Lil' Layla Lovebug's battle

[LovebugsMommy]

Please bear with me as this is all still very new and difficult to discuss. . . .

Layla was a precious miniature piebald dachshund with a heart of gold. She was truly my lil' love! I had recently got married and moved 3 hours away from the only home I had ever known when my sweet husband bought me my precious Layla. She helped me cope with the move in so many ways. So I want to do something special for her and share her memory with you all. . . .

After a lot of infections, test, and medicine our Lil' Layla was diagnosed with a liver disease called portasysmetic shunts, at 4 months old. At this point we were told that her life would be very short and we would be faced with having to put her to sleep. Not ready or willing to let go of her we explored all our options and found three. . .1) Surgery 2) Strict low protein diet 3) Putting her to sleep. We got as much information about surgery as we could and then were told that she was too weak and wouldn't make it through the surgery so we decided to put her on a strict diet. For 3 months her seizures stopped, she gained weight, and played like crazy. She was such a funny little girl. . . she loved to pull Ozzy (our male dachshund which is twice her size) around by his collar. With her doing so well we wanted to believe that she was misdiagnosed or that her liver had fixed itself, but unfortunately that was just wishful thinking. Sunday Feb. 16, 2003 she started getting very mellow and lethargic, she wouldn't eat and was frantic over water. We thought she was just having a bad day, but a few days passed and she still wouldn't eat much of anything. . . .she cried all night, couldn't control her bladder, and had no desire to play. We knew then that we could no longer be selfish. . . .she couldn't suffer anymore. We scheduled an evening appointment with our vet to discuss what was best (we knew what we would have to do). I spent all day with her trying my best to get her to eat, to play, to just get better. . .but nothing worked. . .she just laid in my arms so still. We took her in to see the vet (which she loved to do) and she got up enough strength to wag her tail. We had to put her to sleep to end her pain. . . the hardest decision we've ever had to make. I didn't want her to feel alone so my husband and I stayed with her. . .I held her with my hand on her chest. . . I felt her heart stop and knew that she was peaceful now. . .with no pain!

Layla. . .Daddy, Ozzy, and I miss you so very much! There is an overwhelming feeling of emptiness in our house now. We know that you are not truly gone from us. . .you still live in our hearts! Wait for us, Lil' Love, at the Rainbow Bridge. We love you!!

Lil' Layla Lovebug July 14, 2002 - February 20, 2003

-Danielle

[Meemoo]

passing..but such a nice tribute to her. I'm sure she is basking in the sun with the other dachsies that are at the bridge. May you find comfort in all her happy memories....

[crock]

We are all so sadden to hear of your loss. But, as you said, she is peaceful now with no more pain. She will be in your hearts forever.
Char

[sinder]

So sorry to hear of your loss. She will always be in your thoughts, a treasure to remember.


Sinder

[Mark]

. . . for your loss.

Many of us here feel your pain . . . we do understand, unlike those without furkids. Time will lessen the pain, but never the memories. And the memories drift to the good things.

Come here anytime . . . and we're right here with and for you.

And welcome to DBB . . . we're glad you found us.

[Frzframe]

I think what you did was truly the most caring and loving thing you could've done for your little one. She was in the arms of love until the very end and that was the very best place for her to be.

~Shonda

[OzzysDaddy]

Thank you for all the kind words and sentiments. This is Chad, Danielle's husband (and Layla's daddy). We miss her more than words can describe. She was our little girl and always will be. It's nice to find others that truly care and can sympathize with us on our loss.

Layla: Mommy, Daddy, and Ozzy love and miss you whole bunches....

-Chad

[Meemoo]

Indeed..the word lovebug seemed to have fit her.... WHat a sweetie :)

[LovebugsMommy]

Thank you all for taking the time to read about our Lil' Lovebug! It is really nice to find a group of people who can relate and share our pain. She will live on in our hearts forever. . .no other will be able to feel her spot!

-Danielle a.k.a. Layla's mommy :angel:

[Mark]

But thanks is not needed, Danielle . . . :)

We share your sentiment . . . I think the way we put it when we lost Wimpy was, "There is a 'Wimpy shaped' hole in our hearts that will always be there."

[dutchman]

Hi Danielle and Chad,

Like you I made my firist posting to the board here in this forum. It was a tribute to my little mill mother that I had to help on her way to the bridge. Perhaps it was the great support that I received from the members here that make me think of the board as a second family. I'm including one of the poems that was e-mailed to me after my rescue friend passed on Aggie's story to her mailing list. The title and author are unknown.

God saw you were getting tired
and a cure was not to be....
So He put His arms around you
and whispered...."Come with me."
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer
And saw you fade away.
Although we loved you dearly
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating....
A special 'dog' was put to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us...
He only takes the best.


I always think that line "We could not make you stay" has a special meaning for those of us who have had to help a loved one on their way to the bridge.

