Goodbye My Sweet Maggie

[SuzanneM]

This week I sent my precious Maggie to the Bridge. After a brutal last day, she drew her last breath in peace, and is now free of her suffering.

She was a very special girl, a 7 1/2 year old blond Lab. She had more than her share of health issues, but always a light spirit and so strong and resilient. She developed Megaesophagus about 3 1/2 years ago, and quickly learned to eat her food in her special chair that kept her upright. We went through many bouts of aspiration pneumonia that she contracted when she regurgitated food stuck in her esophagus. She developed pockets in her esophagus and food couldn't get to her stomach, and she was starving and lost nearly 30 pounds. We had a feeding tube inserted, she gained back her weight, and was a happy and active dog for another 2 1/2 years.

She developed Laryngal Paralysis, unbeknownst to us, until she suffered a severe breathing episode while out playing. She couldn't cool her body, and by the time we could get her to the emergency hospital, her temp was 107. She aspirated while trying to get her breath, or while being intubated and developed AP. She spent the night in the hospital. She rallied, was released and we thought she would bounce back like she had done so many times before, but it proved too much for her little body. I sat up all night with her the next night, and it was clear that she wasn't going to make it, we took her back to the hospital and I held her in my arms as her spirit was released.

She was my heart dog, my child and I am devastated.

I've attached one of my favorite photos of her. She was so happy that day with Santa. She was born on Christmas day so it's always been special.

[MartyT]

Oh Suzanne ~ I am so, so sorry to read your sad story. What a devoted mom you've been to this blessed creature throughout her life, and what a roller-coaster ride this must have been for you. May your beloved Maggie rest in eternal peace, as she romps and plays and waits patiently for you to join her at the Rainbow Bridge. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers, and you have our deepest sympathy.

(In hopes that it will bring you some comfort, I invite you to see the video embedded in my blog post, Saying Goodbye to Beringer.)

[CJ Anderson]

What a WONDERFUL girl and how lucky to have you to share her life with. My Boo Bear was younger to and it is not fair - just not but still I wouldnt trade one second even knowing there was such a short time! I would love the hear more about her - how did you find her?

Hugs

CJ

[kayc]

What a beautiful special dog! It is no wonder she is your heart girl and you are missing her so much. She had many struggles while here, but obviously lived life to her fullest and I'm so glad she had a wonderful family to go through it all with. My heart goes out to you.

[ScarletAnita]

hi suzanne, 4 days ago, scarlet passed away. She was a cat and I had her for 15 years. she gave me love and I learned about how to love through her. She was there when I broke up with someone, there when I came home from the hospital from a serious elbow injury. She there when I felt lonely. But now I feel so lonely because I lost my companion. Suzanne, I was not able to see Scarlet drew her last breath but it was between 1 am to 7:30 am on Sunday, Aug, 5, 2012. She dies 2 days after an ear surjery and I was informed she did well after the surgery. What a shock it was when she passed. I hope to go on here so we can share our grief and at least know we are not alone in this.

[CJ Anderson]

You know, Scarlett was getting care and even the Vets didnt see there might be a problem. I have come to see that all the time people (like me) mix guilt with grief, looking for SOMETHING that could have made a difference. I have to force my self to remember how much better they are at the rainbow bridge, free of pain and old age. I guess I like to think of my heart as a patchwork quilt. I need new love to cover the old hole where they loved. to keep me focused on today, because well - I woke up again and someone must need me or I sure as hell would be out of this place! I am soooooo glad you had her for FIFTEEN years! You must of done an incredibile job with her health and happiness! How did she come into your life?

Hugs

CJ

[SuzanneM]

hi suzanne, 4 days ago, scarlet passed away. She was a cat and I had her for 15 years. she gave me love and I learned about how to love through her. She was there when I broke up with someone, there when I came home from the hospital from a serious elbow injury. She there when I felt lonely. But now I feel so lonely because I lost my companion. Suzanne, I was not able to see Scarlet drew her last breath but it was between 1 am to 7:30 am on Sunday, Aug, 5, 2012. She dies 2 days after an ear surjery and I was informed she did well after the surgery. What a shock it was when she passed. I hope to go on here so we can share our grief and at least know we are not alone in this.

I am so very sorry about your losing Scarlet. It seems no matter how long we have them, their lives are too short. You clearly loved and cared for her very well for her to have such a wonderful long life. The other day someone told me to try and understand that we can't always control these things, and to try and accept that we all have a mosaic that is our life, and some are large and complex, and some are small and simple, but a complete picture, nonetheless. It's been a week and a half since I lost my sweet Maggie, and I'm just starting to feel that I can breathe again, but that there is a hole in my heart. I do feel grateful that she is whole again and picture her running and playing at the Bridge, eating anything she wants and waiting for me.

I think this forum is a wonderful supportive place to support each other and share those feelings. Not everyone understands the depth of the relationships between our animals and ourselves.

[SuzanneM]

What a WONDERFUL girl and how lucky to have you to share her life with. My Boo Bear was younger to and it is not fair - just not but still I wouldnt trade one second even knowing there was such a short time! I would love the hear more about her - how did you find her?

Hugs

CJ

Hello CJ,

I feel the same way you do about your Boo Bear. There's never enough time with them. Even though life with my Mags was challenging, she was so worth it. She was a gift from my sister, and I got her at 12 weeks. I was conflicted about bringing a puppy into the house because I had a black lab, Annie who was 12 at the time, and I was worried that it would be too stressful for her. As it turned out Maggie thought Annie was a rock star, and it breathed new life into my old girl. Maggie grew into a beautiful, active, sweet girl and was my constant companion. She developed Megaesophagus just before her 4th birthday, and my vet suggested putting her down at that time. I learned how to manage it for the first year, built a special chair she sat in to eat. All her food went thru the blender, and she fought thru several bouts of aspiration pneumonia. She developed pockets in her esophagus, so food couldn't get to her stomach. Everything I fed her came up, and her weight was down over 20 pounds. Her last chance was a feeding tube. That was not without it's problems, but it worked, and she gained back all her weight and was able to live like a normal dog, except for the way she ate. She was tube fed 3 times a day. Now that she is gone, I feel at loose ends because I've structured my day around her schedule for so long, either feeding her myself or making sure someone else was there to take care of her. I feel good that at least I've found someone else who has a dog with similar circumstances who can take her leftover meds and syringes and her special chair.

[SuzanneM]

Oh Suzanne ~ I am so, so sorry to read your sad story. What a devoted mom you've been to this blessed creature throughout her life, and what a roller-coaster ride this must have been for you. May your beloved Maggie rest in eternal peace, as she romps and plays and waits patiently for you to join her at the Rainbow Bridge. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers, and you have our deepest sympathy.

(In hopes that it will bring you some comfort, I invite you to see the video embedded in my blog post, Saying Goodbye to Beringer.)

Thank you, Marty. I appreciate your kind words. I love the mental image of her at the Bridge running and playing (and eating all the forbidden things she couldn't have here on earth :-).

[CJ Anderson]

How absolutely wonderful! What a quality life you gave here! You know, you might want to volunteer with Mingus Manor or Halo Rescue because they save and work with special needs dogs. Believe me I know, when Boo died, I just wanted to curl in a ball in my room but I had made commitments and the animals I was helping would have suffered, so I MADE myself do it. It was HARD (and is hard) but the need is so great, my skills are desparately needed and it does help in a short time - I am not nearly so numb and heart broken!

Hugs

CJ