Rest in Peace, Rukkus

The PCS family lost another one of its own last night.  Rukkus, an almost 10 year cancer survivor, left this world yesterday. 

You can read Rukkus' story here.  If my math is correct, Rukkus was first diagnosed with cancer in 2001.  He beat that cancer and another one again in 2005.  He was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer earlier this year and lost his battle against it.  I really hate saying that.  Yes, he died because of the lung cancer, but saying that doesn't do any justice to what this dog has been through.  Sometimes the body just can't take any more.  One cancer is hard enough, let alone three. 

In my mind, and in the mind of all of my PCS friends (I'm sure I can speak for all of you), Rukkus was, and always will be, a cancer survivor.  Ten years is truly miraculous.  His story is such an inspiration to all of those fighting this disease, proof that cancer doesn't always win.  You can be diagnosed with cancer and still live a long, full life. 

Reading about Rukkus' passing this morning brought me to tears.  Not only because another family member is gone, and another Mom is in pain, but, selfishly, because it made me think even more about Indiana.  I think Indiana is the longest-lived dog on PCS now.  We're nearly five years post-diagnosis of cancer #1.  This seems like a lifetime to us, and in the grand scheme of a dog's life, five years is a lot of time.  But it's sad that so few dogs get that much time after cancer.  And it's scary for me.  Does this make Indiana "next?"

I know that's not how it works.  Indiana has outlived so many members of the PCS family.  That makes me beyond grateful but also guilty sometimes.  Why does Indiana survive while so many others are lost?  I know she too brings hope and inspiration to others, but it just goes to show that life, and death, can be so random.  We have little control. 

So today, while my heart breaks for Rukkus' Mom, it makes me even more grateful for Indiana.  And in honor of Rukkus, the great fighter of cancer, I will hold my own cancer survivor a little bit closer.