Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Bentley crossed the Rainbow Bridge

Today is a beautiful day here in south La. Bentley crossed the Rainbow Bridge a few minutes ago, in my arms in the green grass outside the vet office, under a crystal blue sky. We did a CBC and his numbers had fallen drastically. We got our specialist on the phone, and he held out little hope. Mr. B was a sweet, sweet boy, and I will miss him terribly. But I know my Lucky has met Mr. B at the Bridge, and they are running together right now! Thank you to everyone here....you all have offered so much information and support over the last four months....I will never forget all your kindness. Sally and Bentley (RIP 10-29-11)

Sally Louisiana

My heart hurts for Sally and your family, as my eyes fill with tears, I couldn't ask for a better picture of his last moments with you. May the LORD who created MB keep his loving arms around you during this time of loss. Blessings, Cindi & Tori Girl

Cindi FL

Sally, I am so saddened to hear this news. Please accept my deepest sympathies on your loss. When you feel up to it, I urge you to visit the Loss & Grief page at the Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Web site: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/loss.htm This page was written with input from those who have lost their dogs to AIHA/IMHA and contains many resources that will be very helpful to you during these most difficult days. Once again, my deepest sympathies to you on your loss.

Joanne MN

My most sincere and heartfelt condolences. Best wishes to you and your family as you grieve over the loss of a departed loved one. I do truly believe that all dogs do indeed go to Heaven. Robert and Maggie

RobertN Superior

Please accept my deepest condolences in the loss of you Mr B, he will be missed by all of us and he certainly has touched many of us that have never had the privilege of meeting him. As our pets caregivers sometimes we have to decide what is best for them no matter how hard it is for us to go on without them and you had the love and courage to what was best for Mr B. He has left a beautiful paw print on your heart and his spirit will be with you until you meet again. Sending hugs and prayers to you and your family Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger

Oh Sally, NO! I am so Sorry for your Tremendous Loss. My Heart Aches for you. Hugs.

Kathy Calif.

Thank you all for your kind words.....the house is strangely empty, even with my two pups here, and my kids visiting. It is so odd not to be watching the clock to give Bentley his meds on time. Coincidentally, he was diagnosed four months ago today....he fought bravely for a long time, without ever complaining. The hole in my heart is huge, and the pain is raw right now. But I know from experience that the hurt will ease, and the wonderful memories will help me smile when I think of Mr. B. My prayers to all of you and your furbabies still fighting the fight. Sally

Sally Louisiana

Dear Sally My heart goes out to you & your family. Mr B's journey was a lot like Lyndi's. But I know you did everything possible for him, especially making that last final decision. I KNOW both our babies are healed & happy at the Rainbow Bridge waiting for us. You will be in my thoughts & prayers. Margaret

Margaret SW Pa

I'm so sorry to hear about Mr. B. It's not fair that they fight and get better but then can still relapse.

Monet Sammamish

Please accept my deepest sympathy on your loss of Mr. B. No one else could have ever taken better care of a dog afflicted with this horrible disease and all the while offering empathy and advice to those of us in need. Pat and Lola

Pat New Jersey

Sally, I am so sorry that your Mr. B has lost the fight. I am glad that you were able to to be outside with him and can remember the blue sky and sunshine as he made his way to the bridge. He is with a lot of very brave strong dogs and I know he will be there to greet you someday. Take care Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Thank you all so much....for those of you whose furbabies have lost the fight, I grieve along with you. For those of you still in the fight, I pray for your little ones, for strength and comfort and success. This is an awful illness, and I also pray one day the docs find a cure. Sally and Bentley (Over the Bridge 10-29-11)

Sally Louisiana

Sally, We are still in so much pain, Our Thoughts continue with you! http://youtu.be/WVt1pD0sT0k

Kathy Crestline

Kathy, That was absolutely magical....thank you so much for sharing it with me. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as well! Sally

Sally Louisiana

Sally, I'm so sorry to hear about your lose. There is nothing that I can say that will make it better. It is 2 months today that I lost my Dufy and my heart still hurts so much. We went and picked out an other Standard Poodle puppy a awhile back and went to pick him up thursday and ended up coming home with him and one of his brothers. Boy do we have our hands full. It doesn't help with the pain of Dufy being gone but it sure is keeping me busy. Now I have two of them to worry about and hope they live a long and healthy life. So so sorry Sally. Connie

Connie Washington

Connie, I remember when you lost your Dufy....I know you still hurt for him, as I will for Bentley for a very long time. God bless you as you make new friendships with these two little ones....may they have long, happy lives! Sally and Bentley (Over the Bridge 10-29-11)

