SHAMMY THE ELDERLY ANGEL
"My Golden Retriever, Shammy was 13 1/2 and not feeling very well. She had arthritis and some stomach issues and was just plain tired. I called Elizabeth who i'd known for twenty years and asked would she mind making a house call and having a "talk" with Shammy to try and find out what was going on? She said she would. The very next day Elizabeth came over and got on the floor with Shammy and started to administer Reiki. Shammy instantly relaxed and I left them alone to have their chat. When she finished - about an hour later she told me Shammy wasn't ready to leave me just yet. Whew- But that she was definitely slowing down. And in considerable pain with her joints and hind legs. And would I please be mindful of that? I promised her I would. When Elizabeth got up to leave, Shammy got up too. Unaided by me and the sling I always used to hoist her up. That was a surprise. She then sprinted with Elizabeth to the door and followed her onto the porch. As if to say, "please don't go"--- Elizabeth got down yet again on her knees for one more hug and a big slurpy kiss and then another one. It was pretty amazing to see the change in my old dog. Shammy lived for another year. It wasn't an easy one but I was happy to have had it with her. A month before she passed she suffered something called "older dog rolling syndrome" which is a vestibular incident - kind of like a stroke. She was unable to get up and down stairs after that. So I had a ramp built for her. And used two large slings to hoist her up and down it. About a month after that she developed another issue called megaesophagus and I'll spare you the gory details of that. But let's just say- she needed 24/7 care. And i was her caregiver. But she was declining fast. I was trying to keep her alive as best I could - even though it was obvious she was uncomfortable. Elizabeth knew this and we were in touch daily. And then one day she wrote to me and said, Shammy is in terrible pain and she's suffering. You must put be merciful and put her down. Today if you can. And I knew she was right. I was keeping her alive because I couldn't bear to let her go. It was unfair. Elizabeth offered to come over and be with us when the mobile vet came the next day. It was very beautiful. We had a little ceremony with candles and prayers and I video-Skyped my daughter and her boyfriend virtually into the ceremony so they could join us - Shammy's dog walker/dogsitter came to say goodbye as well- it was all very tearful but sweet. Elizabeth led with some invocations and then we all said our testimonials - singing Shammy's praises and telling her that she was the best dog ever and how much she'd meant to us all. By the time the mobile vet came Shammy was very calm and slipped away quickly and with amazing peace. I will always be grateful to Elizabeth for everything she did for me and for Shammy. I really do believe she helped extend her life that one extra year. And that was a true blessing!" Thank you Elizabeth, you are a true healer and friend, - Robin Lerner |
EUTHANASIA FOR PETS: MIGHTY CZAR
"Many call me when their pet is getting close to that time and ask, is my pet ready to go? Does he/she wish to die at home? There is no one answer to this question and I understand how it weighs heavily on our minds. I shall share one story here.
A few years back my dear friend Andrea brought over a glorious male white wolf called Czar. Czar had been diagnosed with cancer in the bone in the right front leg. The vet had advised immediate euthanasia to avoid pain and to be merciful. Andrea wished to make sure this was Czar's wish. Czar was fierce, noble, discriminating and definitely a one man dog. Andrea brought him to the park across from my home so as not to upset my little pack and I stood against the fence quietly watching and listening to him. He knew, with great effort he walked to me and gazed up with his yellow specked eyes, they were pain filled but clear and brave. Kneeling down I gently touched his head and asked him, Well dear Czar what is your wish..are you ready to go? He responded with strength and assurance, please give me a while longer, I will let my mistress Andrea know the exact day. He then communicated that I should come to his house.
So I set up an appointment with Andrea and the following day my son and I were sitting in her living room. Andrea led me to her bedroom where Czar's mate was sitting with him so that we could further our conversation. When I commented to Czar that his mate was very beautiful he responded, The reason I must stay a while longer is to accustom her to the fact that I am dying…she is not ready to separate from me yet and she is my beloved mate. I repeated this to Andrea, his gratitude was so great that I had understood that he wished to give indication. So he slowly walked over and gave his mate a love bite to confirm my words and then came to me and gave me a similar tender love bite of gratitude. The reading was over. Andrea being the compassionate dog owner she is complied, she tended to him with great love for the next few months. I had explained to her that she would clearly know when he was done and ready.
