FAREWELL MY NALA--A STORY OF RESCUE

 Last January, 2018, I was asked to come to a shelter near me to get two Pekingese.

 They were extremely bonded-- can you tell. 

 I was told that one had seizures, and they wanted them to stay together.

 It turns out they both had seizures.   BeeBee was able to be on phenobarbital twice a day and did great.   But, Nala, needed multiple meds three times a day to overcome the cluster seizures she was having. 

 They went to the vet often and were so happy to be together.

 Nala was the most outgoing of the two-- BeeBee was more reserved.  Nala stole one of Chumley's dumbell toys-- fun!

 They both did great with other dogs-- neither one had a mean bone in their body.

 They shared secrets with each other.  BeeBee had a big story.

 And Nala shared right back.

 They all enjoyed the playroom and could veg on the couch with Max and Kai Kai.

 Nala had such a beautiful face, while BeeBee had a soft, timid face.  She was not the brave one.

 Nala was given "the pink purse" that was to become her favorite item. 

 She had it so much, that there were big tooth holes in it.  It became like a pacifier after her BeeBee died.   They were diagnosed w IMHA a week apart.  It is not supposed to be hereditary, which made it so strange for them both to get it.   I studied so much about this horrific auto-immune disease and there is no known cause and no cure.   There may be triggers -- vaccines are thought to be one-- but we can't stop treating our dogs.  Once a dog is diagnosed with IMHA, though, they can no longer have vaccines. 

 Nala began to be with Kai Kai more-- I'm sure she missed her BeeBee.  They had always been together. 

 I became her "BeeBee."   She was so attached to me-- friendly, joyful, always wanting to be near me and touching.  If I was sitting, she was on my lap.

 She was inquisitive-- she knew Sugar Bit had put crackers in the red ram, and she found the door to get to them.   So smart!

 Her bucket list included:  learning to cook. 

 We went to Williamsburg, we went to Peke meetings (she had to have medications throughout the day), she celebrated Christmas, and New Year's and we made Christmas her birthday.   We wanted to go to the beach, but it was too cold for her.

 She received so many toys and presents from people and so we put some around her for her birthday picture.  Christmas seemed the perfect day to give her as her own.

 She had Christmas sweaters, many shirts and coats. 

 Nala kept fighting the seizures and the IMHA.  She did have break through seizures, which we had to use meds for.

 She loved her Bits.  Her joy was amazing when they came to the house.  She was just exuberant!

 Nala began to have other health issues.   She developed demodex mange from the low immune system.  We began to treat it.  It was hard to treat because she were so many medications that would make the seizures or IMHA worse. 

 We battled on.   We thought we might win.  Her red blood count started to come up, so we thought she would begin to heal.

 She rested, had meds, good food. 

  We saw Dr. Meador every Monday to check her progress, and sometimes, Sugar Bit helped with her own medical tools.

 Did Nala miss her sister, BeeBee?  (And why was Nala always on tables?)

 I'm sure she did.

 I guess BeeBee could also get on tables-- following her sister's lead.

 Maybe the fight against everything she had going on just became too much. 

 Maybe it was time to go see her sister in heaven.  I wasn't ready for that.

 Nala was so loving-- she probably loved me more than any dog I've ever had.  And I've had a lot.  I loved her face.  I could lean down and receive so many many kisses.

 On top of the IMHA and the seizures and the demodex, she developed MRSA.  We just began the treatment that I hoped would turn her around.  I was planning to post pictures every two weeks to show you her progress and how much better she was doing.

 But, she suddenly took a turn for the worse on Saturday.

 She hardly played or held her pink purse.

 Even though we did everything we could for her, like dressing her up for Christmas..

 ..reading books to her with Sugar Bit.

 ..letting her help decorate the tree.

 ..letting her guard the door. 

 She celebrated the New Year with Kai Kai.  She seemed to be doing better-- I had hope!

 We gave her medications that we hoped would help her, saw a specialist, had tests run. 

 Fiona said, "Dogs have such grace in their illness."   Nala had grace, and joy, and love.  Oh, did she have love.

 But, she slept more.  She had trouble staying warm.  She was on heating pads and covered with blankets when she needed it.

 We kept her in shirts and sweaters.  Then, last Saturday, she began to have trouble walking.  She could not climb the steps.  She began to shake as she tried to stand.   And then, she couldn't stand.   I took her to the vet again and she was going into a coma.   I held her like a baby, and told her I loved her.  She was on her back in my arms, and she turned her head to me, and tried to open her eyes to look at me-- she held my eyes for a moment and then closed them.  She tried to stay, but it was just too hard.  She left me surrounded by as much love as I could give her.  She was my girl in every way.

 I packed her clothes in a box.

 HOPE has been my word for this year. (In the past, it was been "believe" but this year, it was hope.)  I hoped Nala would make it. 

 I put her pink purses in the box, too.  The pink purse she loved the most was cremated with her.

 I held her in my arms before she left.

 Beach Bit loved her and asked if he could hold her before they took her away.  We sat on the floor and hugged her and hugged each other.  We had great love for Nala-- she had great love for us.

 She was our sweet girl.

 We know she is at peace-- she is not fighting any disease.  She is not uncomfortable. 

 She is now home with us--

But, most important, she has been reunited with her precious sister, BeeBee.  I'm sure they are playing and running and having the time of their lives.  I miss my girls.  I miss my Nala.  She was such a gift.  In rescue, we sometimes get the really sick ones.  But, we also have the chance to love them, which is a great honor.   Nala was a gift.  She was with me for a season-- and I'll always be grateful she was part of my life.   Run free, now sweet girls-- I love you.  💜❤️