An Unexpected Good-Bye to Sheba

You might have noticed, it has been very quiet around here for more than a week. I would love to say that we have just been on a long needed vacation, but the reality is a bit different. And I'll just say that we've had what I think, are a few more than our share of curve-balls thrown at us.

The most recent one is Sheba.  I've been trying to write this very post since Monday.  But the words haven't come.  Perhaps because deep down inside I thought that if I wrote the words it would make what was happening so much more real.

But now I am faced with the sad reality that today brought the loss of our precious Sheba.  It began this past Sunday when she collapsed.  I found her laying in the grass. At first I thought she was just resting, so I took a few pictures as I walked over to her.  She was so perfectly still and her eyes were closed,.

Her gums were pale, and when Carl and I got her onto her feet after several minutes, she had "waste" all over her. We helped her back to the house where we gave her a quick bath.  After a couple of hours, she seemed brighter, and her gum-color had improved and she seemed fine. A blur of events would follow with a visit from Mobile Vet on Monday morning, who after taking several x-rays, sent us to see a veterinary cardiologist because Sheba's heart appeared to be enlarged. The EKG indicated what an ultrasound confirmed, and that was that Sheba had a tumor on her heart.  We were given the grim diagnosis of cardiac-hemangiosarcoma, or cancer of the heart. I was told Sheba could have hours, days, weeks, or maybe months, but not much more.  

I tried to remain optimistic, and it helped that by Tuesday Sheba was herself.  I'd started her on a herbal supplement called Yunnan Baiyao which is a hemostatic powdered medicine famous for being carried by the Vietcong to stop bleeding during the Vietnam War. It appeared to be helping because her gum/tongue color was good, and her appetite had returned.  She was tiring easier, but she was up and around and was happy.

Today began normally.  With the week we'd been having, I was looking forward to being home and relaxing.  I got the dogs out early, and Sheba was eager to play with a ball, and she rolled in the grass.

~Sheba rolling in the grass this morning~

I took a few pictures, and noticed how happy she seemed.  I ran a couple of short errands and came home, to let the dogs out for a 2nd walk before we settled in at home for the day.

~A Last Photo of Sheba this morning~

In the driveway Sheba came running towards me with the ball in her mouth, and suddenly collapsed in front of me. I knew what was happening, and did my best to calm her, and try and slow her breathing.  I gave her another herb called  'Bao Xian Zi'. that is dubbed the 'emergency', 'rescue', and 'insurance' pill to stop any hemorrhaging. But it didn't help. I'm not sure how much time passed, but finally her breathing slowed a little, and as she was able to look at me. In that moment, as hard as I was praying for more time and asking her not to go, I knew it was not to be. I also knew that if I waited, Sheba would leave this life on her own.  But I didn't want her to suffer any longer, so I called my (old) vets office, and said I was on my way with her. Shortly after 1 o'clock this afternoon, Sheba quietly and peacefully left us for the Rainbow Bridge.


Our nearly 11 years with Sheba passed much too quickly.  I was remembering this week why we adopted Sheba from the rescue all those years ago -- And it was because of Charlie.  He loved her.  We used to joke that Charlie thought we'd gotten her for him because they were instant and inseparable good friends.  Keeping her for Charlie may have been true at the time, but Sheba truly became a friend to all of us. Her unexpected loss leaves a hug gap in our lives that will never again be filled. Tonight as I write this, I have searched to find the words to say how much she'll be missed.  But there are no words.  Just the emptiness because she's gone.  

God speed to my beautiful canine sister, Sheba.  Missy, you were truly a once in a lifetime dog, friend and companion and we feel so lucky to have had you as part of our lives.