The first 2-3 days are the hardest while everyone adjusts and the swelling starts to go down & pain is finally starting to be relieved. We constantly were bouncing back from, "Are we doing the right thing?" and "We have to give her time to recover; we have to have hope for her sake!"

Nyssa's attitude was one of extreme agitation the first couple days, which was excruciating for us to handle, too...we felt so helpless to help her, and like I said, we agonized over making the right/wrong decision. Yes, I'm talking about this indecision a great deal because when this kind of thing happens, it will be on your mind CONSTANTLY, 24/7. It is a very important subject and I am hoping that if I discuss it enough, those who face this challenge will realize that they are not alone as they go through this anxiety, and it will pass as events unfold and nature takes it's healing course. If healing does not take place, then a different choice must be made eventually...but hopefully not until it's unavoidable.

Who can blame Nyssa for being so upset during this horrible paralysis & pain?! What a nightmare this must be to go through. We found that small doses of prescribed Valium were the only way she could sleep, and since much healing & restoration takes place when our bodies sleep this is very important. The down side of this is that with a condition like this, the body is stiff & at it's most painful when we wake up. However, much rest is mandatory. Each pet has their own medication threshold, and some will do better with a medication such as Valium, while others will not do better. If your vet is vehemently against any meds like this and your pet is in obvious need of it, try a different vet if at all possible. You have the right to demand proper care for your pet, just as you do for the rest of your family.

How Do We Keep Nyssa Comfortable?

Dennis ran out to Walmart (a discount store) and bought a baby bassinet, the kind that sits up on legs. I have heard from others who bought much nicer models at a baby consignment shop or garage sales, so those are good ideas to keep in mind. It's easier on your back to keep them up near your level, and it helps them to be closer to you when you aren't able to hold them.

Even though Nyssa was obviously not jumping out, I was worried that our curious cat would jump up and topple over the bassinet, so I made sure to engage the brakes (located near the wheels usually) and place it snugly inside a corner wall, which in our case worked out great since it was right next to our bed. Even if you have to move a little furniture, if you have the same concerns you might want to consider these extra precautions. Now is not the time for your furbaby to take a horrible fall.

We kept a folded blanket inside the bassinet for a soft cushion & also placed a small soft pillow under her belly to lift her up off of her front legs, which were still stiff as a board and sticking straight out as if she were walking. It was as if she were standing up continuously and painfully. Under no circumstances did she want to lay on her side. I am not sure if she felt the pain worse this way, felt more helpless this way, or what...but she became more agitated and tried to move frantically whenever we placed her in a different position, so we took her lead and helped her get into the position she felt best in.

We also used a rolled up sheet to place under her chest & chin to get pressure off of her front legs, since she was inclined to topple over due to the paralysis. Folded towels were placed *under* the blanket (which she was laying on) on either side of her, shoved in snugly so that she had some additional support to prop her up. By putting the bolster towels under the blanket, the weight of your pet secures it from rolling out. This worked very well for her and she liked this position, so try it or experiment with others until you get your furbaby as comfy-cozy as possible.

I gently tried to bend Nyssa's front legs, to no avail. It was as if they were frozen in this uncomfortable position, and it caused her pain to try this so it was not something I attempted often; only to monitor her progress & watch closely for any signs of relaxing muscles in those legs. She didn't move her head around either, at first. She was such a pitiful sight, my heart just broke for her and I had to stop myself from crying constantly. Knowing I was this upset was not going to help her one bit, my friend Denise reminded me. So did my husband.

We covered Nyssa with lightweight but warm blankets, checking often to make sure she wasn't too hot or too cold & to offer water or food. She had to drink a great deal of water since she was taking Prednisone (it will hurt the kidneys otherwise) and it also caused many linen changes. It seems so ironically cruel that during a time such as this, they have to go through the added pain of linen changes, but it's a necessary evil. For those who are going through this for the first time, linen changes must be done frequently so the urine (which has natural ammonia in it, very caustic) doesn't burn the skin and cause it to break down. The same concerns apply with their poop. The following list contains natural supplements we give her, which is very helpful in maintaining bladder, joints & other body organs working at their best.

The above picture is of Nyssa celebrating Christmas, 2001 with a toy from her special pal, Jeanie. Thanks, Jeanie!

