Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - What a difference two weeks makes

First of all I want to thank everyone who sent me kind caring wishes, either here on the forum or via email after the death of our most beloved Maddie, two weeks ago today. Maddie’s death was so sudden that it left both David and I in shock. As I visited with some of my friends over the first day or so I said that I had no plans to get another dog right away, in fact I said the only way I would get another dog soon was is if I would be outside and the dog would fall from heaven into my arms. However over the next day or so I could barely stand the quiet in the house or the pain of not having a dog to talk to and care for. I did many of the things I suggest on the Loss & Grief page at the Meisha’s Hope Web site, including making a donation to the Meisha’s Hope Fund at MAF to put Maddie on the Pet Memorial Wall there and plant a tree in our yard in her memory. We bought a lovely tree that will turn bright red in the fall (just like our gal was) and had a little ceremony and planted it. I visited with my local humane society and told them what I was looking for in terms of a dog and tried to live my life without a dog. But the pain of not having a canine companion was just so intense. Finally one night as David and I sat outside I said we HAVE to find a dog. We went online to petfinders.com and started searching humane societies within the state of MN. After hours of searching we came upon a dog who looked a lot Meisha and whose name was Maggie. David and I looked at each other in disbelief. We decided that we wanted this dog but it was late evening and the shelter did not open until 11 the next morning. The plan was to call as soon as they opened to see if Maggie was still available. However we slept very little and were up at 4 AM. Later, we decided to take a chance she was still available and so loaded a crate and leash in the van and took off on the 75 mile trip arriving soon before the shelter opened. To our delight this dog was still available and we adopted her. She is a 1 year old spayed female who is up-to-date on all vaccinations, housetrained, playful and just wonderful. Monday we took Maggie to see our vet and he pronounced her healthy, happy and beautiful. We ran a series of tests on her including CBC, full chem. Panel, heartworm test, full thyroid panel to Michigan State University, and stool sample. We ran all these tests so we will have “baselines” in case of any type of illness. This is something we have done with all our newly adopted dogs after Meisha’s illness. There may be some who say I adopted another dog too quickly after Maddie’s death, but then perhaps they don’t know me or what is in my heart. As my friend, Lanette, said “hey we are ‘dog people’ and we need a dog. “ So no Maggie did not drop from heaven, but I truly feel our match was made in heaven. Maggie has had a few tough months, she has been in 2 different humane societies in the last 3 months after being adopted by people who were not able or willing to care for her properly. I truly believe she needs me as much as I need her. You can see a photo of our new gal wearing a Meisha’s Hope Bandanna on the Bandanna photo page at the MH Web site: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/bandannaphotos.htm

Joanne MN

Joanne, I think your girls picked out the perfect dog for you and set things in motion. Maggie is adorable and I am so happy she has found her forever home. Hugs Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Joanne - Congratulations on the addition of Maggie to your family (she is darling!). She is one lucky girl to have found her forever home with you and I'm sure she will bring much comfort and joy to your household. All the best, Bonnie

Bonnie Chicago

Joanne, thanks so much for sharing your story with us. I don't think there's a set "right" time to get another dog after the loss of a beloved pet. We don't stop loving one dog just because we have added another. The wonderful thing is that our hearts just expand enough to love them all. I myself can't imagine this house without dogs - it would be excruitiatingly empty and quiet. I'm glad you found Maggie both for your sake, and also for hers. Maggie has landed well because she'll have a happy and wonderful life with you and your husband. Take care and thanks once again for your story. deb and Duck

Debbie BC Canada

Joanne...Joanne.....Joanne!!! I, for one, knew it would not take long. I do not know what gave me chills more, the name Maggie or the picture of your sweet girl. What a doll! Your three beautiful gals at the Bridge would not have wanted you to have a void in your heart.In my opinion, Maggie was sent to you at the perfect time. Maggie is not a replacement.....she is a terrific new addition. Enjoy your girl!!! Much love, Teresa

Teresa va

Congrats. She is adorable. Only you know when it's time to love again. I'm very happy for you and your family. Here's to many years of love for your knew pup :)

