A year ago today, a wonderful friend and Pilot Christopher Roy, my son Zach and I all got into a plane, said a prayer and flew to the U. P. to pick up this little girl we would call Isabella. I remember when I recieved the email to see if we could take her into our rescue. I had just lost my Gretchen. I could not imagine caring for any dog. In fact I had put a hold on all rescues as I needed personal time to heal from the loss. My heart was so broke I closed out the world. I tried finding others to take on her case to no avail. I had no emotional attachment, just went through the motions, doing what was expected. I had no idea what on earth I would do with a ME pup. What would Jeff say to doggie highchairs, carseats, pureed food, and burping a four legged creature no less. Then I wrote back that I would take her. I did so reluctantly that is the truth... we were her last option. The next morning I told Jeff we were asked to take this pup. His response was while shaking his head, Ill think about it... so I leaned over kissed him good bye and said You do that, but I already told them yes. As I walked out of the room I could hear him mutter, You said what?!~ I wasnt sure of my decision either but had no choice to move forward. We had just resuced Anya and her pups not weeks before, in addition to our pack. My stomach sank with knots at the thought of how I was going to pull this off. I knew I had tested Jeffs good nature to the core, and I prayed with time and Gods grace Jeff would forgive me for making such a bold move. When we left that morning our good friend Chris went out of his way to make our flight comfortable, informational and fun. While Chris and my son chatted I looked out the window praying we would stay in the sky, that my stomach knots would stop, that ultimately I would not fail Isabella, because truth be told I had no idea what I was getting into other than what I studied on ME. Then as we came to land I could see this couple, her breeders who did care about her, so much so, they did not listen to the vets advice to euthanize her at three weeks. Infact, they contacted us, retired the Dam and entrusted Isabella into our care. I remember seeing Isabella as I looked out the window of the plane in their arms behind the landing gate. It was in that moment my heart started to beat again, the pain of losing Gretchen had not gone away, but a part of her made new and alive in Isabella. I did not realize how deep a hole Gretchen had left until I first held Isabella in my arms. Isabella, her very being just swelled into my arms and heart. She sounded like a baby bull frog, her breathing so heavy, oh but how I loved her already. I held her all the way home not knowing what to expect, maybe the worst but hoped for the best. Isabellas daily feedings, burpings, became a round the clock chore that each of us became responsible for. Entertaining her so she would not wiggle out of her chair. Making sure she sat upright, even during road trips with car seats. She was a champ. As she grew she would stand upright to eat using the sidestep to my SUV. Isabella was determined, focused, and a fighter. Her unstoppable will, I admired. Her beauty and grace, I loved. Her piss and vinegar attitude, I adored. She is in all Isabella an explosive, graceful hot mess who has defied the disease of ME. Because of her we have brought knowledge to the schools, and people in our community who knew nothing of this disease. ME did not start nor end with Isabella. We will continue to research, support and fight for the ME puppies out there who are served a death sentence that does not need to be. It takes time and committment but it does not have to be a fate not worth fighting for. I want to thank each of you whom have supported us on Isabellas journey. It is because of each of you we have gotten this far! Thank you~
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 05:06:05 +0000
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