Helpful Bedside List:

Bassinet
Vaseline
Q-tips
Wet-wipes
Paper towels
Medications, food supplements.
Water bowl & a water bottle for quick refills.
Plenty of blankets and sheets at your bedside.
Plastic garbage bags for linen changes during the night.
Snack dish for when your pet needs to take meds with food.
A carrying BASKET or container for above stuff.
Night-light so you all can go back to sleep easier, and your pet can be aware of surroundings if she/he wakes up during the night.

It helps to make a list of all the items you can possibly think of that you'll need during the night, and keep the supplies handy...just as many of you have done with a human baby. You're looking for efficiency, localized items where you need them as you need them, and a calm atmosphere to encourage a swift return to sleep.

The carrying basket is so helpful, because you can take it with you from room to room as you & your furbaby travel throughout the house, but you'll save yourself extra trips by having everything handy.

Suggestion: pre-cut any pills you may need to break in half, and have night-time doses already together in one place so you don't sleepily make a mistake and overdose.

Another tip: we used the plastic bags to contain the soiled smelly linens, fasten the bag & simply set it aside for washing them in the morning. Unless you want to lug your sleepy body out to the laundry room at 3 a.m. !

I had Nyssa right beside me, and fell asleep with my arm in her bassinet to reassure her. She loved this, and I was reassured, too! After a night or two, she was reassured to the point where she didn't even want my arm intruding on her space, thank you very much! *smile*

Many people have their furbabies in their bed with them. Whatever works for you & yours is what's best. I am too clumsy and afraid of hurting her, my husband & I both have sleeping disorders such as restless legs & periodic limb movement (he kicks a lot without realizing it) and my husband isn't too keen of being woken up with poo near his pillow so I have to defer to his wishes. Some people wouldn't think of not having their pets in bed with them, while others aren't used to it anymore than their pets are. To each his own, but during a total paralysis it is imperative that you keep close to your pet until they recover.

Your Support System

If you haven't heard of the ABLEDOGS Email List by now, please by all means join it ASAP. There are so many people on this email list who know how to answer your questions. Many of the tips we give are tried & true on our pets, but area veterinarians do not have the same information and so your local vet may not be aware of certain helpful treatments, for example. I've heard this sad tale many a time, so please trust me on this: educate yourself via people & their pets who have been through these health concerns already, and can quickly help you find the info you need ASAP.

There is a wealth of information and many wonderful people @ ABLEDOGS. Their website (which is kindly created & maintained by Julz) will also point you to many helpful links which give must-have information, such as doggie & kittie wheelchair carts, vitamin supplements, success stories to help you gain emotional strength & courage, supplies and therapies and...and...and...just GO there. And please don't miss The Back Digest link. It's the disabled doggie/kittie bible.

During the cervical D.D.D. health crisis I kept in close contact with Denise, and even my dear friend Liz (whom I met on ABLEDOGS) called me from across the pond to share with me her welcomed wisdom with her furbaby HRH Poppy, and really helped Nyssa with an important concern. The medications and swelling from the injury she had endured caused her major constipation problems. Liz told me to take a Q-tip, dip it in Vaseline jelly and gently insert it into the horrified & indignant pup's rectum, gently massaging it--not too far in, just a little dab will do the job. Out comes the poop, just like magic! Go ahead, laugh...but you will be suprised how much joy and excitement everyone in the house will have when there is finally poopie success. You want to go out and gather all the neighbors for a party! Resist this impulse, but be very happy for your furbaby. You've helped them! They'll be relieved.

Of course, they will not realise this and when you are forced to get out the Q-tip, you will be met with "The Look"; the expression that only a disabled, crippled,paralyzed, helpless doggie can give you. How could you add Q-Tip torture to their calamity? Oh, the guilt...but you did right, so stay strong! Just don't let them near the Q-tips when they're better, or there may be revenge.

We didn't have the added challenge of needing to express Nyssa (manually express her bladder of urine, something one must learn how to do from their vet) too much, but it is something that is important to do when you see the little body get bloated, so keep a list of things like this to watch for on a regular basis. Remember to become as proficient as possible & take care of the poop & pee concerns as often as necessary, and your pet will be much more comfortable and able to rest, which means a much faster recovery.

I've heard of some vets who are not even skilled with manually expressing a dog's bladder, but doesn't admit it and suggests euthanizing instead! A woman joined ABLEDOGS, got excellent advice from people who have gone through this, decided to take her pet to another vet for a second opinion and this vet knew how to do his job and was able to help furbaby & frantic human. As time goes by, I'm hoping to get people to write down some of their memories & I'll put them on a linked page here, so we can all learn from each other.

