Happy Christmas

TJandDante · 12-24-2009, 07:41 PM

It may seem odd for me to say that. I had to help my sweet,loving,beautiful Dante cross over the Rainbow Bridge just 4 days ago, and my husband and I have been very caught up in grief and sorrow and not at all feeling the Christmas spirit this year. I have thought for the last 4 days what a horrid and awful Christmas this is. And the truth is, if we hadn't put our Christmas tree up last week, it wouldnt have gone up at all.
I just am feeling thankful for a group that has made my feelings of guilt and helplessness go away. I am thankful for people who want to help their own pets, and others who have lost their pets. Even though I have to hide my grief at work and even at home, I can come here and share and everyone GETS IT.
I lost my dog, my companion, my entertainment, my love, my cat-chaser, my best friend.
Thanks you all for helping me the last few months, the last 4 days, and the days in the future when you hold my hand through the grief process.
God Bless
TJ-Dante's friend

Madchen's Mom · 12-25-2009, 10:30 AM

Dear TJ,

I was so sad to read of Dante's passing on your other post. The things that struck me most about it were the parts where you talked about Dante's last couple of days and the gathering of the family to help Dante cross over.

I remember my friend, Jake. He had helped me through many things. It was he who first alerted my husband to the fact that I had suffered what is called "a sudden-death cardiac arrest." Without Jake's help and my husband's knowledge of CPR, I would have died. For a long time after that, Jake would come and lick my face if I was taking a nap. I guess he just didn't like to see me laying down with my eyes closed; it made him nervous.

A few years later, I was devastated by the news that Jake had lymphoma. At that time, I didn't have the knowledge about diet and supplements that you have helped to give me. Jake and I struggled against the nasty disease with chemo alone. He was dianosed during the 4th of July weekend; he was gone Sept.19th. Like Dante, he let me know when he'd had enough and what I needed to do for him.

On the way to the vet, he too, wagged his tail. My husband and I stayed with him through his passing and a long while after that. His ashes are in my closet. I still can't bear to bury them.

Be comforted in the fact that you gave Dante all that he needed, including the gentle decision you made for his sake. Also know that your experience with Dante and your willingness to share it here have helped Madchen and I so-o-o much.

The best Christmas present I've received this year is my bouncy, happy girl is with me on this special day. It is a gift that you and Dante helped give us. If not for your compassion and willingness to help us, I'm sure this day would have been very different.

Thank you for all that you have done. We will never forget it!

Please know that my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I ask for blessings in the New Year and good memories to bring you comfort.

Love,
Madchen and Jackie

Benpaws · 12-25-2009, 12:07 PM

My Dear TJ,

I know you are missing Dante today and thank you for your note, but I thank you for being a part of this wonderful group of people and for your compassion and support to all of us while you yourself were facing such difficulties.

Dante is free from pain now and he is definitely an "angel" watching over you at this blessed time of the year and every day after today!

Please continue to come here and share how you are feeling. There will be many good days and some not-so-good days but we are here to hug and listen and understand.

God Bless you and your family.

Blessings & Prayers,
Joanne & Puppy Shadow

TJandDante · 12-25-2009, 07:43 PM

Thank you two so much for your loving thoughts. I am SO GLAD Madchen is doing so well. If all who come after Dante and I get a little something from our experience, they will definitely have their dogs for a longer and BETTER time.
We had sent a note to our holistic vet thanking him for giving our dog 4 QUALITY months after his diagnosis. Instead of slowly and painfullly wasting away,losing appetite and quality of life, he felt good and ate heartily up until the day before he passed. I know our vet was hoping for a cure, but told us up front that was a tiny tiny tiny possibility. What he could do is to give him the best diet and best supplements and build up his immune system to the best it could be. And he did. He sent us a note a couple days ago and said he would work hard so that maybe in the not so distant future, dog parents wouldn't have to go through what we did.
NEVER GIVE UP. Our dogs follow our lead, and if we are positive, they are positive. I tried so hard not to cry and beg him not to go when it was time. I am still so grateful he was able to convey that it was time and I was able to hear it and not ignore it because I didnt want to hear it.
My husband put a shelf in the corner of the living room where Dante's bed was. That was Dante's corner. We put a picture of him, his ashes, his collar and leash, and his toys on it, as well as an electric candle. It is a fitting tribute to our boy.
Merry Christmas my friends.

