Today I’m sharing an updated version of the song I wrote three years ago when I lost my first eye to Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis (GRPU). When I wrote it in 2023, it wasn’t like my usual lighthearted parodies. I was angry. Everything happened so fast when I needed that emergency enucleation surgery. Now here I am after having my other eye removed due to complications from this generic disease. However, I’m not angry anymore! Yes, I’m still grieving the loss of my vision. But I’ve changed two of the verses to reflect how I spent the past three years preparing to embrace my inevitable blindness. Today I dedicate this revised parody of “Elimination,” by the thrash metal band Overkill, to all the dogs facing this scary diagnosis. I hope it inspires you to embrace life and not let GRPU slow you down!
GRPU, what disease?
You told me benign cysts. What’s blood doin’ here?
Blind? You’re kiddin’ me
A second opinion is what I need
Waggin’ in an exam room
Squintin’ even with the lights turned down
Barking at the diagnosis
Forward my results, please to someone else
Enucleation, enucleation
Enucleation, enucleation
Genetic, for Goldens
Not just me with GRPU
Painful, yeah I know
Pressure building, my left eye has to go
I’m rushin’ to the ER
And I can’t get there soon enough
Pullin’ out my eye, is my only choice
There is nothing left to do
Enucleation, enucleation
Enucleation, enucleation
Enucleate my eye
Enucleate my pain
Enucleate feels strange
Enucleate I’m strong
Enucleate my feelings
Enucleate right now
Enucleate gives hope
Enucleate, enucleate!
When I knew three years ago my last eye someday wouldn’t see
I climbed more mountains, hiked more trails, and gazed upon the sea
And with each precious one more day, I took more pictures with my heart
I stored them safe for me to use for when my world got dark
I want the cure for GRPU!
There must be more that we can do, I don’t care how
It’s makin’ Golden tails droop across the nation
Research the cure to elimination!
Hopeless, I won’t pout
Set on a new course to figure it out
Careful, no more!
Last eye gone but it won’t stop me from going out that door!
Enjoyin’ all my time
Knowing it won’t be like before
Now I’m seeing with my heart
I have a new world to explore!
Enucleation, enucleation
Enucleation, enucleation
GRPU, what disease?
You told me benign cysts. What’s blood doin’ here?
Blind? You’re kiddin’ me
A second opinion there’s gotta be
Waggin’ in an exam room
Squintin’ even with the lights turned down
Barking at the diagnosis
No more time to turn this around
Enucleation, enucleation
Enucleation, enucleation
Enucleate my eye
Enucleate my pain
Enucleate feels strange
Enucleate I’m strong
Enucleate my feelings
Enucleate right now
Enucleate gives hope
Enucleate, enucleate!
