She's a brave girl.

Layla just turned a year old just this past December, for me she's still a puppy but to a lot of people she's more of a preteen.

Layla was a "returnee". A couple bought her from the breeder. A few months later, governed by the breeder's policy, she was surrendered because the couple was getting a divorce. A month after she was returned I adopted her, took her home, bathe her, fed her, bought her things she needed for a comfortable first night at her new home only to find out that she has some problems. She was skittish. She was hand-shy. She was extremely nervous, anxious, and a bit distrustful of everything and everyone.

Her first night was difficult. She was so used to staying outside in a crowded kennel with other puppies. She marked inside the house, our other husky was trying to dominate her and chase her, she ran through and broke the screen door probably not knowing it was there. I couldn't sleep that night because she was constantly checking up on me, maybe to see if I'm still there. She would jump on my chest taking me by surprise and put all her weight on me. She clearly needed to adjust, she needed reassurance, she needed comfort and did not know how to get it.

It's almost been a year since she first came home with me and she is a changed pup. She's happier, more playful, a little more trusting of people but still a little on guard. She warms up to strangers quicker than she did a year ago. She knows basic commands. She loves the snow, she loves to pull the bike, she loves running, she loves her treats, her toys, and us.

Layla has clearly grown up. She had her first physical check up in March this year and she checked out fine. She passed with flying colors; ears, eyes, lungs, heart, blood, liver, kidneys, except she had tartar which to the vet, is something minor since she will have her dental cleaning in August.

Last week, on my way out to work, I noticed that she could not open her left eye when she came to greet me. After a brief look over I noticed that her sclera is red instead of white. We took her to the vet immediately and she came home with some eyedrops and antibiotic. A couple of days after I noticed that the same irritated eye was a bit cloudy...or was it a reflection of our white walls? I was not sure until my husband noticed that the cloudiness I've been noticing was inside her eye. After looking it over on the internet I quickly narrowed it down to two things; glaucoma or cataract.

I was devastated. I do believe that I am more affected about her condition than she is. I called the emergency vet and brought her in. I love being right, but who does not! But this time I wished so much to be wrong. I would have been happy if I was wrong, but I was not.

We took her in to her regular vet and they did more blood test because a dog as young as Layla should not have cataract unless it is congenital. Her vet was worried that she may have diabetes which is the leading cause of cataract on a very young animal. He also said that although cataract is common in some breeds including Siberian Huskies, it normally does not start until 6 years of age. He wanted to rule out diabetes first before doing anything else.

This was so sudden. We did not see it coming. She just had her physical and she was fine. I do not understand. I do not think Layla understands either but her condition, whatever it is, does not seem to bother her one bit. She remains happy and in good spirits and still the sweetest little baby girl on the block. Througout these vet visits she remains so well behaved. She would look at me with those big brown eyes as if she's telling me "It's ok mommy. I'm going to be just fine."

I think she remains brave mostly for me.