Persie

Deedle, This is so sad. I'm so sorry you have gone through this. I know I'm still crying over my dog Rosie. We got her when she was 11 wks old and she died this past April 26 at the age of 15 yrs. I still shed tears every day for her, and it's been 7 months. I understand completely what you are going through. People who have never loved a pet as a family member just don't understand. I guess we just have to keep thinking that we were blessed to have a fur baby that we loved and loved us so unconditionally. Yes, I am wanting to get another dog but I think I'll wait until summer. Your Tessa was so pretty too. I have Rosie's ashes in a pretty cherry wood box, and I have her paw print in plaster and then framed. It's all in our china cabinet. I know this is tearing you up inside, as it will take awhile. I will never stop missing Rosie, I'm sure you'll always miss Tessa, but we have to accept what has happened and maybe someday it will be easier. I think another pet would be nice for you, but only when you are ready. My Rosie also died suddenly. She got up out of her bed in the morning, we were all up, and suddenly her head jerked to the right, she started laying on the floor going in circle and crying. She was having a stroke. We took her to our vet and she was worse, suffering so much. We had to make the decision to have her put to sleep, it was the worse day of my life. When I think about that day I get sick on the stomach and can't stand the pain. I also try not to think about that day too often. I hope you will find comfort in knowing there are many of us going through this same agony. Keeping busy helps some, but I guess it will take time for the hurt to lessen. Take care of yourself.

hello everyone, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your kind responses. It means a lot to me. I haven't done much for myself, there just doesn't seem to be enough time. I thank God my husband is so good with my mom. He is 62 and is retiring the end of the month. My surgery is on Dec. 29, next week. I am nervous but I can't go on like this using my cane or walker while my mother has a walker too. I was healthy before all this happened. I am 67, to me that's not old. We have many years left, I hope. I am retired, of course, or I wouldn't be able to take care of my mom. I worked 20 years at Kennedy Krieger Institute, hospital for children with disabilities. Before that I worked at Johns Hopkins. As hard as those jobs were, they weren't as hard as being a caregiver. I'd love to hear from any of you. You are all such kind and wonderful people. Thank you all for your support.

Hello, I'm not really new to this site, but I don't get to come on very often. I am going through such a rough patch. The past year and a half my husband and I have been staying with my mom and taking care of her because she had a stroke and has dementia. I seem to cry very easily because we gave up our home, which we lived in for 20 years, to move in with my mother. I feel I lost my real mom due to her dementia. She's beginning to forget I'm her daughter. We also lost our beloved dog Rosie, who we raised from 11 wks old to 15 years old, when she died in April of this year. I fell and broke my hip four months ago while packing up our house, had surgery but it failed and I still can't walk without assistance. I got another doctor's opinion and he will be giving me a hip replacement after Christmas. Two months ago, my husband found out he has prostate cancer, he went in for surgery having the prostate removed. They won't know until February if any of the cancer cells escaped and moved to other parts of the body. It's just one thing after another and I just feel like I'm so afraid of anymore losses. My husband is only 62 and I and 67. We have a lot of good years left, but some days I can't seem to see beyond what is going on now. I also want to get another dog, but it's probably best to wait until after my surgery and things get better. It's quite hard taking care of my mom, but I'm lucky that my husband helps a lot with her. I just needed to vent, not trying to pity myself, just feeling overwhelmed. I know 2016 will be better. thank you

Hello, I know exactly how you feel. I lost my dog Rosie 7 months ago, and it seems like yesterday. We got her when she was 11wks old, and she lived for 15 yrs. This is my first Christmas without her, so I found myself crying my heart out today. I only wish I know when the pain will ease.

Hello, It has been a few months since I've been on here. I feel like I'm at my breaking point some days. My mother had a stroke in May, 2014. My husband and I moved in with her and have our own house up for sale. Since then, our dog of 15 yrs died (last April). I still grieve over her death. Also, my mother now has dementia quite severely. My husband just had his prostate removed because it was full of cancer. The doctors still don't know if it has spread. Three months ago I fell and broke my hip, had surgery but it's still painful and I need to use a cane. My mother needs a lot of care, she cannot walk. Our house is still on the market, full of furniture and things to pack. We are not fully moved into my mother's house yet, but we are here 24/7 to care for her. I guess everything is getting to me now. My husband's future is unsure, depending on whether the cancer has spread. He goes for a test in February to check on that, and then every three months. If it has spread, he will need radiation. I may need to have a hip replacement, I'm going for a second opinion this week. I really miss our dog Rosie since she passed. So in a nutshell, my plate is full. Taking care of my mother, myself, and my husband. He is a blessing because he does a lot here also. I'm not sure when we will be able to empty out our house or when it will get sold. I seem to wake up in the mornings feeling a little depressed because of the pain I'm in and so much has to be done. I'm trying to keep my faith and that is what holds me together. I just wanted to vent a little, hoping someone would understand. Thank you. Persie

Hello, I understand very well your intense grief along with regret. We also had a shih tzu, Rosie. We got her when she was 11 wks old, and had her for a wonderful 15 yrs. This past April 26, she had a sudden stroke here at home. We were so upset as to how to handle it. I knew she was suffering because her head tilted to one side, she was laying on the floor and going in circles and crying. We took her to our vet and he suggested we put her to sleep. I was torn but knew she couldn't live like that and suffer, she didn't deserve it. With hesitation we said yes we would have her put to sleep. It was the worse day of my life, truly. I have been crying every day since then. I know we did the right thing, but I still doubt our decision at times. You came to a very good group and I know there will be lots of good advice. I haven't read any books yet, but the wonderful people on here will let you know the good books to read. You are not alone, I understand fully what you are going through. I'm sure someone will reply to you with some very good advice and things to read. Take care.

