Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - RIP Misty..You were a great dog

Our Misty had to be put down today and we are all so numb....Believe it or not it was not the imha that killed her. I woke up this morning and it looked like she swallowed a beach ball. I rushed her to the vet and it turned out that she had bloat(her stomach twisted in her body) Apparantly this had nothing to do with the imha...She was responding so positively to the meds and she came back to us in the last couple of days,she was truly on her way to be the same loving happy dog that we once knew...I was supposed to bring her in tomorrow to get her pcv checked again...I am still in total shock but I have to say that seeing her as sick as she was last week,made me appreciate her more than I have her whole entire life..Don't get me wrong,I loved her to death but when she got sick and i slept on the floor with her all week,i just prayed that she would get better and we would have our dog back...She got better and I thought it was a miracle but I have to believe that it was her time to go...I feel that she became her old self again so we could remember her that way.....My girls and I are devastated and Im not going to lie,this truly sucks,but i do think that if this didn't happen,she would have beat the imha....I want to thank everyone on this blog and tell you how much you guys(total strangers)helped me in this last horrible week and a half.......I will continue to pray for all of the dogs struggling with this....thank you again Cathy

cathy nj

Dear Cathy, I am so sorry to hear what has happened to Misty. I know that special bond you get with a dog (child) when they get sick. Even though you love them to pieces, when they get so seriously sick it makes that bond even stronger. A friend of mine sent me this beautiful poem when Kahlu died. I thought you and your girls would like as much as I do: A butterfly lights beside us Like a sunbeam. And for a brief moment its glory and beauty belongs to our world, But then it flies on again and though we wish it could have stayed we feel so lucky to have seen it. Tresure the good memories and in time your broken heart will heal. With deep sympathy, Brigitte

Brigitte BC Canada

Hi Cathy, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. After waging such an impressive battle with the IMHA, it must be especially heartbreaking to lose your precious Misty to bloat! Owning a breed that is susceptible to this condition, I certainly understand how devestating it can be. My heartfelt condolensces to you and your family. Maureen and Mercedes

Maureen BC Canada

Dear Cathy and family Please accept my heartfelt condolences in the loss of Misty. Your loss is great ...but in time your memories will be greater r.i.p Misty. With Sadness, Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevile PA

Dear Cathy, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss of Misty. I am glad you had the chance to have some final good moments with her, and I am sure too that she would have been an IMHA survivor. Please accept our deepest sympathies on your loss. Run free Misty with all our beloved dogs at the Rainbow Bridge. HUGS, Sam & Millie.

Samantha Geelong Australia

Cathy: We were very sorry to read that Misty passed away. We hope that in time your memories of Misty and all the special things she brought to your family will bring you comfort and eventually smiles. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Rita, Mike and Sheba

Rita IA

Oh my...my heart hurts with you Cathy! So many things can go wrong when dealing with this disease! The secondary threats asscociated with this disease are as deadly as the AIHA is in lots of cases. You've got my deepest sympathies and condolences. HUGS for you Cathy. Run Free Misty Johnny & Tessy

Johnny

So very sorry to hear your awful news. Deepest Sympathies Ronda and Buster

Ronda Illinois

Cathy, I am very sorry to hear of your loss. I'm glad Misty left you with sweet memories. Hugs, Lisa

Lisa Texas

Cathy, I am so very sorry. I am glad you got that brief glimpse of your "old" Misty before the other complications developed. It is so unfair when you think you have beaten the worst complications and then be blindsided by something else. Misty was so lucky to have such a loving family and I hope the better memories help you through this most painful of times. Take care penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Dear Cathy, Im so sorry to hear of the passing of Misty, too sad, and doesnt seem fair at all. Best wishes to all of you. Silka

Silka Melbourne Australia

Just had to share... This is one of the kindest things you may ever see. It is not known who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postalservice. Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words: Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey &Meredith and this note: Dear Meredith, Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.. Love, God

Cindi & Tori PCB

Cindy I am bawling my eyes out!!!! What a wonderful post.

Ronda Illinois

Dear Cathy, I am so so sorry to hear about Misty. I feel that Mikey will help her find her way in the sky, and that we'll see them again some day. Cindi - that is so beautiful. I really have tears in my eyes now. What a wonderful story.

Jen San Francisco

cindi,that was absolutely beautiful,,thank You for sharing it..

cathy nj

This thread was discussed between 24/09/2010 and 29/09/2010

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