How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

53- Know How It Feels

Anthony

With all this baby talk it made me realize how truly unprepared I was to have a kid. I mean I hang out with some of my teammates kids and I've been around kids when I go to the hospital, but I've never really had to take care of someone besides myself. I mean, I helped Clara get better but in no way did I raise her. She did most of the healing all herself, I just loved her so she knew she could do it.

But now I'm going to to have to lose some sleep and miss some meals to make sure Clara and Daisy have everything they need. And to prepare for that we decided that we should probably get a dog. That way I have something to take care of and something to keep my girls company while I'm gone.

So Clara and I end up at a dog shelter to look for dogs. Clara insisted we went here and got a dog who needed our help instead of a pure bred who hasn't been given up on or abandoned. She's all about healing broken hearts and I'm right there beside of her. As long as the dog is kind and won't have a problem with the baby then I am more than happy to have it be a part of our growing family.

We get let into a room of young dogs and get to play with them. We look around and it was so hard to pick just one, they were all so sweet.

"Claire" I ask as I lose sight of her for a second. I eventually find her in the corner sitting on the ground. She was with a little dog that was huddled in the corner. It was a little Dalmatian with a little heart shaped dot over one of its eyes. It sure was cute which made me a little worried as to why someone would bring it in or not adopt it sooner.

I watch the little dog get up and see it was missing a back leg. It could still get around pretty well but it's obvious this dog had been hurt. But it wobbles over to Clara and smells her hand. She lets it get comfortable before she softly pets the puppy. The dog comes over and rests it's head on Clara's stomach and she makes one of those "oh my god you're so precious" faces. It was then I knew we got ourself a new dog.

"What did you find" I ask as I walk over.

"I found the sweetest most loving dog in the world" she claims as she pets the dog. The little one looks up to me with those puppy dog eyes and I just melt.

"And who is this" I ask bending down.

"This is Maddie. She's just six months old and she had cancer in her leg. Her owners couldn't afford for the surgery and to keep her so they got her better but had to give her up" Clara explains.

"I think she's beautiful" I admit as the dog lets me pet her. She was timid but obviously just wanted love and affection

"She already loves the baby. I think she's fixed but she still knows when someone is having a kid" Clara insists.

"Well I say we get her" I announce and she smiles up at me.

"Really" she gasps.

"Yeah. She's sweet and kind and young. She can be trained and learn how to live a full life. Not a life with a disability. I know you will give her everything she needs to be a happy and healthy dog" I admit.

"She reminds me a lot of me. She just wants to be loved, something to love" she says.

"We can do that" I smile.

We pick Maddie out and pay for her at the front. They check us out and deem that we are a suitable family for her and can call our house her new home.

We go out to petsmart and get her a collar and a tag made. She picks out toys and treats and even a bed. We get her a leash and some food before heading to checkout. After spending $100 on dog things we had gotten everything we needed to raise our dog. Then hopefully our kid.

We get inside the house and Maddie slowly walks in. She wasn't like most puppies where you have to pull them back or tell them to calm down. She was very timid but listened well. She followed Clara around with her tail between her legs as we get her bed and food and water set up. She eats some before laying down and taking a nap.

"I feel so bad for her" Clara insists.

"She'll warm up" I assure her.

"Still. I know what she feels like, like she doesn't fit in. I know she's happy to be out of the pound but still scared to be here, even though it's good for her. I've been through all of it but there's nothing I can say to the dog that could make her feel better" she sighs.

"Do what you do best and love that dog, she'll feel it. Then soon enough she is going to fit right in" I explain.

"That I can do" Clara smiles.

After a while we get everything get settled in and squared away. Maddie slowly walks around and familiarized herself with the place. There wasn't really anywhere she couldn't go so it was a lot to take in.

I sit on the couch as Clara paints in her art room for a little. She was going to travel with me until she couldn't anymore which wouldn't be too long from now. We've had a doggy door in and a fenced in backyard so for the three days we'll be gone she will be fine by herself. She can get aquatinted to the place on her own terms and hopefully not destroy anything. But I don't believe she will.

I go through the baby registry online to see what all we put out there and I see Maddie's little head pop up in front of me as she peeks over my laptop. She looks me up and down before jumping up on the couch and sitting next to me.

"I don't think mommy is going to be happy with you up here" I admit. But instead of telling her to get down I pet my lap so she knew it was okay to come closer. She lays her little paws on my legs and rests her head on them and I smile. I pet her as she looks up to me. "I know you're supposed to prepare me for a kid, but I'm already prepared to die for you. What am I going to do when Daisy gets here" I ask. She gives me a little bark and I just had to laugh.

"Glad we're on the same page."