Mardi Northern Cali

WOW!!! Maggie is a beautiful girl, and so blessed and lucky to have found such wonderful, amazing doggie parents. You have opened your hearts and homes, and to a shelter pup- these dogs need us the most! Maggie may not have fallen from heaven, but our kids at the bridge have a wonderful way of showing us the way when we need it the most. I agree with Debbie, our hearts just grow bigger to love them all. Bravo and congratulations, she is simply gorgeous!

melissa slc

Joanne, I am so sorry for the passing of Maddie. You post made me cry as well as smile. I am so glad that you opened your heart to a new wonderful dog...Maggie is freaking ADORABLE!! You never can adopt a dog too quickly....I swear they find you and speak to you to say, "helllloooo look at me". Maggie has a new start in life and has found a wonderful home with you! Wendi

Wendi Ohio

How fortunate is this new dog???? First off, thank you so much for adopting from a shelter. There are soooooooo many wonderful pets that need homes. I believe that Maggie was placed there just for you and David to find. There are no accidents when these dogs "find us"! I wish you and your Hubby many, many, many years of joy and love from Maggie. Sue & Ren

Susie delaware

Joanne and David Congratulations to the new beautiful addition to your family, Maggie will never replace your girls but will only enhance your lives just as each and every one has done in the past. When I lost Macauley I still had Phoebe to bury my head in and grieve - she is what pulled me through those very dark days and I know that Maggie will be the sticking plaster on your hearts. She is stunning and I hope she stays fit and healthy and that you will keep us informed of your new girls' progress. Love and best wishes to you and yours Kind regards Gill & Phoebe

gill uk

Joanne So pleased for you and I can understand how you couldn't turn down that cute face and yes she does have a look of Meisha off her.Please God you have a long healthy happy life together and she's a fitting tribute to Meisha and Maddie!! You so deserve happiness, with all that you have given to the dogs that have come through this awful disease due to you imparting knowledge and comfort through your website and this forum to us owners. Enjoy her! Kathleen and Nollaig

Kathleen North Ayrshire

Dear Joanne and David, Congratulations on your new girl! She looks fantastic and happy. Who would not be happy living with you? I like the idea of doing baseline testing. I will certainly do that with my next dog and get insurance at the same time. After loosing two dogs in one year I thought, I can't do this any more, maybe I stick with goldfish and don't name them. 2 months later a dog at the shelter sat on my foot! Maggie coming to you was sure meant to be and I wish you many happy years together! Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Joanne- Congratulations on the new addition to your family...

Josh California

A BIG congratulations from us too!!! We are so happy you have new furbaby and extra happy you got her from the SPCA. Maggie will have some big paws to fill but by the looks of her photo she is ready for the challenge. Maggie is a cutie! Her name even began with the letter M, it must have been meant to be. Sending Hugs to your and your Maggie Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Hi Joanne, Maggie is so adorable - dog people need dogs and dogs need us... Dogs are the best medicane.. I am sure you will have a long and happy time together.. Samantha

Samantha Perth Australia

What a beautiful girl she is!!! Congratulations on your newest family member and may you enjoy many, many, many years with her. Linda

Linda Sapphire

Congratulations, Joanne. She is beautiful, and the resemblance to Meisha is interesting. She deserves a chance for a wonderful life with a loving family, and I wish you, David, and Maggie all the best.

Brenda VA

She is adorable. After her bad start she will be so loved. Congratulation to you both.

Julie Australia

Joanne, she is adorable, and you are right!! Dog people need Dogs!! doodle hugs carol and charlie i need to get one of those bandannas

Carol Vacnouver Wa

Joanne and David: Congratulations on the addition of Maggie to your family! Sometimes I think heaven nudges us in the direction we need to go. May you have many happy years together. Rita, Mike and Sheba

Rita IA

Welcome home Maggie, you are a very lucky girl! Congrats Joanne, you will get no judgement from me, I am surprised you made it two weeks LOL. I think the longest I have gone is 2.5 months, but that is only because there were always 2 other dogs. blessings, Julie

Julie IL

What a BEAUTIFUL girl! She's simply adorable! I too can't imagine life without a dog around. At our age now, our dog is our *kid*. We LOVE dogs! Congratulations Joanne! Mrs. Gates

