Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Kent has gone to the Bridge

Dear Friends, My dear brave Kent has gone to the Rainbow Bridge. He fought AIHA and IMT for two years, and he won. HE won. He did not die from this disease, nor did he relapse. He developed kidney disease, and his numbers were not good, but he did not die from this disease either. He was a fighter, a trooper, and a brave brave soul. He developed an enlarged heart, and a mass next to it which was not there two months ago but showed up yesterday on xrays. We believe there was another in his throat, because he would not eat, though he ate a little for me yesterday, to make me feel better i think. We asked him to be here with us for Christmas, and he was. He ate two plates of roast pork, and enjoyed every morsel. This would turn out to be his last real meal, but I did not know it then. The last two days he seemed to be suffocating, and could not move to make himself comfortable. He seemed to be constantly choking, or recovering from choking. He did not have pneumonia, or any other lung problems, though he started having problems with his nose and throat a month ago - i thought he had a cold, but now believe he developed virulent tumors, probably throughout his little body. He was losing half a pound a day, going from a high on pred of 35 pounds, to 25 pounds yesterday. He had more love in his life than most people do throughout theirs, and he was loved and cherished to the end and beyond. He had a peaceful passing, and I believe was ready to go. He and I are grateful for the support, encouragement, and lessons learned on this forum. He has asked me to donate his medicine to someone on need - we have cyclosporine, imuran, and more. If someone is reading this, there is a little schnauzer who would like to help a dog in need. We have had our financial difficulties with this disease, but i always believed somehow we would make it, and we always did, and he ALWAYS had what he needed, and more. Please hug your little ones a little extra for me today. Christine and Kent

Christine Florida

Dear Christine, I am so sorry. Kent held on for so long. You did so much to make his life full of fun and love. Schnauzers are very tenacious and like to be in charge of everything. Since he could no longer fulfill this role on earth he has decided to go to Heaven and throw his weight around there. I can be very sure he is straightening things out right now. With great love, Patrice

Patrice NYS

Dear Christine & Family I am so deeply sorry for the loss of you fur baby Kent. I do remember seeing your posts when I found this forum when Ginger was first diagnosed and Kent was one of the survivors that I read about that really gave us hope. I do feel your pain as I know how hard it is to have lost a loved one and I hope in time your tears will be replaced by happy memories. With deep sadness, Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Christine: I am so sad to hear of Kent's passing. You are right though, HE won! Prayers and hugs to you.

Courtney SLO

sorry to hear about this Christine :( blessings to Kent

Josh California

Dear Christine: I am truly sorry for your loss; I know its hard. I loss my 8yr old mini schnauzer very suddenly to AIHA the day before Thanksgiving. Its been tough. But, by the Grace of God, I will make it and You will too. I am a believer, and I do put all things in his hands; for I know, he will sustain us, And everything will be ok again. Keep the Faith. Take CAre. Karen R

Karen R Augusta

Christine, Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time in loosing Kent. How wonderful that he got to eat his Christmas dinner roast pork, it is funny how they so love their food. I often think of Holly when she first got sick, and even having seizures and falling down, her appetite never left her. Sometimes I think eating food is the main purpose in her life, HA! You were such a good Mom to him and he will always know that even at the bridge. We will always keep you and him in our thoughts and prayers. Linda

Linda Sapphire

Christine -- I am so sorry to hear that your dear Kent is gone, but he went out a winner! He beat IMHA and he fought hard against other things. And he had you for his Mom. I am so grateful that you had your two extra years with him, despite IMHA, and that he stayed with you until Christmas. Then he knew he, and you, could let go. Please take care and let us know how you're doing.

Brenda VA

Christine, I have followed Kent's story since the beginning. I am glad that you got an extra few years with him. I am sorry you had to let him go but I know what a good doggy Mom you were and it was because of that you knew when to say good-bye. I am sure all the good memories you have will help you through this awful time. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

christine, this is so crushing...I'm so sorry for the loss of Kent. I can't believe he had been through so much. What an amazing dog. Our thoughts will be with you. melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

Christine, I'm so sorry for your loss of Kent. Since I recently lost my Brandi I was happy to read that Kent beat Evans Syndrome. I'm sure he was a spoiled little guy. Somehow it just doesn't seem right to beat one thing and then something else comes along and takes them from us. Like others have said, there is supposed to be a reason, one day hopefully we'll get an answer that will make sense. In the meantime just hold all your memories inside your heart where Kent lives on and NO ONE can take that from you. Not AIHA, IMT or cancer! I too have Atopica 100mg, 25mg of Azathioprine and pred if anyone needs them. Brandi would be more than happy to join Kent in donating them to a precious dog in need. Teresa

Teresa OK

Dear Christine, I am very sorry to read about Kent. He really did win, he triumphed over terribly difficult physical conditions and he won a life full of love and happiness with you. Take care of yourself now and I wish you comforting memories of your boy. --Aden

Aden Jerusalem

Very sorry to hear about Kent - he sounded a real fighter to the end. Glad he enjoyed his last meal - please try not to feel too bad - you did everything you could with his AIHA, IMT and then his cancer and he was loved. You were the best doggie mum to him. Clare and Millie

Clare Fox and Millie

I am so sorry to read of your brave little trooper's death. How grand that he beat AIHA!

Sandra Texas

Dear Friends, Thank you all so much for your kind words of condolence and comfort - i cant tell you how much this means to me. Some time ago i posted Kent's flikr page, and I am doing so again, so that some of you who have never met him can do so. He was a unique being, and he remains with me in my heart and my memories. http://www.flickr.com/photos/25224268@N03/ Though I have not been on the list much in this last year while Kent's AIHA/IMT was under control, we were active on the kidney lists, because that was main concern since last February. It is so ironic that neither of these diseases are what took him away from us, but rather a mass that just came out of nowhere in the last few weeks. I will be coming back to this list when I am ready, and I will try to share with those beginning the AIHA rollercoaster what I learned over the last two years. Right now, my grief is raw, and I have not been able to stop thinking of him every minute of each day. Thank you all again, Christine, and Angel Kent, my love.

Christine Fl

I feel for you in this time of sorrow. I too lost my 15 month old pup Shea less than two weeks ago to this horrible disease. I was looking at your pictures of Kent and it made me smile when I saw the pictures of him & his teddy bear. My Shea had a favorite monkey that we intrduced to her the first day she came home with us. It was her buddy. I don't want to wash it now, for fear that her smell will forever be gone. I know it's silly but you cling to whatever you can I guess. Just know that you are not alone. Love & hugs, Irene

Irene Arizona

Dear Irene -- it's not silly to want to hold on to Shea's smell forever, or to at least try. We do whatever helps us to live through the grief and hold onto the memories, and we're answerable to no one. I still have my sweet Wiley's felt blanket that I've never washed, nor have I washed the covers on her beagle bag beds, including the one on which she drew her last breath. I think I can still smell her on the dog beds, and it is such a comfort when I need it.

Brenda VA

Hi Christine Thank you for sharing those pictures of Kent he is a handsome guy and he had a wondful life. Those photos of him made me smile and in time your tears will turn to smiles of happy memories of Kent. Believe me you will get through this, it just takes time and lots of it. May God give you the strenght to help you get through this difficult time. Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Christine, I'm so sorry for you loss of Kent. I know it must be so hard for you but you are so right.. he was a trooper and he did beat this thing.. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Kim and Spencer

Kim Ny

Christine, I am sorry for your loss. Sounds like he had a life filled with happiness and love, what a lucky fellow! Amy

amy texas

So sorry to hear about Kent.

Dorri

This thread was discussed between 30/12/2008 and 04/01/2009

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