Sally Louisiana

Connie, I believe that you lost Dufy right before we lost our Little Lucky. It will be 2 Mos. Nov. 5th. but still seems and feels like it was yesterday. Now Sally and Poor Bentley. :( We were "Lucky" to have our little one for 8 mos. after she was diagnosed. Her quality of Life was terrible the last 4 mos. and we were so upset to find out that we had her on an aspirin Regimen since the first week and it was the Blood Clot that ended her life. We still have Roller coasters in our lives but now they are emotional ones. We ask ourselves, Why, What did we do wrong, What did we not do right, What did we miss, What if, what if, What if? I wonder at times if we were prolonging her life due to us being selfish? For so long, she didn't want to let go. That little one sure loved life and fought for hers until the end. She stared my Husband in the eyes with so much Trust, Love and Hope the night that he held her, as the doctor shaved her leg for her final shot. Her life ended, staring him in the eyes. We feel now that we were doing all of this for us and not for her? It was a Roller Coaster ride when she was with us. We are still on the ride. Maybe a slower one but definitely still on one. To the People that are battling this "Terrible Disease" with your Babies. Don't give up hope. There are success story's . This site proves that. The Specialist said that Our Little Lucky was the worse case that she had ever dealt with. She never responded to the Blood Transfusions, the different Medicines Etc. She was on the High doses of everything for the last 6 mos. of her life. They were never able to reduce her meds. Like Our daughter kept telling us since Christmas when Lucky was diagnosed, "Where there's Life, There's Hope." Lucky's Little Girl was born on Christmas Day. Lucky was acting different last Christmas, and rushed in. We were told of the Disease on the 28th. RIP Lucky, We Miss you more than words can say.

Kathy Calif.

Kathy, I remember all of Lucky's story....how you rescued her, and all you did for her while you had her. You did nothing wrong....you made the best choices with the information you had. You were wonderful guardians, and she knew how much you loved and cared for her. You gave her a chance at life, like we did for Bentley, and they enjoyed their last few months with their families. Like your case, our specialist told us Saturday that he felt Bentley did not have a straightforward case of only IMHA, but a more complex lupus-like condition....it simply would not respond to the medications. His HCT, with only one tiny reduction, had dropped from 34 down to 24 in 10 days, and from 30 to 24 in two days. He simply couldn't fight anymore. His case sounds VERY similar to Lucky's.....I believe we BOTH did what was best for our pups at the end. Now, I think those two pups are up there running, playing, and wagging those tails, and want us to be happy, like they are....I'll keep your family in my thoughts and prayers, and hope Lucky's little girl feels a bit better each day. Sally and Bentley (Over the Bridge 10-29-11)

Sally Louisiana

Dear Sally I sent you an email as I can not post from home, but as I can from work, I want to send my heartfelt condolences on the sad news about Bentley. Im so sorry, such a sad time, and you have worked so hard to keep him here, like many of us do. I wish you the best Silka

Silka Australia

Sally I am so desperately sad for your loss - I hadn't realised about your sad news until just now - I have tears in my eyes for you. Thinking of you and praying you remember the happiness and joy your dear Bentley brought to you. Love and prayers, Lu & Millie x

Lu UK

Silka and Lu, Thank you both so much......I am very sad for me, but so glad Bentley is out of pain now....and I think he was hurting in the end. I am just beginning to smile a bit at his memories, through the tears. All my best to those still in the fight, Sally and Mr. B (Over the Bridge 10-29-11)

Sally Louisiana

Sally, I am so sorry to hear of Bentleys passing, you did your best for him, but now he is running over the bridge pain free. Laurie and Wylie

Laurie CA

Oh Sally, i have not been on the sight for a few weeks and something told me to log on today, i was shocked and saddened to hear about your beloved Bentley -- i am so sorry for your loss but so grateful for all the wisdom and advice you have offered all of us on this sight. This disease is a horrible one and i am hopeful one day someone will discover a treatment that will stop it in it's tracks. My your saddness be buffered with the knowledge that even though you lost your loved Bentley your advice has impacted and helped numerous other owners going through this same illness. God Bless,

charlie

charlie, Thanks so much for your kind words....this disease is indeed a horrific one, also suffered by humans. I didn't know that until just recently! I certainly hope researchers find a cure one day very soon. Sally and Bentley (over the Bridge 10-29-11)

Sally Louisiana

This thread was discussed between 29/10/2011 and 05/11/2011

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