……………………….It is with great sadness that I write this post. My darling Lily is no longer with me, and is now with Jac. I know Jac will show her all the love she needs. I realize this may come as a surprise to many of you, but I have been dealing with Lily’s health issues for a long time. Lily was the sweetest little girl, so well behaved and loving. She could look at you with her eyes and you would melt. Even though she was a year older than Samantha….Lily followed her everywhere. She even waited for Sam to pee before she would find the same spot and go. They had the same fathers, but different mothers. They were similar in so many ways, but also they had very different personalities, as sisters do….Lily, as her name implies, was a delicate little flower. Her little sister , Samantha, was and is a hellion….just as I like her!…..Severe allergies always plagued Lily, and she would get terrible rashes on her belly and legs from grass that had to be treated with ointments….There was always something wrong with Lily….The pictures above were after a bath when she and Sammy had a run in with a groundhog…..She loved to be pampered…..Recently I had what I call the “Corn Cobb Incident”. She ate a piece of corn cob that she somehow found in the garden, and it got stuck in her intestine causing everything to back up. We didn’t know what was wrong with her. She kept losing weight and throwing up this vile liquid. Dr. Paul came to the house, and took her and operated on her finding the cobb. She recovered beautifully, and was back to her old self. This all happened towards the end of Sept when I got home from Africa. Everything was fine……She was very thin so my job was to fatten her up….which I happily did with many small meals during the day………..After a few weeks I noticed her belly was getting quite large, and even thought of cutting back on her food…..When she went to the groomer….the groomer told me she was a little concerned, because she felt Lily was bloated. I realized that what I thought was weight gain wasn’t that at all. I had Dr. Paul come over to look at her. He had told me that when he had opened her he found a large cyst that he drained. He also said he couldn’t remove it because it was embedded in her liver and her intestines, and it was inoperable. It now seemed the cyst had gotten big again, and with a sonogram discovered there were more cysts. He wanted to test them for cancer, but I said no. Jac and I already had two of our babies suffer from cancer and treatments, and I promised Jac I would never put another one through that for the inevitable end that would surely come after much suffering. We decided that we would do all we could with medications. I even gave her shots of tarantula venom in hopes it would shrink the cysts……nothing worked and Lily stopped eating and drinking…….She was sleeping all day and slowly wasting away. I would find Sammy sleeping with Lily, and sometimes just sitting near her watching her sleep. I called Dr. Paul and told him of Lily’s condition, and he said it was time. I made an appointment for him to come to the house when Lou was here…….I held Lily as he put her to sleep…..soon she was gone. I made sure Sam was out of the room, and in the gathering room sitting on the window seat watching the seagulls and the sun setting. I went and sat with Sammy as Dr Dr. Paul took Lily away wrapped in a blanket. I already miss her sweet little presence so much….Our pets are so dear to us, but they have short lives, and the end comes all too soon…..She will be cremated, and on December 12th, the 4th year of Jac’s passing, I will throw Lily’s ashes into the sea so they will be together for eternity.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Lily sounds like a love; and it is so very hard to lose that. I hope that you find comfort in sauciness of Samantha and the love of the other members of your family.
Shay
Dear Louis,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Lily. She is with Jac now and what a loving reunion, I am sure! May God bless you and heal the hurt in your soul and give Samantha lots of hugs and let her know it is from all of us. So thankful you still have her with you!
I’m so sorry for your loss. Our fur babies generously give us unconditional love.
Dear Louis,
Deepest condolences on the loss of your precious, sweet Lily. In sharing about your bond with her (and your other dogs) over the years, you allow us to carry her memory too.
Our pets are blessings and we continue to hold them in our hearts. I know.
Please be well and comforted in knowing that you and Jac gave her the best possible life.
My condolences on the loss of your sweet girl. She was lucky to live with you and Jac with so much loving care.
Dear Louis,
Sending my sincere condolences on the loss of your sweet Lily.
Diana
Louis, I am so sorry about Lily. Losing a pet is heart wrenching. We lost our Cairn terrier 9 years ago. She was 16. I still miss her to this day. We did get another Cairn after we were ready to open our hearts again. He brings us so much joy. We have them for such a short time. I am sure Jac will take for good care of her.