One more thing to realize in the poop & pee department...when a dog is constipated or is distended (bladder is full with no relief), one condition aggravates the other and makes it worse. On the same token, if you use the Q-tip trick to relieve constipation, it will then be easier & less painful to express their full bladder, and vice versa. In fact, often after you use the Q-tip trick they will start to dribble urine too, even after you've been trying & trying to express without one drop of success. So this is important to remember!

One thing that I'm hoping this page will do for people is give them the info & confidence to have all their proverbial ducks in a row, and not feel that awful nagging feeling that they are forgetting something crucially important that might hurt their pet. This worry will cause many sleepless nights and agonizing days, otherwise. When you are able to make your lists, check on every possible concern your pet may have and keep them as comfortable as possible, this calms them down and then you can calm down, knowing you are giving your furbaby the best possible chance at a full recovery. Knowledge & readiness is empowerment for you both.

Nyssa gets Get Well wishes from her pals, Claudia & Fidel!

Day 4, Wednesday

Notice how long the first 3 days were? Expect that; you're not going crazy! You'll live several lifetimes during those first few days, and long for normalcy again for your beloved pet & your entire family.

Wow, Nyssa was calm & comfortable enough for us to sleep through the night, except for one linen change after 5 hours! We both woke up in good spirits and I pushed her in her "baby buggy" bassinet back into the family room, and we got her switched over to her daytime bed with fresh linens, her morning dose of Prednisone, Ester-C, Glucosamine & Betacarotene, and of course the most important part of our morning routine is feeding her. After the first few days, she adjusted and didn't need the Valium anymore.

For the first couple of days, she didn't want to eat much. We had to tempt her with bland foods like toast, crackers (tip: great to give saltines to help encourage them to drink because the salt makes them thirsty!) and boiled lean hamburger. Nothing too elaborate because you don't want to upset their digestive system further with all they are going through. I know, you want to give them everything in the cupboards...don't! Additional weight will only add to their pain & misery.

Nyssa is much calmer now @ Day 4, and that calms me down. I thought I was going to have a stroke, I was so upset for her! At first she seemed to move her head around more, and now she is starting to use her left leg quite a bit, too!

Nyssa has made it quite clear that she does not want the bolster pillow under her chin anymore. She burrows her head under it and either flips it out of the bed or snuggles under it. She seems to want to be on a flat, hard surface instead of the soft pillow we had her on, so I figure she knows what feels best to her even if it looks uncomfortable to us. Dennis insisted that she needed the propping/bolster pillow under her chin no matter what I said, so then we stood back and watched as she flipped the pillow out of her bed. "Told ya so, honey!"

Nyssa is starting to balance herself on her left leg as she braces herself against rolled & propped up towels on either side of her, and she doesn't seem as awful stiff as she did the first few days. Dare we hope??

This afternoon Dennis left to go pick up our son from school and get a few vitamins from the health food store. We decided after reading up on treatments that it would be best to try her out on more Ester-C but to get it in powder form and place the proper dosage in a wrapped piece of sandwich meat or cheese. (packaged Buddig meats work great for this, because they are such thin slices; you can find them in the cold-cuts section in the USA.) I hate to force those big vitamin C pills down her throat, & she doesn't care for it either.

For those who need to put pills down the dog's throat, here is a tip: open the mouth with one hand, pushing their lips over their teeth so they don't bite down on your hand as you gently & swiftly shove the pill to the back of their throat, release their lips and close the mouth gently, and stroke the throat with your finger until you feel them swallow the pill down. Beware the "hide it in the inside of the lip" trick they use!

I'm hesitant to give Nyssa the high dose of 2,000 mgs of Ester-C per day since she only weighs 9 pounds and has reflux & heartburn often, but we are going to see if she tolerates it without any bad effects. Our vet prescribed 1/2 a tablet of Pepcid AC for Nyssa, twice a day. This helps her reflux a great deal. She had reflux before the vitamins so I know that's not what's causing it.

The good effects of Ester C are that it's a strong, easily digestible & assimilated anti-oxidant which helps reduce inflammation, too. This will help the swelling in the spinal cord go down, and then movement may return if the nerves aren't irreparably damaged. Definitely read up on the benefits of Ester-C for disabled pets. I go into more details & give nutritional therapy links later in this website.

