Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Sorry, in Honor of Riley, Coco & Kahlu

IF IT SHOULD BE If it should be that I grow weak And pain should keep me from my sleep, Then you must do what must be done, For this last battle cannot be won. You will be sad, I understand. Don't let your grief then stay your hand. For this day, more than all the rest, Your love for me must stand the test. We've had so many happy years. What is to come can hold no fears. You'd not want me to suffer so; The time has come -- please let me go. Take me where my need they'll tend, And please stay with me till the end. Hold me firm and speak to me, Until my eyes no longer see. I know in time that you will see The kindness that you did for me. Although my tail its last has waved, From pain and suffering I've been saved. Please do not grieve -- it must be you Who had this painful thing to do. We've been so close, we two, these years; Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

Linda Sapphire

Linda, You will never know the comfort you have given by sharing that poem..I struggled with whether or not it was the right time and although I know inside it was you can't help but think what if? It is an amazing poem and carrying it in my heart I feel like a might sleep a little tonight. Thank you so much...Kelly

Kelly Redding

Thank You Linda. I will have to safe this poem, because I know this will happen to me again some time. We really have no choice than go with them all the way. I know if they would have to do it for us, they would..... thanks, Brigitte

Brigitte BC Canada

Linda, that is such a beautiful poem. I am in tears reading it but how comforting it is to those who have to make this difficult decision. I am saving this poem. Samantha

Samantha Geelong Australia

Linda, I feel exactly the same way as Kelly. To be honest, I havent known what to do with myself and how I should be feeling and how to manage the grief; I go along ok, but then suddenly break down, and so the cycle goes. Did I do the right thing? If I added the next drug they said might help, would that have been the magic one to turn Riley around? I will never know, though I have confidence in my vet who I had always asked to be honest with me, no matter what the news, as I didnt feel I would always recognise which path to take. Today I received an email from the specialist vet who I travelled a distance for a consult to try to get some better results for Riley - here is the copy: "Dear Silka, I was sad to hear that you have lost Riley, it must have been very hard for you. Although he had a relatively short life, at least he was very happy for the majority of that time and he passed peacefully. I had become very concerned that we were not on top of the immune mediated process and sometimes sadly we are just unable to control the disease despite strong immunosuppression. Unfortunately there is no test at the outset to know whether we will be successful in our immunosuppressive therapy and we just have to try with therapy and see what the response is. Thankyou for letting me know the outcome for Riley, it must have been hard for you to do so. Regards, Linda" Oddly enough, another Linda. :) Thank you for this, it brings comfort at a difficult time. Silka

Silka Melbourne Australia

I just wanted to let you guys know that you are so in our hearts and we feel for you in everyway. I remember about 9 years ago when we lost our first dachshund to kidney failure. She was our very first dog and had raised her from a puppy, she was 13 when she died. Had always been an itcy dog and was on prednisone for a lot of her life. If I only knew then what I know now about the damage the prednisone does to thier little systems, I would have tried harder to help her. I remember so vividly how hard it was to put her to sleep, we cried for weeks, months and most of the year over her loss. It was harder losing her then it was my own father as horrible as that sounds. And then a second dachshund that broke her back and again to sleep she went. And now Holly who has been such a fighter. In time you will look back at all the happy times that you spent with your babies and they will make you smile, but I can tell you that it does take time. We are one big family here and we all feel your pain. Please take care, Love, Linda

Linda Sapphire

Dear Linda You are one very special person! Your post made me cray, grieving for your lost ones. To be honest, I feel so guilty as well as it has been harder losing Riley than it was to lose my mother - not that we were very close, but suddenly Im learning that I can grieve. I dont know, maybe we are meant to go through this to learn something for some peculiar reason, and if you have any doubts, you have learned things because here you are unselfishly helping us with our losses, while you have had your own. Thank you Linda, as I said, you are special, like many others on here. Silka XXXX

Silka Melbourne Australia

Silka, I think losing your best friend to IMHA is very hard to cope with as whilst you have your pet you always hope that something will turn it around, yet the reality is that it is so hard to achieve. They don't look sick, yet they are so very ill. I think you also go through a grieving process from 24/7 watching and caring, that after it is over, you also have to adjust to life without constant watching, hoping, caring, etc. It will get better, the first week or so is definitely the hardest, knowing that the most final decision, is the hardest to do. Take care. Julie.

Julie Australia

Thank you Julie, I am struggling, and my neighbour said much the same as you, as you would know yourself, it is 24/7. Just as I came to the computer I saw Riley's crate beside me here, which is where he used to come and sleep while being close to me. My other dog Bonnie, has not been too far away from me, and we have been for lots of walks together - she has missed out on a lot.

Silka Melbourne Australia

Linda, The poem is beautiful... I lost my babygirl from AIHA on 7-24-09 as I read the poem I thought of her Katie JoJo is her name, Forever in our hearts she shall remain....May I please post this poem on her website? God Bless

Maria midwest_doxie_mom@yahoo.com

Maria, I am so sorry about your loss also of Katie JoJO, was she a doxie, I see that in your email address? Sure you can post on her website, I found it on line under pet poems. What is her website, would love to look at it. Linda

Linda Sapphire

Linda, I use to have it on homestead but was unable to keep it there so I'm rebuilding it thru my internet provider as soon as I get it up and running again I will post the link

Maria midwest_doxie_mom@yahoo.com

God bless Kahlu and Coco and Riley, and to Brigitte, Kelly and Silka and families... ...i am so very very sorry to hear about what has happened here. this is a very tough time, as i know and all of us know, please be aware that everyone is sending out positive thoughts and wishing the best for each of you. your pups were definitely met by a line of friends up in heaven... they got to see Sway and i envy that position, and they are all playing and having a grand old time up in the sky, i envision it that way. you did your best, they know that, although it is so hard to grasp and be ok with... trust me, i'm still struggling with it. but those struggles prove that you have a beating mindful heart and deep compassion and those are the best traits a person can have. Josh & always Sway & (new edition) Neola

Josh California

Hi Josh, it means a lot to hear from you! When i looked into Kahlu's beautiful brown eyes for the last time, I told him he will be met with all these wonderful friends and it will be nothing but fun ad games..... I am so happy to hear you have an other dog. People like you are meant to have dogs! Dogs are not my whole life, but they make my life whole, right? Thanks for your caring words, Best wishes, Brigitte

Brigitte BC Canada

This thread was discussed between 15/01/2010 and 19/01/2010

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