It is with my deepest and heartfelt regret that I must announce the loss of my heart... My eye ball... My best friend ever! .... we went blind on day 12 of the diagnosis of diabetes... We fought to be stable enough to have cataract surgery... We went thru it like a breeze... After 7 months of being blind there was no better feeling than having my wiggle worm trying to get to her mama from that opthomologist techs arms .. on that day... Dec 2, 2025... She could hear me and see her mama again after all those months .. it was a day I will never forget!

Then came the pancreatitis.... months later and then we figured that out... We went thru a lot together... Sorta Thelma and Louise... But I always drove!

She was well until we had a mass development on her chest . We had surgery .. nothing but a lipoma... No worries .. then within 2 weeks .. these masses started to return... In 2 additional weeks the masses had over populated her chest and were pushing in on her lungs.. my vet told me we could load her up with pain meds etc... but this was not going away and they had to have wide margins on these tumors .. she only weighed 18 pounds .. there was no way they could get clear margins... There was not enough dog to work with! I could not put her through the last of her days just for me .. I had to make the hardest decision of my life... To set her free. She never deserved to have all those things happen.. she was a rescue .. I had her for 12 years and 5 months. I had done everything humanly possible... The vet told me I could take her home loaded up on sedation and she had about 2 weeks... I couldn't let her be so sick... Just to have her raise her head and look at me and ask me WHY MAMA.... WHY DO I FEEL SO BAD?

I set her free ... My heart is shattered ... My head is pounding so hard I can't think.. but I have to give our God all the glory ... He kept us alive taught us all the tricks and tips to help us survive 16 months of diabetes. So don't be scared... Diabetes did not kill my girl. A mean old mast cell tumor took her from me.

I have posted on paw it forward on Facebook the treasures I have to share... I know all the new mamas and daddies are in need ... I was too... I needed knowledge .. and this little dawg and this group taught me so much... From survival ... To how hungry a dog can seem...as if they actually make you believe that they are starving to death ..lol..

She loved to eat ... So when she wouldn't I would always have a little magic dust to go on top! She was the bestest girl ever...

My heart is broken .. but I already have a need in my heart to save another one .. not right away, but to honor her life.. I want to share my love with a senior foster ... One whose mama or daddy has passed away and they need someone to save them from the darkness ... Just like my Sissy saved me ...

Take care of each other...

Love, paw prints and wet kisses to all of you.. FOREVER!

Melissa and SISSY DICKENS