Note: 5 months later, we still give Nyssa the Ester C every day, for preventative care. We always, always give 2 capsules of Cranberry Supplement every day, to help her bladder & urinary tract stay healthy. Almost everyone I know who has disabled dogs gives the cranberry supplement, if nothing else. Before we did this, Nyssa had bladder or urinary tract infections often...which can quickly kill them. Bacteria builds up easily in a bladder that doesn't empty fully. You'll know it's helping when the urine no longer smells infected. This is one tip that many vets are clueless about, but you won't convince any of us that it doesn't do the trick!

DAY 6

Nyssa is getting stronger & stronger! Today I watched with joy as she repeatedly stood up on her front legs without falling over in a collapse as often as before, which is a big relief. We are still keeping her quiet but letting her move around a little more in her bed with intensely close Mother-Hen watchful supervision. She now feels more comfortable being held, so we are having lots of wonderful snuggle-fests again. We can't help but live in fear that she'll have a relapse, but are now hopefully optimistic that she will make a full recovery to regain full use of her front legs!

Nyssa wuvs opening gifts! Christmas, 2001

ONE WEEK LATER...

Today is the anniversary day of memories of the horror we went through last week. We feel so much relief and thankfulness that our little one is doing so much better, and a little bit of trepidation that Nyssa's Prednisone dose is being cut in half today. Will she be in more pain? Will the swelling come back? That's 12 hours without medication that she has been used to having every 12 hours for 1 week, so it's a bit nerve-wracking.

Nyssa has made it through like a trooper so far, and is only 4 1/2 hours away from her next dose of Prednisone as I write this. WHEW!

Nyssa is still having some constipation and edema problems, probably due to the cortisone she's on along with the swelling of her spinal canal. I use the Q-tip trick to help her when she gets to that point where she needs it. It's vitally important to prevent fecal impactions and keep the bowel system working properly. Impactions are excruciatingly painful and must be avoided. Mineral oil or a little Milk of Magnesia is ok to give dogs I've heard, *but* you should always check with your vet first to make sure, and to verify dosage to give.

Before I learned of the Q-Tip trick from Liz, I gave Nyssa a small dose of Milk of Magnesia...and buddy-lemme-tell-ya, we had SUCCESS, and way too much of it. She then had diarrhea, and that was not fun for her to suffer though additional linen changes. I used the Q-tip trick from that point on, and only had to use it for a week and a half or so.

Looking back, I realize that there were clues that something was amiss, and wish it had dawned on me to get her in to the vet. She would be in her cart and not move around, just standing still no matter how often she was tempted to go somewhere, and we thought she was just tired or not in the mood to be in her cart, or it was too hot...a million things except what was probably really bothering her, her back or neck. You can bet that if this happens again, I will get her in to the vet ASAP and hopefully he'll prescribe a preventative dose of cortisone to get her past it before the worst happens.

We were lucky, and Nyssa was able to recover from her latest health crisis quickly. As I add this info to Nyssa's website it isn't even 5 months since it occured yet, but we've been back to normal for a nice long time now. It actually feels longer; probably because we all want to forget that horrible period in her life quickly and put it out of our minds.

It is important to remember that each individual furbaby will have their own rate of recovery, and each case should be looked at without thinking that your pet won't recover if they don't get better at the same pace as Nyssa. She probably got better faster than many will. Denise's furbaby Cinnamon, also a mini-dachshund, was immobile for the better part of a year until she started using her front legs again. Now she's zippin' around everywhere again, and very happily from all reports.

At the time this terrible tragedy happened to our little Nyssa, I kept a journal so I could one day add it to her website in the hopes of helping others who might be facing a similar crisis with their furbaby. I hope that if this is you, you have been comforted to read Nyssa's story and will feel better able to help your little one.
This is Nyssa's Gift to you & your furbaby! Please know that our prayers are with you & your family, and
feel free to email me at the address below if you have any questions, or contact
The ABLEDOGS Email List if I'm not immediately available.

If you are reading this to prepare yourself in the event something similar did happen to your pet, I hope your furbaby doesn't have to go through what Nyssa did (or worse); and if that is unavoidable then I wish him or her a speedy recovery, and comfort for you both .

Please Remember to keep a brush nearby for your pet, and give her gentle brushes every now & then each day. Can you imagine having a terrible itch you can never scratch? This alone would be torture! Your furbaby needs you to do this for them, and you will have their eternal gratitude. Nyssa loves her brush time!

