Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Martha (Codie Rae) shared that poem with me when my Happy Hannah crossed over . It help me realize I wasn't crazy and that others understood.
Like Alison, I took sseveral days off work because I could not...COULD NOT. Stop crying uncontrollably. Right now it seems impossible to believe you can ever get through this...that the grief will dissipate some. It's impossible to believe that tomorrow could hurt you more than today, but it will. The grief will lessen, but not anytime soon...and not soon enough.
I don't remember any "strategy" I used to get through the darkest days and nights. Sometimes it brought me moments of comfort to look at her pictures and videos, sometimes it brought me to my knees with sad ess. I remember trying to do it alone without the support of the community and trying not to share my grief.....I was going to make the post about her transition and must try and "handle it". That lasted about two seconds!!
Stay connected.....keep coming here....as Alison said, we are all clpser together as a result of shared grief.....we love you and we love Ruby. She will NEVER be forgotten here!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
It hurts... dang straight it does.. and we feel lost... overwhelmed... empty... tired and don't want to talk to anyone, we just want to sit and hold their favourite toy and cry.. we want to put our face into their bed or blanket and inhale deep because we can smell them... we smile for a brief moment and then cry uncontrollably because it hurts like f&*^K!
And you konw what? That's ok! Don't let anyone ever tell you it's not. We know it's okay... cause we've been there... done that... and we have gotten through it. You will too... it just takes time to get to that stage.. and that time is different for everyone. I've always said.. when you love hard, you grieve hard.. otherwise, you just wouldn't have really cared in the first place.
I feel sorry for people who have not experienced the bond that we have had with our furkids... and how lucky you were to have experienced that bond with Ruby! She loved you to the very last heart beat when suddenly she opened her eyes and felt that golden warm sun shining on her face and fur... she inhaled deep and savoured the sweet smelling grass that was fresh on her paws... and as she looked to the right, she saw the clearest, crisp, most thirst quenching, fresh water that she has ever laid eyes on.. And as she stood up, she was strong.. she inhaled deeply again and she had no pain, her lungs were strong and her tongue lolled out the side of her mouth as she looked around at all those furkids coming to greet her with happy smiles on their faces.
They showed her around.... told her why she was there.. and that one day, she would again be with those she loved. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you are going there anytime soon!! You see... time is different there... what is years and years here, only seems like weeks there... so she knows that she will see you again one day! Until then.. she'll be spending her time hanging with the other furkids, digging into the never ending supply box of milkbones, pig ears and deer poop! She'll have tennis balls galore, squeaky toys whenever she wants and she will let you know that she is ok. She will let you know that you will be okay too...
Because you have her in your heart... always will. There's a door with her pawprint on it. Nothing can take that away. Not even that effing cancer...
Cancer is so limited
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.
and it will never, ever take away to love you had for Ruby. Never.
It will get easier... and you will smile more.. and yes.. your cheeks will get wet from the memories... and that's ok.
Keep in touch.. share Ruby's stories from the past.. her funny adventures, her quirks, her bad habits, her embarassing moments.. and let us laugh along with you and smile too!
Christine... with Franklin in her heart♥
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
As always Christine, your description of the Bridge couldn't be more real. You make us believe. You take us there.
You are a beautiful soul.
Ruby will always be with us.
Love
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thank you all for your sweet words and support. Yesterday was two weeks and I still miss my girl.
I have cried a little bit everyday but getting stronger as the days go on.
Today she told me she was okay. I have been praying for a sign she was okay and today I got one.
My husband and I were outside waiting for my dad to stop by to pick something up. (My dad has helped take care of Ruby since her amputation last year. He filled in when we had to be gone all day or if we were out of town. He and Ruby quickly had a special bond). Right when he left it was raining but the sun was shining. As he drove away the rain stopped and my husband and I looked up and there was a beautiful rainbow. Within minutes it was gone.
Ruby was the most loving and loyal friend, but always had her own agenda. In Ruby nature the rainbow came and went... She is too busy to stay anywhere for too long.
My heart is full. My heart is calm. I miss my girl, but she is okay. She told us.
Keep visiting sweet girl. We love you and miss you.
I wish I could show you all the picture of the beautiful rainbow. It was perfect.
Hugs to all. Xxoo - Laina
Oh gosh Laina! Happy Hannah and Ruby must be having a ball together at the Bridge painting Rainbows! Happy Hannah took her own sweet time se ding me a sign, but after o e year and six weeks she sent me a sign through a Rainbow! (Check under Tripawds Alumni thread).
Ruby sent a very Ruby specific" rainbow to you! The fact that it appeared as your Dad was driving away and that it was so brief...yeah, she was giving you and wink and a nod that everything was okay! She made it plain that she is with you!
And good for Ruby for not making you wait for over a year to connect with you!!
I KNOW Ruby's lpving energy was all wrapped up in that Rainbow and she knew you'd "get her message" I'm so happy for you.
And thank you so much for sharing this with us. Be sure and make a note in a little journal abojt the Ruby's Rainbow...the date, the time, the circumstances. It will be so interesting to see how else she communicates!
Surrounding you with Ruby's eternal grace
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
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Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Laina that is such a beautiful image you painted! I can see that rainbow now, and beautiful Ruby romping around with all her pals at the Bridge. What a blessing to know she is looking out for you as always.
{{{{hugs}}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
It sounds like all our sweet Angels up there at the Bridge decided this month was the month to send their humans back on Earth some very special signs. I received a sign from my special boy on June 2nd which was his Ampuversary date (I've been waiting for almost a year for one) when my Leland protected me from hitting my current boy Lucian with my car. Sally finally got a sign from her wonderful Happy Hannah through a rainbow. And Ruby sending you a beautiful rainbow as well...amazing!
Maybe June won't be as horrible of a month as I've been dreading (Leland passed on 6/30/14) if those special Angels keep sending us signs letting us know they're still with us always.
Come on you sweet Angels put down those chew toys and step away from munching on all those wonderful goodies and send us some more special signs. We sure could use them down here!!! We're off to a fantastic start and it's only June 4th...plenty of time for more wonderful signs!
Sahana and her Angel Leland
November 17, 2009 - June 30, 2014
May you finally be healthy and running free at the Rainbow Bridge. Until we meet again my sweet boy!
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