For KB, For K, For The Runner, and for R

She has severe disease of the spine and has endured many major surgeries.  Despite the constant pain, she rides her bicycle through harsh trails high in the Rockies.  She pushes herself and the spine disease does not define her life.  She has my own deep admiration.  She may be the most courageous woman I know.

She is an amazing photographer and her blog brings us unbelievable photographs of the Rocky Mountains.  She has placed trail cameras in the mountains and has shown us such wonderful photographs and videos of lions and bobcats and bears.  My personal favorite is a video of a Black Bear, coming briefly from her den, full of sleep and moving slowly, then retreating to the den for a longer sleep.  She has shown us the beauty of mountain sunrise and evening sunset.  She has shown us the wonder of Aspen groves in autumn.  She has shown us the beautiful wildflowers and birds native to the area.  She is KB and she rolls though the Rockies.

Her companion is a chocolate Labrador Retriever.  The Lab is K and K romps through the Rockies.  K is more than a companion.  She is KB's soul-mate dog.  Her heart dog.  While KB is riding, K has her back.  She romps along with KB as she rolls through areas filled with Elk, Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Bears, and Coyotes and all the other wild animals living in the Front Range in Colorado.  And at elevations above 8,000 miles, there is a lot of wildlife.  Through KB's trail cameras and mountain biking we are privy to much of it.

K has had her share of medical problems herself.  Yet her devotion to KB never wanes.  Right now K is facing the fight of her life.  She was recently diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her left front leg.  Preparing K for surgery to remove part of the bone, the veterinarian found that the cancer had already spread to another bone in her leg.  The surgery was canceled and treatment was begun with stererotactic radiation and chemotherapy.  Her next round of chemo will be on Friday.

The prognosis is questionable.  Yet KB is determined that K will not be defined by the osteosarcoma.  Just as KB lives her life well, she allows K to live her own life well.  KB does limit the duration of K's outings so she often rolls along the trails without her heart dog.

This is a photograph that will bind bloggers together to hope for strength for K.

Photo from DK and the Thundering Herd who organized this effort.  (here)

In addition to K, KB's household includes her human soul-mate (The Runner) and a beautiful and playful male black Labrador (R).  R tends to accompany the Runner just as K accompanies KB.

So why this post?  I am joining many other bloggers to ask you to pause for a minute and think about KB and her wonderful dog K.  If you have religious beliefs, please pray for them.  If you have no diety then please send positive thoughts for these brave and unbelievably courageous humans and canines.  Visit them at KB's blog (here) and let them know that we are pulling for them.  I also advise you to look at the archives to see some of the most outstanding photographs you can imagine.

So, on the Valentine's Day:

HERE'S TO KB; TO K; TO THE RUNNER; AND TO R

AND TO THE POWER OF THE PAW!