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AbbyDawg · 10-31-2008, 04:08 AM

Mary Jo ~

My heart aches for you. I lost my beloved Sheltie in Nov. 2006, four days before her third birthday. Abby (she is the photo I use as my avatar and screen name) was a gift from God. I got her as a pup and within a month my life changed entirely. I moved to be near my Mom as I thought she was "failing" and I wanted to be in the same town. Within three weeks she completely lost her sight and was totally dependent on me 24/7 until she passed away 15 months later. Having a puppy around added much joy for us.

After the stress of losing Mom, I went into an MS flare and had to several rounds of Prednisone (which usually makes me sicker) and then I tore a disc in my back so I did nothing for months but lay on the couch with Abby and my Kat Kirby comforting me every minute of the day.

The second day after I was up and around again I found "The Lump" and within days had a double mastectomy and 4xDD A/C and found out I was Her2+ too late to add Herceptin. And being a relative stranger in town with no family or friends to help me, the two that saw me through were Abby and Kirby.

The night I came home from my first 3-month check up and got the great news that everything looked clear, I drove the two hours home on the highest cloud I had been on in months. Only to come home and find Abby had "crashed." (It was an intestinal problem.) So I called my friend who is a vet and met him at the vet clinic and put her down.

She was a gift from God ... I got a wonderful report from the oncologist for my first 3-month checkup. I believe Abby knew her job was done ... she lightened the last hard months of caring for Mom and she saw me through cancer ...and on the first day I felt safe she was able to leave. She blessed so many so much in less than three years.

So, Mary Jo, from one Sheltie parent to another ... I send you a hug of understanding and compassion.

Helen a.k.a. AbbyDawg

PS: Kirby Kat has continued on marvelously in his new role as sole Chief Companion and Doctor. And he just turned 17 in July. But he thinks and acts like he's only 3 ... but then, he thinks he is a Sheltie too because he has lived with them in the house since he was a kitten ... er, puppy ... and he's never met another cat.

10-31-2008, 04:08 AM	#6
AbbyDawg Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 128	Mary Jo ~ My heart aches for you. I lost my beloved Sheltie in Nov. 2006, four days before her third birthday. Abby (she is the photo I use as my avatar and screen name) was a gift from God. I got her as a pup and within a month my life changed entirely. I moved to be near my Mom as I thought she was "failing" and I wanted to be in the same town. Within three weeks she completely lost her sight and was totally dependent on me 24/7 until she passed away 15 months later. Having a puppy around added much joy for us. After the stress of losing Mom, I went into an MS flare and had to several rounds of Prednisone (which usually makes me sicker) and then I tore a disc in my back so I did nothing for months but lay on the couch with Abby and my Kat Kirby comforting me every minute of the day. The second day after I was up and around again I found "The Lump" and within days had a double mastectomy and 4xDD A/C and found out I was Her2+ too late to add Herceptin. And being a relative stranger in town with no family or friends to help me, the two that saw me through were Abby and Kirby. The night I came home from my first 3-month check up and got the great news that everything looked clear, I drove the two hours home on the highest cloud I had been on in months. Only to come home and find Abby had "crashed." (It was an intestinal problem.) So I called my friend who is a vet and met him at the vet clinic and put her down. She was a gift from God ... I got a wonderful report from the oncologist for my first 3-month checkup. I believe Abby knew her job was done ... she lightened the last hard months of caring for Mom and she saw me through cancer ...and on the first day I felt safe she was able to leave. She blessed so many so much in less than three years. So, Mary Jo, from one Sheltie parent to another ... I send you a hug of understanding and compassion. Helen a.k.a. AbbyDawg PS: Kirby Kat has continued on marvelously in his new role as sole Chief Companion and Doctor. And he just turned 17 in July. But he thinks and acts like he's only 3 ... but then, he thinks he is a Sheltie too because he has lived with them in the house since he was a kitten ... er, puppy ... and he's never met another cat.