Food Supplements We Give Nyssa Daily:

We give Nyssa Ester-C, Glucosamine, Cranberry supplement, and beta-carotene every day. We give Barley Grass several times a week, and are currently looking for a supplement that contains most of the above coupled with MSM.

Ester C is more easily digestible and assimilated/absorbed by the body than regular C, and is supposed to be less troublesome with the digestive tract also. In addition to Ester C, you can give vitamin E and selenium, which helps prevent loss of muscle tone. It's important to not let the muscles atrophy (shrink, withered) so as they do recover, your pets will be able to use their muscles right away again.

Cranberry is one supplement almost everybody agrees on that I've talked to; vitally important in helping keep the little ones' bladder & urinary tracts healthy.

Glucosamine sulphate - Glucosamine is a natural substance found in the joints of bones and plays an important role in the maintenance & building of joint cartilage. Start with 500 milligrams per day for all sizes of dogs; if needed, increase to 500 milligrams twice a day. Note: it helps to find a brand that includes as many of these supplements in one form as possible, such as a powder you can sprinkle on food or use in a treat. I'm searching for one now, and will add it here when I find one.

"All breeds of dogs are highly prone to cataracts," says Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., author of the best-selling book The Vitamin Bible (for pets). "I recommend daily supplements of E and C to help prevent them."

Barley Dog Supplement is one we give a couple times a week. Nyssa loves this supplement, and it seems to satisfy that urge to eat grass. This supplement contains nutrient-rich barley grass to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat. The natural chlorophyll fights bad breath and the enzymes improve digestion. BD also has a good source of protein, antioxidant vitamins and essential minerals. We get it from St. John's company.

"If your dog suffers from hot spots, I suggest MSM, a natural source of nutritional sulfur," says Dr. Mindell. "It's a lotion that can be applied directly on the problem, and it takes care of it in no time." Please note: they are making supplements now that have MSM, Glucosamine & other vitamins all in one source.

MSM is great for allergies and decreasing pain!

Here is a wonderfully informative link to THE DACHSHUND BACK DIGEST


This is the disabled doggie's handbook/bible, so don't miss it!

Here is a snippet from the above page, about beta-carotene & Ester C:

"In a "Helpful Hint" in the North American Miniature Dachshund Club Digest, Sharon Michael, a Mini breeder in New York who is well known to many ECDC members, credits Beta - Carotene with bringing a dog that had been down in the rear for six months back to her feet. Sharon read about it in an article for people ( it is supposed to restore nerves in people with back problems and is recommended by the AMA), so she decided to give it a try since nothing else has worked. The dog was back on her feet in one week, and back to normal in a month. Dosage was 25,000 units Beta - Carotene once a day, along with 500mg. of Vitamin C each morning and evening. These results are particularly interesting as most other treatments are only really effective if started shortly after the injury occurs."
-from The Dachsund Back Digest Therapy Section

It's up to each hooman what they think is best for their pets, and consulting with a vet & others on the ABLEDOGS list is always advisable so you can get the whole picture and decide from there. To those wondering if they should start giving this regimine of vitamins to healthy dogs...if I could turn back time for Nyssa, I sure would have given them!

Please Read Nyssa's Guestbook! Please Sign Nyssa's Guestbook!

Here is a little information to read up on:

PREMATURE AGING OF THE DISC

Dachshunds have a condition known as CHONDRODYSTROPHY - "chondro" means cartilage and "dystrophy" means disorder. The cartilage is what makes up the disc. As it ages, it becomes brittle, more likely to rupture. I have read several articles that advise giving Vitamin C and Vitamin E, iron and manganese to help the cartilage and discs stay young. Regular dog food and dog vitamins do not contain Vitamin C. You must add this to your dog's diet. I give Vitamin C and Vitamin E on food every day to each dog. In the past, I gave iron and manganese also, but these minerals became impossible to obtain, so I am not using them at this time. There is a dog vitamin/mineral supplement now available which does contain manganese. It is called Cosequin- check with your vet.

Per this website: http://www.petsmart.com/pet_library/home_remedies/back_disk.shtml

Asprin: the safe dosage for dogs is one-quarter of a 325-milligram tablet for every ten pounds of dog, given twice a day. Aspirin can be *dangerous for cats*, however, so don't give it without first checking with your vet.

Also, don't give ibuprofen or acetaminophen, which can be dangerous for pets, says Lee R. Harris, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Federal Way, Washington.







