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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Eternal Gratitude
| I originally posted this on my Tears for Brandy thread, but wanted to be sure everyone saw it. This morning was horrific as we took Brandy for cremation. I snipped some of her soft, silky hair and have her collar she always wore. Soon I will have her back in a beautiful wooden engraved remembrance urn. That said, I can't even begin to express the gratitude for the love you all have shown for Brandy and my family. This site has truly saved my sanity and soothes my soul. The heart-felt thoughts, prayers and poems are helping me refocus on the beautiful, proud and sweet girl Brandy was. The pain is deep and profound but healing begins. Don't stop being there for everyone and I hope to continue here as well. I am looking into some good books on pet loss, does anyone have a favorite recommendation? God Bless to one and all and especially to our best friends both here and those who are angels in heaven. |
| sharon and brandy pa |
| Dear Sharon -- Yes, Brandy will always be with you. She has a piece of your heart, and you have such wonderful memories. Sometimes it is hard to think of the the beautiful memories when there is still so much pain from losing your beloved dog to this disease, but that poem is right. We need to celebrate the lives of our dear dogs and be grateful for the time we had together -- our loving relationships with our dogs are one of God's blessings. This forum has been invaluable to me as I have coped with my grief at losing my dear beagle, Wiley, to IMHA in May 2005. I find a lot of comfort here, because everyone understands how difficult it is to fight this disease and many know the pain of losing the fight. I hope you remain active with us. I can recommend two books and a website. Dr. Wallace Sife wrote a book, The Loss of a Pet, to help cope with his grief after losing his own dear dachsund suddenly in 1987. He's a psychologist, and he learned that there were very few resources available to grieving pet owners. He also founded the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) at aplb.org, and it provides lots of help. There's a reading list and various chat rooms held throughout the week staffed by pet bereavement counselors. There's also a memorial page -- you can see Dr. Sife's memorials to his dogs, and I posted a memorial there for Wiley. Another book that helped me was Goodbye, Friend by Gary Kowalski, who is a minister. I also recommend that you begin a journal to help you keep your memories of your life with Brandy. You will find that your entries are a mixture of happiness and sadness, smiles and tears, but the entire process helps you to "talk" about your loss and your memories, and I found that comforting. My husband grieved for Wiley too, but people grieve differently, and I found that I needed more than an occasional talk with him, so the journal filled, and continues to fill, a void. Please take care. |
| Brenda VA |
| Sharon, Also, there are some wonderful resources available online through Colorado State- they have a pet hospice as well as a grief and loss support program. Here is the link: http://www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu/grief.htm Our love and thoughts are with you. All we can really do with this disease during and sadly after is just take it one day at a time. With love, Melissa and Tiggs |
| melissa slc |
This thread was discussed between 11/08/2008 and 12/08/2008
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