Louis, I am so sorry that Lily was so ill and that she suffered so. Your grief, I am sure, is deep.
There will be some peace when Lily’s ashes join those of your beloved Jac in the vastness of the ocean and infinity.
Louis,
I just watched the 60 Minute interview of Alessandro Michele, creative director for Gucci. He was asked if he feared loosing his job. His reply made me think about loss. “Nothing is forever which is what makes things precious.” Food for thought!
Donna…the older I get the more I realize nothing is forever. It’s hard to see the ones we love, animal or humans, leave us behind. When we are young these thoughts don’t even enter our minds. Maybe if they did back then we would not have taken so much for granted, and appreciated the people we loved more than we did.
Dear Louis,
I’m so sorry for your loss and for Sammy’s loss as well. Loosing our beloved pets is so difficult because they bring so much love into our lives. Knowing that Lily will be with Jac must bring you comfort. If we receive the gift of long life, the flip side is that we must endure more loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
😭 so sorry to hear sweet Lily has gone to Rainbow Bridge. But I know Jac is right there to welcome her. I remember seeing the cute picture of her in her crate when you brought her home for the first time,
And I remember the year you and Jac dressed the girls — there were 3 of them then — in your beautiful new jewelry collection for a Christmas
Card picture! It’s sad you have to go through this at
Christmas time. But oddly enough this is when things
Happen and test our strength. Lily is out of her suffering and you will still have lovely memories about your
Sweet girl to cheer you up during the holidays. I think
It was so smart of you to spare Samantha from seeing
Lily pass on. Give her a hug for me. It’s all about her now. If you can, do things SHE 💕 loves to do. Love you both.
Louis, I am so sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose our fur babies. I am a cat person and lost my last one, Graycee, two years ago in November. She was my love and I miss her so. At my age, I have opted not to replace her. I will keep you and Sam in my prayers as you get used to life without your buddy but knowing she is in a better place. Much love!
Oh Louis, I’m so very sorry! Made me cry just reading this sad news. Our fur babies don’t live long enough and it’s heartbreaking when it’s their time. There is comfort in knowing Jac will greet Lily on the other side. Wishing you peace in knowing what a wonderful life and all the love you gave to Lily. Hugs to you and take good care of yourself and Samantha.
Surely Lily has had a joyful reunion with Jac.
Our dogs give us so much, and ask so little. As I type this, my corgi Billie is licking my legs like they’re covered in gravy (I assure you they are NOT) and would follow me to the ends of the earth, with or w/o treats in my pockets. They are a gift, are attuned to our every mood and feeling, and would gladly die for us. I am so sorry for this loss, and especially at this time. It is very comforting to think of her trotting happily off to be with Jac, happy and healthy, together forever. May God bless you and keep you.
April
Louis, your sweet, precious Lily! I know she brought you so much happiness.
Much love to you and your Sam, Elaine
Oh my goodness Louis, this made me cry. I’m so sorry for the loss of your precious Lily. Our beloved pets are our babies, it’s so hard to lose them. Never enough time with them.
Hugs to you and Sammy…
Dear Louis, My thoughts and prayers are with you in your loss.
With sympathy, Irene
RIP Sweet Lily and condolences to all who loved you.
Thinking of you ♥️
My condolences, Louis, on the loss of your Lily.
Deirdre
Dear Louis,
My heart is breaking for you. I can see how much you love your sweet fur babies. We have three dogs-Fifi, Brie and Savannah and they ARE our children, just as much as the two-legged children. Yes…..their lives are short, but just as you were talking about the circle of life and death being a part of it yesterday-it doesn’t matter. We are never ready for it. Our brain knows it, but our heart is an entirely different matter. First, you and Jac gave her the most perfect life. Then, you did absolutely everything you could for her. As hard as it was for YOU to let her go, you were brave and selfless a B nd took it on the chin for the sake of your baby when you let her go home to her sweet and beautiful mommy. Surely Jac was just the other side of the rainbow bridge waiting for her. Can you imagine the cuddles Lilly and Jac are having as we speak?? Pure joy for them!!
I was praying for you this week already. But now I am doubling-up on sincere heartfelt prayers for comfort and peace for you and Samantha.