ABLCS Loses A Team Member

Thank you all for caring. To tell you the truth this was not something I was going to share with the community. It is not that I didn’t think you would care but that I felt that it was wrong that I should be broken hearted and crying my eyes out over a little dog when so many of you are dealing with so much worse.

Then it occurred to me that I would react that same way if I had lost my best friend and I had. When I got bladder cancer Sam was the only one who did not treat me differently. He made me laugh when I had nothing to laugh about. He cuddled me when I was scared and taking care of him gave me a reason to get up when I didn’t want to. When I was the sickest from the chemo he had to be bodily taken from my side to eat and go out because he didn’t want to leave me unguarded and as little as he was that was what he was doing. I can remember many times dozing and waking up to find him on the pillow next to me staring at me unblinkingly watching over me. It will never cease to amaze me that such a little being could take up such a big space in my life. He was a prime example that not all caregivers have opposable thumbs.

On Saturday I wrote the moderators and asked them to cover for me this weekend and I took a day off something I never do. It was hard for me to come into the office this morning because for fifteen years I have not gone to my office without him running ahead of me looking back over his shoulder telling me to hurry up.

I am glad Ed wrote about Sam telling you what happened because this forum is a family and families share their good times and bad. This site is about living life while dealing with cancer and this is a part of life. Today my world goes on and things will return to normal but I will always miss my little boss.

Cynthia... It's even hard to find adequate words to say how much my heart aches for you. I have been such a dog lover since I was a little girl and I know that pain all too well. Please know you, Eddie, and little Sam are in the warmest thoughts of many here.

Eddie... your post was so beautifully written. A very fitting tribute to an extraordinary and brave lady and her loyal little "boss".

On Saturday, 28 January 2012, at a little after 1:30 p.m. (ET), we lost a valued member of our support team; Cynthia’s beloved Yorkshire Terrier Sam. The story begins almost 15 years ago when Sam and Cynthia first met; they bonded instantly and have been a team ever since.

Sam was about seven pounds of attitude and was the “boss”. From the time of Cynthia’s bladder cancer diagnosis in August of 2004, Sam was an important member of her support team. Who else would listen whenever Cynthia needed to talk? Who was her almost constant home companion during her treatments in late 2004 and early 2005? Who would keep her company on the couch when she was weak from the chemotherapy treatments? The answer was always Sam.

Throughout the years, there were several health issues with Sam, but together with Cynthia and his veterinarian, we were able to keep him going. During the past several years, Sam started to slow down, he had arthritis, a liver condition, and no teeth, but he was always there for Cynthia. All she had to say was “to the office” and Sam would trot down the hall with Amelia the poodle to Cynthia’s home office.

But all that started to end earlier this week when Sam just wasn’t right. The veterinarian ran some tests, but there wasn’t anything specific; just the effects of time and age. Sam didn’t have a good night on Friday and Saturday began with a call to the veterinarian. By early afternoon, Sam was taking what would be his last trip to the veterinarian. As Cynthia held him in her arms wrapped in his favorite blanket, we parked the car with the sun shining through the windshield.

I went into the veterinarian’s office and when they were ready, Cynthia brought Sam into the office. The veterinarian examined Sam, but there was nothing to be done except humanely ease his pain. So with Cynthia and I holding him, he drifted off to sleep.

Sam was loved and will be greatly missed. He received great care from Cynthia and his two veterinarians at the Berkshire Veterinary Hospital. So if you send Cynthia an e-mail or call on the phone and you don’t hear back right away, she’s a little short handed at the moment with the “boss” gone from the home office.