** GASP ** Hey, Santa--that's MY toast! grr!

This is my intense, "I know you have toast!" stare.
My nickname is "The Toast Monster!"
 
 

Here is a link to Nyssa's Wheels! website
@ dreamemporium.com/Nyssas_Wheels.html

This page is dedicated to my beloved Nyssa, who has been such an inspiration for me while I endure my own chronic illness which, after 17 years, gets more challenging to endure with each passing day. Nyssa handles her situation with grace, is full of love & is always upbeat; bouncing back with joy for life and all the num-nums & snuggles it brings. She's a little angel of inspiration & I love her dearly! ** See update, below.**

WoW, Nyssa got her first award, and it's from the beautiful & talented Gracie! Thanks so much Gracie & Julz! I think this calls for a round of toast...yo, Mom!

Nyssa Won a very special award!! Date: May, 2002
This award is from a very special website I highly recommend, called "Flawed Companions." My buddies Marlin, Vinnie & Monty's stories are there, and their wonderful human Heather is spreading the word that pets with special needs have lots of life & love left to give us, so please visit their website & if you have a website, consider linking up and helping to save the lives of many deserving pets. Thank you, Heather!

Wow, Heather gave my Mom Cyndi an award, too--thank you, Heather! This is what she said:
"The Guardian Angel award is for you for all you've done for Nyssa; if she belonged to someone else, she may not be here today. The Outstanding Courage Award is for Nyssa, for having the courage to overcome her "flaw" and enjoying life. "

Heather, you are the BEST! Thank you :)

Great book for those of us who lose a beloved pet...this is a book originally written for a child, but the simple heart-felt message is healing for all of us!

Book: For Every Dog an Angel, by author Christine Davis. You can find it at Amazon.com or other book stores on the net.

Whenever possible, do whatever you can to help heal your spirit after suffering from the pain of watching a beloved pet endure pain & illness, or in dealing with the loss of your beloved pet. There are many lessons to be learned from these heart-wrenching events in life. Believe that everything happens for a reason, especially the painful scary things that we cannot understand. Find the blessing within the tragedy, and you'll find your peace. My wish for every visitor is to find this wonderful sense of peace, so they can let go of all these painful feelings, and find the Light!

I wrote the above just a few short weeks before we unexpectedly lost our lovely Nyssa.
Now I'll have to try to do the same; my heart goes out to everyone else who feels as I do
right now, as I write this. I miss Nyssa soooo much, and always will. Goodbye, my Sweet-Faced
little angel. Remember that Mommy loves you, always.

Nyssa Nightengale Russell
a.k.a. "The Toast Monster" and Sweet-Face
November 29, 1991--October 29, 2003
12 years, 11 months old.

Our darling little girl Nyssa succumbed to mammary gland cancer that spread to her lungs & liver; euthanized at 3pm EST.
May she be greeted in heaven @ The Rainbow Bridge by all the furbabies who preceeded her,
to guide her lovingly to our God, until we can embrace her in our loving arms again.
We love you for eternity & miss you so much, my little Sweet-Face Nyssa.

If you would like to read more about Nyssa's remarkable life,
and the message that she gave so many people & their disabled pets, you can visit her 2 websites here:

Nyssa's Wheels! And: Nyssa's Gift! (You are here)

Nyssa's cancer started with what her vet called a "benign" tumor on her abdomen. Intuitively,
I knew it would one day take her from us. The vet did painful needle aspirations on her tumor,
and I decided that day that I was not going to let her spend her last days going through painful
procedures that would most likely ultimately fail anyway. She had already had numerous
abdominal surgeries due to other benign tumors, hernias etc., and I could tell that Nyssa
had had enough, and just wanted to enjoy life as long as she could without any more painful
procedures. I talked to her for a long time, remembering the times she has let my husband &
I know in her own special way what she needs, and asked her to let me know when she needed
to leave us, as much as we didn't want her to go. Pain helps us let go of our loved ones,
because as much as we love them and cling to them, we cannot allow ourselves to force them to
hang on and live in agony just to make us happy. Pain also helps convince the one in pain to
let go of this earthly body, and leave their loved ones, as much as they'd like to stay with us.
When the body no longer can operate as our vehicle, we must let it go, and return to spirit.

During the year since that appointment, the vet often checked Nyssa's "benign" tumor and it was
seemingly unchanged and he was not concerned; but I knew. Somehow, I just knew.