Mrs. Gates Michigan

Congratulations David, Joanne and Maggie, you know Joanne that your girls Meisha and Maddie got together and said "Mom needs an M girl," and look what they sent you! Maggie is so beautiful and resembles her sister in heaven Meisha. She is one lucky dog and I truly believe it was not luck that brought you this girl, your other girls put their stamp of approval on this one and sent YOU MAGGIE. Enjoy! Enjoy! and Love! and Love! you were made for each other. love to you and David. and a smooch for a lovely pooch! Dolores

Dolores Wi

Dear Joanne, Maggie is beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on adopting her - all of you sound very lucky to have found one another. I don't believe in "one size fits all" approaches. Some folks need to adopt a dog right away; others need to wait. You did what is right for you, David, and Maggie. And that is reason for joy and congratulations. Here is wishing all of you good health and many years of good times together. Hugs to you, Aden

Aden Jerusalem

She is georgeous and this was certainly not luck or chance, it was fate, it was meant to be. Maggie was sent to you. A dog that looks like Meisha and with a name similar to Maddie? It was no coincidence it was a little wave from heaven. It was meant to be and I am sure Meisha and Maddie had their paws in this one. Good luck and enjoy her Kath

Kath Scotland

Joanne, Congratulations on your new addition! I know what you mean about it being lonely without a dog. They just add so much to our lives. She is one lucky girl! Chris & Alex

Chris Pa

Joanne, Congratulations i am so very happy for you. I pretty much had a similar thing happen to me. I adopted a beautiful little boy a Tri colour Maltese Sh*tzhu only a week after my precious little girl Belle was put to sleep. My heart was so empty and filled with heart break that when i say "Charlie" i knew he was meant to be with me. Some people raised their eyebrows and said "it's a bit early isn't it" and they were also the same people who told me "why put Belle through this awful fight of her life with AIHA". I know in my heart Belle and i fought hard to keep her here but in the end her liver and pancreas could not fight the side effects of the medication. She only had the disease for 11 weeks, but her illness has changed me forever. I wish you and Maggie many, many, many years of happiness and health, with all our love Effie and Charlie. Our new babies were just meant to be.

Effie Melbourne Australia

Some of you that havent been on this forum for a long time may not know that Joanne also had another "M" girl named Margo. That's why when I first read her post, I got the chills. Wow, tell me that's wasnt meant to be! So, it was the legend herself Meisha, Margo, Maddie, and now Maggie. Joanne, were there any "M's" prior to Meisha? I would love to get Rocky a bandana but he just had surgery for laryngeal paralysis and is no longer allowed to wear anything around his neck. I may just have to get one just to have it.....they are too cute and your Maggie wears it so well!!!! I just had to look at that link again because all the pooches look so adorable and stylish!! Melissa-Tiggs looks absolutely wonderful and healthy! Teresa

Teresa va

Teresa, It is good to see you on here. I had no idea you even followed this forum any more until I saw your recent posts. To answer your question, yes there was an M before Meisha, she was Molly. So there has been 5 M's so far, Molly, Meisha, Margo, Maddie and Maggie, all females, all adopted from humane societies/shelters. Sorry to hear about Rocky's surgery.I do hope he is doing well. One doesn't have to have a dog to get a Meisha's Hope Bandanna. So far two people with no dogs at the current time have made donations for Bandannas. Both of these people plan to give at least one of the Bandannas away and keep one just for themselves. Every single penny from these Bandannas goes to the Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 at Morris Animal Foundation to sponsor studies on Canine AIHA/IMHA: http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/special-campaigns/meishas-hope/ Just as an added note, I updated the Bandanna photo page last night so it now includes photos of Brigitte's Kahlu and Ripley as well as another dog named Lexi. Lexi's human "aunt" , Meg is one of the first people I met when this forum was started nearly 12 or 13 years ago. We have remained friends through all those years and communicate on a weekly basis. Meg is just another blessing in my life that happened as a result of Meisha's illness. The following URL will take you to the Bandanna photo page to view the new photos: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/bandannaphotos.htm

Joanne MN

This thread was discussed between 12/08/2009 and 16/08/2009

Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) forum index

This thread is from the Vetnet archive. The live Vetnet forum is active now.