Help with medical bills, tissue allert................

[Shumard4]

I do not know this woman or how she got my email but this email touch my heart as I have been in her shoes. Since the payments are to be sent to the hospital I felt the need to share it and I will be sending in some money for both the medical bill and the new house which I think is an awesome idea.

Friends,

My precious "child" Cara Bella (black and tan
dachshund) went to heaven
yesterday (5-10-08) around 2pm.  She had spinal
surgery for a ruptured
disk in her neck at the MU Veterinary Medical Teaching
Hospital in
Columbia, MO on 5-2-08.  She came through the surgery,
but was not
breathing on her own so I had her put on a vent that
same day. She
gradually improved and was breathing on her own (vent
assisted) for two
days (Tuesday and Wednesday).  I had to come home on
Monday and leave
her at the hospital which was heart-breaking. She was
doing so great
and trying to breath.... her nostrils would flare and
her lips would
curl and her head would move.... she tried so hard. On
Thursday they
caught a slight case of pneumonia and gave her
antibiotics. She seemed
to be frustrated and wanted to go home....she had
stopped breathing on
her own. I talked to her on the phone and reassured
her of how amazing
she was doing and how much I loved her. She would calm
down with my
voice and that helped. I went back to Columbia on
Friday and she
continued to only breath for approximately a minute
and would stop. She
had the breathing tube, feeding tube through her nose,
both front legs
had blown veins and they used her back leg that was
getting so sore.
She was having diarrhea from the feedings and they
expressed her urine
(she could do some of it on her own). She was chewing
her tube when she
was aware and awake, and would look at me with those
sweet brown eyes
with such willingness. She was so tolerant, accepting
and full of faith
in everything going on. However, she was becoming more
and more
frustrated.... she wanted to get up and go home... she
tried.... her
legs were working and the paralysis was gone. On
Friday night, I gave
the situation completely to God and asked that he give
me more time
with her if that was his will. (She was only 8 years
old.) I asked for
a sign if I was meant to let her go also.  On Saturday
morning she was
still not breathing but for only a minute at a time
and the doctors
advised me to make a decision.  I asked to just give
me this day
(Saturday) and they agreed to discuss the situation at
5pm. I talked
with Cara and gave her permission to go, I told her I
would miss her
terribly, but I knew she would always be with me
(especially in my
heart). I asked her for a sign to let me know she
wanted to go so I
would not always wonder if I was doing the right thing
and should have
given her more time. I told her that if God would heal
her to breath
that I would do what ever we needed and pay any cost
to get her home. I
sat with my arms around her for hours and prayed every
time she started
to breath and then she would stop. I put my chin on
her head and kissed
her nose and told her she was so amazing, beautiful
and LOVED.  She was
such a good girl and so much stronger than her mom!!
  At nearly 2 pm
her tube needed to be changed and in putting a new one
back in, she
struggled.... her heart stopped and I think that is
when she was gone.
The vent doctor, Dr. Sharp, tried to bring her back at
first and she
was not responding. In my head, I kept telling her to
go, "just go
Cara". Dr. Sharp asked me if I wanted to continue
since she was not
responding and I said no.... since her heart was
healthy... she had
given me my sign.... she was tired and wanted to be
well. I put my
whole body on her and thanked her for our 8 years and
what a gift she
had given me by being my Cara. I told her to go and be
well. Dr. Sharp
took out the tubes and I held her wrapped in a blanket
while the
doctors cried, and I cried (I thought I would not
stop).

She was blessed by the staff at MU... they recognized
her as special
and loved her so much.  All the students knew her,
since she was the
only dog on a vent for that long, and came by each day
to encourage her
and pet her. Dr. Sharp is from Australia and does only
critical care
and vents.... she sat with Cara 24-7. Cara was very
regal and loved
this "special" attention. Her and Dr. Sharp bonded and
they loved each
other.  Cara trusted her and I felt so blessed to
leave her with such
an earth angel. They allowed me to be back there for
days at a time and
I am so grateful for this time with her. I saw what
they do and know
that they do miraculous things there for animals!  Dr.
Coats was has
her surgeon .... she told me that Cara would be
remembered as very
special to all of them...she touched them with her
pure and sweet
spirit. She was so loving and happy!

I knew I would face this one day, but I was not
prepared for it to be
so soon. I have never felt such deep sorrow and would
like to have this
kill me, but somehow it doesn't.  I want to know WHY,
but know it was
time for her to go... and their are no reasons. I will
miss her every
day of my life!!  My grief is so deep I think I may be
overcome at
times... I want to wake up from this nightmare and
breath that sense of
relief that I prayed for each day. Being home without
her is pure
torture.... all her things are around me and a huge
hole exists in our
family now.  The Corgis seem stunned too. She grounded
us and I never
knew how much she held us together. I feel like I have
been hit in the
gut and can't get going again.... crying
uncontrollably and then
sitting in numb shock, unable to move.

Dear Friends, this is that unconditional love that we
hear about.... it
is so worth the risk.... I would not have missed my
time with Cara to
avoid this pain.... NEVER!!  It tells me I am alive
and I was so
blessed by God and her, to been given such a gift in
her.... even if I
wanted more time and it was not meant to be, that is
OK..... I don't
have to like it, but I have to accept it and let go of
the grief.... I
wish to keep the fond memories and honor her each day
for the gift of
her!!  She is my HEART!

On my drive home last night I was numb, I do not
remember most of the
trip. However, at one point, something caught my eye
and I looked
up.... I saw a beautiful rainbow. I have not seen one
in many years and
I started to cry and smile. My sweet girl sent this
sign of comfort and
love to her mom!  It was so much like her and I knew
she was OK and was
sending her love to me. Interestingly enough, my
friend Eileen was
driving back down the same road and did not see it.
That is so very
COOL and helps ease the pain, even if for a moment.

Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.... I felt
the support and
love.... I know Cara did too.

I would ask that in her memory, anyone that would like
to, please
contribute money to the MU Veterinary Medical Teaching
Hospital in
Cara's name..... they do such amazing work there and
gave me additional
precious time with Cara!  The animals I met and their
parents were such
a blessing to me.... every breed and size you could
think of was there.
They put in pacemakers, do cancer treatment and so
much more (did not
know a dog could be put on a vent until now, only
there) for many
beloved pets. Everyone I met saw themselves as
parents, not owners, and
treated their "children" accordingly.

If you would like to contribute... her bill is over
$10,000.... you
think if you loss your "child" they would waive the
bill, huh?, you can
contact: Sarah McCarter at MU Veterinary Medical
Teaching Hospital: 900
East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO  65211.  Phone:
573-882-7821. Case #
380187. Client # 110681.

All contributions are tax deductible.  I have cashed
in my investments,
took out savings and am willing to sell items, but
still need help.
Also,I would like to see a vent suite be funded....
she was in the
middle of the ICU on a table with noise and bright
lights for 8 days.
Also, they have the Barkley House they want to build
(they have the
land) which is like a Ronald McDonald House for the
pets and their
parents to stay in while there... they can sleep
together and have
their treatments at the house!!  This is so needed....
I had to leave
her and stay with friends.... it was so tough on both
of us!!!

I can never thank all you enough.... you have my love
and gratitude!!


Infinite Smiles and Blessings,

Sheila Rider

*** Love is a four-legged word ***

[JetEd73]

oh I so wish I could help