During that year also, we adopted an Australian Shepherd & Chow-Chow mix from the SPCA,
although I fought it, worried how Nyssa would feel. She considered the new puppy "her" puppy,
and loved her very much! Sadie Mae watched over Nyssa, as Nyssa did the same for her. They
were so cute together, and Sadie never did understand that Nyssa was excited when it was meal-time,
not upset; and would try to kiss her and distract Nyssa from her happy butt-circle dances of joy
and R2-D2 prances back & forth, yodeling with happiness that it was num-num time! Sadie would
dare to get in her way, and Nyssa would mock-snarl and fake-bite at her, trying to chase her away. It was
so cute, and made all of us laugh every day. I knew as long as Nyssa enjoyed her num-nums, life
was definitely worth living! At the same time, I had this uncomfortable, nagging feeling that
Sadie was entering our lives to help soothe us so that we could let Nyssa go, and she would
be better able to let go since she would know that Sadie was here to love us, in her absence.
Nyssa had always been incredibly giving and loving in that way, and I truly believe this was
all planned in some cosmic way, in order to help us all with the heart-breaking changes which
were about to occur.

Nyssa & Sadie Meet on May 6, 2003

Then one day in October 2004, I was watching an episode of Oprah on which Barbra Steisand
sung a song called, "Smile, Though Your Heart Is Breaking," and as she sung this song, they showed
pictures of her recently deceased & dearly beloved dog, Sami. She dedicated this song to her dear one,
and that is when I had the sudden intuition that Nyssa's time was near. I held her as I cried deeply,
hoping that I was wrong; but my little Sweet-Face Nyssa gave me a sad, knowing look that
told me I was right. Intuition helps prepare us, as much as one can be prepared for such a
heart-breaking event. I had no idea how terribly soon my intuition would come to pass...

Within days, Nyssa suddenly stopped eating. We hoped maybe she was having a hunger strike
like she sometimes would pull on us, wanting a taste of filet mignon or toast; but she wouldn't
even eat those favorite treats. She kept giving me "the look" that it was time, so my husband
took her to the vet since I was unfortunately unable to go, being too ill. This time, I knew
she wouldn't return home the way I wanted. The doctor confirmed that the benign tumor was
now malignant and had grown incredibly fast and aggressively since her last recent visit,
and had spread to her lungs and liver. I kept my promise to Nyssa, and my dear husband held
her lovingly as the vet gave her the shot that made her peacefully pass on to the next life;
a life without pain, paralysis or cancer.

We know she is in a better place, but oh my God, I miss her SO much it hurts so terribly, but
that is the price we all must pay in order to be gifted with their love and company for the
short time they are on this earth. Nyssa, I will miss you for the rest of my life, and
although I know it will be awhile, I look forward to the wonderful moment in time when I
can see & hold you again. God Bless you, my little Sweet-Face Nyssa. Thank you for the gift
of love and lessons you have not only given me, but so many other furbabies and their humans.

To those of you reading this, please go give your little furbabies a special hug and kiss for
my little Nyssa, because she was all about love and caring, and I know it would make her smile,
as it would me.

If reading about Nyssa has touched your life in a positive way, I would greatly appreciate hearing
from you, because it would mean so much to me and help me heal from mourning the loss of this
dear little soul, at least in this physical world. I miss her so, and find comfort knowing
that her pain is gone, and she is happy and with God. She was so sweet, she just had to be an
angel here on earth, so I know she looks down on us all now, from her little spot in heaven.

I hung a special windchimes outside my window, and at night when I am alone and everyone else
has gone to bed, it comforts me to hear "Nyssa's Windchimes" and think of the saying,
"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets her wings."

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to
Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can
run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are
warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were
hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of
days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they
each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play
together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright
eyes are intent. Her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the group,
flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together
in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your
hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your
pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

-Author unknown...

Lyrics: Smile though your heart is aching

Smile
Though your heart is aching
Smile
Even though it's breaking
When
There are clouds
In the sky,
You'll get by
If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile
And maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun
Come shining through
For you!

Light up your face
With gladness
Hide every trace
Of sadness
Although a tear
May be ever so near
That's the time
You must keep on trying
Smile,
What's the use of crying?
You'll find that life
Is still worth-while
If you just smile
That's the time
You must keep on trying
Smile,
What's the use of crying?
You'll find that life
Is still worth-while
If you just smile

Chaplin - Turner - Parsons