Daisy Mae

Today was one of the emotionally hardest days I have had in my life. I have lost grandparents and have been crushed by it (some more than others) and I have lost pets that I have loved, but today I lost a part of my family.

July 8th 2000 ten little puppies were born into this world. The third and most persistent puppy of all was the third one out and that was Daisy Mae. I knew the moment she was born that she would be staying with me. A friend of mine at the time had given me a Daisy bracelet that had big white daisy beads and I loved it and when Daisy was only a few weeks old it fit her great. That is how she got her name.

When I had moved home I took Daisy with me. My parents weren't sure what to think about this pitbull puppy. The first night I slept on the couch with Daisy in a box next to me, well needless to say she didn't like that idea. So she cried enough that I let her up on my tummy and she fell asleep, well that was until she peed on me in the middle of the night. :)

When it was time for me to move into my own place I took Daisy with me. Mom at that point had become attached to Daisy. My mom lost her mother (my grandma Dee) in March of this same year and it was horrible on her. We were all very close. So mom would say if Daisy seems sad she can come visit us and stay over. Well after a week of living on my own I could see that Daisy longed for my mom and vice versa. So I let Daisy go live with my parents.

Of course I had gotten her into the bad habit of sleeping in bed with me so for the next 11 years my parents would have Daisy sleep with them. Daisy was an amazing, and patient dog. She went through me having two boys, losing our Golden Retriever Vaughn, and a sickness when my mom's step dad was dying. But through it all she always made it through it. She was SO strong.

Well about 4 weeks ago we noticed her eating habits had changed and we chalked it up to the heat and age...no biggie. Well then one day I noticed her abdomen was enlarged and at that time I knew something was not right.

On Monday August 29th we took Daisy in to the vet to get some bloodwork done that was a little off but not enough to say "yap that's what it is" so we took her home that night and made an appt. for the U of I the next day.

Tues August 30th Daisy went into the U of I and they did some tests and a sonogram. It came back what we had feared. She had fluid in her abdomen and she had a large tumor on her spleen and several smaller tumors on her liver. Daisy was dying. There was nothing that we could do to help her. Dad took her home and last night her family came to spend one more evening with her. we cried, we stayed by her side the whole evening. We told her what a good girl she was, and how much we loved her. Mom made her some popcorn and she even got to sleep in between mom and dad last night. It was a bittersweet last night.

Wed. August 31st I dropped the boys off at school and went into Champaign to spend the morning with Daisy and mom and dad. Daisy got a great breakfast hand fed to her of scrambled eggs and cheese. Then we spent the morning laying with her, loving on her, taking pictures and video. I then went and took care of all her arrangements. At 10:45 we got in the car and headed over to the vet. Mom rode in the back with Daisy-who snuggled up to mom the whole way there. It was the shortest car ride ever. Once we got there, I went in to tell the doctor we were there and mom and dad said there goodbyes. Once the doctor came out I held Daisy's head in my hands and I kissed on her and loved on her and talked to her about how good she was, and how much we loved her.

I was there when that puppy took her first breath and I was there with her when she took her last. I cannot describe that emotion. We then took her over to be cremated. It was hard leaving her there, but it was even harder coming back to the house and not having her barking to greet us. The house felt so empty and it will for a long time. Nothing and no one could or will ever take the place of Daisy Mae. She was there for my mother in the hardest thing in her life. She was a rock for me in a bad part of mine. She has always loved and never expected anything in return.

Daisy Mae you truly are our best girl ever!! I know you are ok, because you have so much family up there with you to take you in. You get to see Vaughn again and play stick. You are no longer in pain. Run my sweet puppy, run as fast as you can. Smell all the sweet smells, and relish in the love you are getting up there. Remember though that you have so many down here that will think and love you forever.

I love you sweet girl.

Momma