Three months later Czar came and sat in front of Andrea focused on her with an intent stare then surrendered, he lay down and gave over to her. She called me for a gentle confirmation and I listened and said yes, he was ready. With great dignity he left his mate and a few hours later died with an equal sense of resignation and courage at the vet's office. This dog was an impactful creature, to this day Andrea and I become tearful just at the thought of him, but we listened to his wishes and this gave him a great sense of inner peace, he had chosen his time."
- E deVries
"Many call me when their pet is getting close to that time and ask, is my pet ready to go? Does he/she wish to die at home? There is no one answer to this question and I understand how it weighs heavily on our minds. I shall share one story here.
A few years back my dear friend Andrea brought over a glorious male white wolf called Czar. Czar had been diagnosed with cancer in the bone in the right front leg. The vet had advised immediate euthanasia to avoid pain and to be merciful. Andrea wished to make sure this was Czar's wish. Czar was fierce, noble, discriminating and definitely a one man dog. Andrea brought him to the park across from my home so as not to upset my little pack and I stood against the fence quietly watching and listening to him. He knew, with great effort he walked to me and gazed up with his yellow specked eyes, they were pain filled but clear and brave. Kneeling down I gently touched his head and asked him, Well dear Czar what is your wish..are you ready to go? He responded with strength and assurance, please give me a while longer, I will let my mistress Andrea know the exact day. He then communicated that I should come to his house.
So I set up an appointment with Andrea and the following day my son and I were sitting in her living room. Andrea led me to her bedroom where Czar's mate was sitting with him so that we could further our conversation. When I commented to Czar that his mate was very beautiful he responded, The reason I must stay a while longer is to accustom her to the fact that I am dying…she is not ready to separate from me yet and she is my beloved mate. I repeated this to Andrea, his gratitude was so great that I had understood that he wished to give indication. So he slowly walked over and gave his mate a love bite to confirm my words and then came to me and gave me a similar tender love bite of gratitude. The reading was over. Andrea being the compassionate dog owner she is complied, she tended to him with great love for the next few months. I had explained to her that she would clearly know when he was done and ready.
Three months later Czar came and sat in front of Andrea focused on her with an intent stare then surrendered, he lay down and gave over to her. She called me for a gentle confirmation and I listened and said yes, he was ready. With great dignity he left his mate and a few hours later died with an equal sense of resignation and courage at the vet's office. This dog was an impactful creature, to this day Andrea and I become tearful just at the thought of him, but we listened to his wishes and this gave him a great sense of inner peace, he had chosen his time."
- E deVries
BOGART THE MIRACLE BOY
"I found Bogart in downtown Los Angeles, I intended to find him a great home. Seriously ill, he was quickly taken to hospital with an emergency called Bloat. The team operating on him told me he had been in Bloat for at least 24 hours. He had lost 75% of his blood and 70% of his stomach. The vet gave him a 20% chance to live. He made it thru the first 48 hours, but they needed to see his stomach function, and make sure the stitches held. By the 5th day, he was dying and refused to eat. I called Elizabeth to administer a healing. She laid her hands on his underbelly...his stomach literally only shades of red. When she finished the healing, Elizabeth calmly told me, with great certainty, that he will be fine - and I noticed that his skin was now flesh color in many places, with only the deepest red remaining. Elizabeth communicated, with certainty, that he would eat the next day. The next morning, nurses confirmed, with great excitement, that he had eaten. The doctors were concerned if the stitches would hold and also that they had observed considerable blood in his stool. We ordered an ultra sound and I called Elizabeth. After the healing, she reaffirmed he will be fine and said that the blood was originating from the surgery. She said there was no new bleeding and the stitches were holding. Later that day, the nurses gave me the ultra sound results which showed the stitches were holding. They concluded he was still shedding blood from the surgery. Bogart survived. His great recovery was pinned on the hospital’s miracle board. They never had and still have never had, a dog in Bloat lose 70% of the stomach and survive. Elizabeth played an important role in his recovery. Since then, for many years, Bogart, my forever dog, has thrived. We love Elizabeth." - Janine Milne |
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