be a viable option. We gathered expert opinion as quickly as possible and moved forward. In some ways we were fortunate that the medical reality dictated a quick decision. The take-away lesson is that regardless of the challenge or the situation, moving forward is always positive.

2. Assume the best
If I could speak for Missy, I think she always assumed the best. The day after surgery she tried to walk. Even when she couldn't walk unassisted, she just kept assuming she could. Surgery has been followed by physical therapy including laser acupuncture and hydrotherapy. Every additional two minutes she spends on the water treadmill I embrace like the first landing on the moon. When people roll their eyes at this tale, I roll my eyes at their lack of faith. From the beginning I assumed that if

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