12-24-2009, 07:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
TJandDante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 355	Happy Christmas It may seem odd for me to say that. I had to help my sweet,loving,beautiful Dante cross over the Rainbow Bridge just 4 days ago, and my husband and I have been very caught up in grief and sorrow and not at all feeling the Christmas spirit this year. I have thought for the last 4 days what a horrid and awful Christmas this is. And the truth is, if we hadn't put our Christmas tree up last week, it wouldnt have gone up at all. I just am feeling thankful for a group that has made my feelings of guilt and helplessness go away. I am thankful for people who want to help their own pets, and others who have lost their pets. Even though I have to hide my grief at work and even at home, I can come here and share and everyone GETS IT. I lost my dog, my companion, my entertainment, my love, my cat-chaser, my best friend. Thanks you all for helping me the last few months, the last 4 days, and the days in the future when you hold my hand through the grief process. God Bless TJ-Dante's friend Last edited by TJandDante; 12-24-2009 at 07:46 PM.

12-25-2009, 10:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Madchen's Mom Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Varna, Illinois Posts: 52	Bless you and Dante Dear TJ, I was so sad to read of Dante's passing on your other post. The things that struck me most about it were the parts where you talked about Dante's last couple of days and the gathering of the family to help Dante cross over. I remember my friend, Jake. He had helped me through many things. It was he who first alerted my husband to the fact that I had suffered what is called "a sudden-death cardiac arrest." Without Jake's help and my husband's knowledge of CPR, I would have died. For a long time after that, Jake would come and lick my face if I was taking a nap. I guess he just didn't like to see me laying down with my eyes closed; it made him nervous. A few years later, I was devastated by the news that Jake had lymphoma. At that time, I didn't have the knowledge about diet and supplements that you have helped to give me. Jake and I struggled against the nasty disease with chemo alone. He was dianosed during the 4th of July weekend; he was gone Sept.19th. Like Dante, he let me know when he'd had enough and what I needed to do for him. On the way to the vet, he too, wagged his tail. My husband and I stayed with him through his passing and a long while after that. His ashes are in my closet. I still can't bear to bury them. Be comforted in the fact that you gave Dante all that he needed, including the gentle decision you made for his sake. Also know that your experience with Dante and your willingness to share it here have helped Madchen and I so-o-o much. The best Christmas present I've received this year is my bouncy, happy girl is with me on this special day. It is a gift that you and Dante helped give us. If not for your compassion and willingness to help us, I'm sure this day would have been very different. Thank you for all that you have done. We will never forget it! Please know that my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I ask for blessings in the New Year and good memories to bring you comfort. Love, Madchen and Jackie

12-25-2009, 12:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Benpaws Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakville, ON., CANADA Posts: 1,696	TJ My Dear TJ, I know you are missing Dante today and thank you for your note, but I thank *you* for being a part of this wonderful group of people and for your compassion and support to all of us while you yourself were facing such difficulties. Dante is free from pain now and he is definitely an "angel" watching over you at this blessed time of the year and every day after today! Please continue to come here and share how you are feeling. There will be many good days and some not-so-good days but we are here to hug and listen and understand. God Bless you and your family. Blessings & Prayers, Joanne & Puppy Shadow

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12-25-2009, 07:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
TJandDante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 355	Thank you two so much for your loving thoughts. I am SO GLAD Madchen is doing so well. If all who come after Dante and I get a little something from our experience, they will definitely have their dogs for a longer and BETTER time. We had sent a note to our holistic vet thanking him for giving our dog 4 QUALITY months after his diagnosis. Instead of slowly and painfullly wasting away,losing appetite and quality of life, he felt good and ate heartily up until the day before he passed. I know our vet was hoping for a cure, but told us up front that was a tiny tiny tiny possibility. What he could do is to give him the best diet and best supplements and build up his immune system to the best it could be. And he did. He sent us a note a couple days ago and said he would work hard so that maybe in the not so distant future, dog parents wouldn't have to go through what we did. NEVER GIVE UP. Our dogs follow our lead, and if we are positive, they are positive. I tried so hard not to cry and beg him not to go when it was time. I am still so grateful he was able to convey that it was time and I was able to hear it and not ignore it because I didnt want to hear it. My husband put a shelf in the corner of the living room where Dante's bed was. That was Dante's corner. We put a picture of him, his ashes, his collar and leash, and his toys on it, as well as an electric candle. It is a fitting tribute to our boy. Merry Christmas my friends.