Dear Gibson: A Letter From Hu-Mom, With Love

Dear Gibson, 

A year ago today, you physically left me and your #FiveSibes family to become a furangel. God must have needed a very special Husky because he called you north of the Rainbow Bridge, my sweet Gibson. I love you and miss you every single moment...you are forever in my heart and with your spirit walking by my side, we will continue inspiring others to love an #Epidog, and to help all dogs in need. Enjoy the forever snow, my sweet Gibbie. 

~Love you for always, 

Hu-Mom  

 

This is a very special Flashback Friday as it is also the first anniversary of  my dear, sweet, fluffy boy Gibson’s journey to north of The Rainbow Bridge. It’s so surreal to me that a whole year has passed and my boy is no longer physically here by my side. Gibson was my heart dog. My fluffy buddy boy. My spirit guide. My Epi-dog champion. My inspiration. He has truly left a huge polar bear pawprint of his on my heart for eternity.

I wanted to do a memorial video about him…but, honestly, my heart isn’t ready yet. It still hurts very deeply to not have him here. His deep, soulful eyes, his understanding everything I ever said to him, asked of him. We had such a connection. While I do share photos of him and memories and have continued our advocacy for awareness for dogs with Canine Epilepsy, to go through his lifetime of photos from when he first came home with me at four months up until his passing shortly before Christmas last year, just 21 days before his 10^th birthday is still just too painful. I will—one day…

But in the mean time, because of how much he inspired others with his journey with Canine Epilepsy, instead, today I’m celebrating his life and my thankfulness for having the honor of being his hu-mom.  While he was a special needs dog, he was such a special dog to me.

In his name, our #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Awareness

-->campaign is still going strong, bringing information, education, and hope to others who  share their lives with Epi-dogs. In honor of Gibson's life, I've been thrilled to be working with artist Cameo Anderson on a very special project in his name to hopefully help others with Epi-dogs that I am very excited to be unveiling it in the near future! So stay tuned!

I’m so thankful to all the publishers, media, fellow bloggers, family, and friends who continue to share our story and help inspire someone to care for an Epi-dog, give an Epi-dog a home, and to not fear a dog who has seizures. It is my hope that one day there will be a cure for epilepsy, and that all Epi-dogs may #LiveGibStrong.

Instead of a memorial video, I'd like to remember Gibson doing what he did best...loving life!


He could always be found alongside his true love, Harley.

A week before he earned his silver harness, Gibson had been feeling the best he had in quite a while. He had injured his already weak hind end (a side effect of the epilepsy medications) when he slipped the year before on ice hidden under snow. We had been slowly rehabbing all year and documented his healing. This video I had created and my heart still fills with such pride and happiness to see him running once again. There was no stopping this incredible boy!

 And, wow, that boy could dance!

 He even did a stint in politics (and had a great platform)!

  Oh, and how he loved his Gibbie Snacks, named after him and formulated for the Epi-dog by House Woof Dog Biscuits!

He bravely faced and fought all the challenges that came his way in true, inspirational, warrior Gibbie form!

And today...Gibson sent me a gift...a sign he is indeed right by my side...this morning, while feeding the other FiveSibes their breakfast, he once again appeared in rays of rainbow light! This happened one other time, on his 10th birthday, the first one after he made his final journey north just 21 days earlier. I quickly snapped this photo, as the rainbows appeared right where his little bro, Wolf, was standing! My Gibbie, my special heart dog, showing we will be connected for always. 

Many thanks to my very sweet and thoughtful daughter, son-in-law, and new grandson for this very beautiful and thoughtful bouquet in honor of my sweet, fluffy buddy, Gibson.

The FiveSibes Flashback Friday Blog Hop is brought to you by us, the FiveSibes, and our co-host Love is Being Owned by a Husky! We hope you'll find a photo or video from Memory Lane of your pet, post it, and link up to our Blog Hop each Friday! If you don't catch us on Friday, you can link up any time during the week! To see our past Flashbacks, just enter "Flashback Friday" in the search box at the top of the blog. Come join us! We'd love to see your pets' Flashback pics! Just grab our badge below:

 


We are also joining in the Pet Parade, hosted by Rascal & Rocco, Bionic Basil,, Owned by a Husky, and Barking from the Bayou! Be sure to visit them and their hoppers!