Hi, I know exactly what you are going through. We had to have our 15 yr old dog Rosie put to sleep in April. It was the worse day of my life. I cried, am still crying, about our decision. We got her when she was 11 wks and had her for 15 yrs. Then on the morning of April 26, she had a stroke at our home. We took her to the vet and he suggested putting her to sleep. I also wondered for along time if it was the right decision. We didn't want her to suffer any longer, she would not have wanted that either. This site is so wonderful, a lot of great people, to come to. You will find that you are not alone in this grief, many people are here to support you. Take care. Persie

Mia, This is the best place to talk about your beloved pet and your grief. Everyone on here care for each other and understands exactly what you are going through. I had a very bad morning today, crying like a baby over my Rosie. Even after three months, it still hits very hard some days. Hang in there, it will become a little easier. Just keep coming on here and enjoy the wonderful comments from some very special people. Persie

Hi Mia, I was tearing up just reading your message. I understand so well what you are going through. I lost my beloved dog Rosie on April 26 of this year. I had her in my life for 15 years, not as long as your but still a very long time. She was such a large part of our family and my heart was full of love for her. Suddenly on the morning of April 26 she had a stroke. Her head tilted to the side, she was laying on the floor going on circles and crying. All I did was cry too because I knew this was the end for her. We took her to our vet and reluctantly had her put to sleep. It was the worst day of my life, and I've had many bad days. We stood there holding talking to her while the doctor put the needle in. I only hope she knew how much we loved her. The vet took her paw print in cement, a little square, and brought it out to us. When we got into the car without her, I cried so hard all the way home that I sick so my husband had to drive. I got home and cried very hard for a long time. I couldn't eat or sleep. After that day I did cry each and every day for a couple of weeks. We had them cremate her and when her ashes were ready my husband picked them up. They put her in a beautiful cherry wood box that cannot be opened. I wouldn't open it anyway, I don't want to see her ashes. The box is in my china cabinet along with her paw print. It's been 3 months and I still cry occasionally, but not every day. I talk to her box of ashes as if she can hear me. I kiss her paw print too. I just want to let you know that you are not alone. You will never stop missing your pet, but it will get a little easier. It helps to just talk about it to your friends or family. We have to remember that our pets would not want to live and suffer and at least they did live a long time. I am comforted in the knowledge that we will see our beloved pets again someday. In the meantime, keep busy because that also helps to get through this horrible grief you are going through. My heart and thoughts are with you. Persie

I am so very sorry for your loss. I know exactly how you feel. We lost our beloved shih tzu,Rosie, 6 weeks ago. It seems like yesterday. We also do not have any children, so all our love goes to our pets. Rosie took a piece of my heart when she left, I still cry often. This site has really helped me. Everyone here is so kind and understanding, knowing what we go through. I'm glad you found this wonderful site. God Bless. Persie

Hello, I am also feeling physically sick and emotionally drained after the loss of my dog Rosie. She was 15 years old when she passed. We rescued her when she was 11 wks old. She died six weeks ago. I still cry daily over her loss, but I think some of it is that fact that my husband and I are in the process of selling our house to move in with my mother. My mother had a stroke one year ago and has dementia. I am her caregiver. I think the fact that I lost my mother in a sense, the way I knew her for over 60 years. We have been staying with her for a year so we decided to make it permanent and sell our house. Then we lost our beloved Rosie. I think there are three losses, the loss of my mother as I knew her, the loss of our dog, and now the loss of the house we lived in for 20 years. I can't seem to get hold of myself. I take good care of my mother, and my husband helps when he isn't at work. He works nights and Rosie used to keep me company because it's hard to have a normal conversation with my mother now. I just feel like I'm at my witts end, but I know things will look up eventually. I thought about getting another dog, but I'm not sure that the timing is right. So much is going on with my mother, selling our house, moving things, and trying to rent a storage unit. Maybe someday I will get another dog, but I'm not sure my husband wants to do that. Thank you for listening to me, I just needed to vent a little. Thank you, Priscilla

I understand exactly what you are going through. I lost my beloved dog Rosie one month ago. I had her for 15 years. We got her when she was just 11 wks old. My heart is broken and a piece of it went with her. She was our baby, an important member of our family. I still cry everyday. I have her ashes is a pretty cherry wood box, along with her paw print. I'm not sure we will get another dog, at least not yet. I was at the store today and started to tear up thinking about her. I'm used to coming home and she would be so happy to see me. My life is not the same without her, so I know how you are feeling. We just need to take one day at a time, it will get easier as we live our lives. Take care of yourself. Priscilla

I understand what you are going through. We had to put our dog Rosie to sleep just one month ago. It was the worst day of my life. I have been crying every day this past month. My husband works nights and I'm the caregiver for my mother, who has dementia and had a stroke. Rosie was a lot of company for me in the evenings. My heart is broken. I'm glad you found this forum, I know you will find some wonderful, understanding people on here. Keep writing your feelings down.

Thank you KayC. You have a nice weekend!

Maylissa, Thank you for giving me your understanding. Everyone has been so kind on here. I thought about going to a group to talk things out, but I may be able to stick with on-line conversation. Today is a rough day but I'm trying to overcome this grief. Grief for my Rosie, but also grief for our home of 21 years that we need to sell. I know things will eventually work out, they usually do. You also have a lot on your plate Maylissa. Stress and grief comes in all forms. I wish you the best in all you have to deal with in your life. We can all be of much support to each other. hugs, Persie