I'm glad Layla was a member of your family while her life was all too short it sounds like you gave her many happy days. She was a real cutie.

Tom and teh boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[lena]

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. I know how painful it is, as do others on the board. I'm sure that Layla knew you did the best you could for her and that she was loved very much.

[Patt]

:angel:
Dear Danielle & Chad:

I'm so sorry for the loss of Lil' Layla. My thoughts are with you in this time of sadness. May you find comfort in the warmth of happy memories...And in the passing of time, may inner peace enfold you.

Patt

[TessieMom]

I can't add a lot to what has already been said, except to say that it is never easy, especially to lose one so young. She knew love and imprinted her spirit on you and you will have memories to carry you forward. Rena and the 4 Waco girls (Stinker, Tessie, Lucy and Kibby)

[Heidismom]

Oh, my! How sad for you to lose her so young! No matter how short or long, our dachsie babies' lives are so precious! I have gone through this myself, a bit less than 2 years ago, and I know you loved her very much to do what was in her best interests! Be happy and healthy at the Rainbow Bridge, sweet Layla!

[LovebugsMommy]

These kind words from you all have helped us in so many ways. We are starting to be able to focus on all the good times now rather than the painful ones. Layla was truly a precious part of our family. . . .our angel with fur.

God Bless all of you!

-Danielle :angel:

[onebigmickeyfan]

You have my deepest sympathy for your loss.

Even in your sorrow and your love for layla, please realize how blessed you were to have shared your lives with such beautiful loving little bundle of joy, even if god only let you keep her a short while.
She was blessed because god gave her you so he was sure that her little life would be filled from beginning to end with unconditional love from very special people.

It makes me happy to hear from others who love their animals. I feel very lucky to have gotten to hear about Layla and your family.

Each passing day will get easier and her memory will bring you great joy in the days to come.
I hope to hear more from you both.

Lori, Missy and the Case Man

[willsana]

I am sorry for your loss.

Thank you for sharing Little Layla with us. Even tho we are "meeting" her in this time of sadness, to see her face can only make one smile.

Hold tight to each other and Ozzy.

-Annie & Willow in Minnesota

[Dachshund Mama]

to learn of your loss. Brought tears when I read about Layla...she was a little angel indeed, so cute! I have never lost one...so first hand I cannot say I know what you're going thru...but I can imagine how I would feel if it had been Willy & my heart goes out to you. She was indeed fortunate to have had you during her all too short lifetime...God blessed both of you! He will hold her for you til you get there.
Katherine & Willy

[Juneysmom]

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. I understand what you are going through. It is doubly hard when your dog is still young.

[kwikdri]

I know too well what your feeling. I lost my "Lady" of 12 years on 3/13/03 to Congestive Heart Failure after trying Lasix, Enacard and lots of love and attention but i guess her little heart was too damaged. The pain is beyond imagination. My heart goes out to you. I have one left a 5 yr old Dachs named Dixie who is grieving also, she misses her friend. I hope you will be able to adjust to life without your friend and remember the wondeful times you shared. I haven't even got close to that point yet and am taking it one day at a time.

[Heide]

Im so sorry for the painful loss you have endured. I know all to well how it can devistate us. I lost my Casey and she was only 6 yrs old. I think way too young.
My heart goes out to you. This only time will help with.
Kwikdri my condolences to you as well.
It is just so hard loosing our furkids..
God Bless
Heide
:angel:

[kwikdri]

Thank you Heide thursday will be a week and it seems like a lifetime. I would love to hear from others also that lost their Doxies to Congestive Heart Failure..It seemed to take her fast once it hit hard. The meds didnt seem to matter. I wonder if this is the normal or do some actually survive and add yrs to their lives. As you can see i am still in the "questioning" stage.

[LovebugsMommy]

Kwikdri, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I know the pain you are going through. . .I am right there with you, taking it one day at a time. I will go a few days thinking nothing but happy thoughts and feel as though I am getting stronger, but then I will come across a little reminder of her and I am right back in tears. I have been working on a memory book with all her pictures and other little momentos. . .I can usually only do one page at a time because it is so hard to look at her pictures! In the short life she lived she made such a huge impact on my life. Our male dachsie is still grieving as well. . . he always seems to find her favorite toys and bring them to me. . .it breaks my heart.

My thoughts and prayers are with you! Once again thank you all for your kind words.

:angel: Danielle

[Heide]

to hear of your loss also. Its a very hard time to go through. You have friends here that can help.
I went through it with my Casey. I lost her when she was only 6 years old. I thought I would just die myself. I missed her so much.
When I was able to I wrote a poem about her life with us. I redid it on the computer and did it really pretty. Then I got a picture blown up of her and myself. I put the 8x10 picture and the poem in a frame. It sits along with her ashes.
It helped me alot to do that.
Its been about 4 years now since I lost her and I still cry when I look at her picture.
My thoughts are with you at time of such sorrow. Only time will help heal.
Heide and gang:angel: