Epi-Star Angels: White Dog Army's QUINN & Hu-Mom, Susan Sehi-Smith

 

 The Mighty "Quinn" of the White Dog Army

& his Hu-Mom, Susan Sehi-Smith

  

by Dorothy Wills-Raftery  

 

As part of National Epilepsy Awareness Month, I am highlighting some truly amazing Epi-Stars all month long. This post was going to be about a special little white dog named The Mighty "Quinn," however, after I just sadly learned last night of the passing of Quinn's hu-mom, Susan Sehi-Smith, an incredible human, a fellow blogger, friend, dog-parent, and tireless advocate for both animals and people, I've decided that this Epi-Star is for both Quinn and Sue.

 

With this being Election Day, and it's Epilepsy Awareness Month, and a lunar eclipse, I thought about the timing of Sue's sudden passing. It's as though the universe was preparing for their newest angel. And, tonight, while I was watching The Canine Epilepsy Summit finale on Zoom by VetVine and the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, I couldn't help but to think how much I would have enjoyed having a conversation with Sue about all the fantastic information the veterinary experts shared during this Summit, and what's out there in the future to help dogs with Canine Epilepsy. This Summit would be aligned with Sue's work, and we would have had an excellent conversation about this and the "One Health" ~ of animals, humans, and our world. 

I am still in shock as I write this, that Sue is no longer among us. Blogging is how we “met” many, many years ago—she had her White Dog Diary blog, where she gave voices to her beloved White Dog Army (WDA) and their daily lives, and I with my FiveSibes blog. We became fast blogger friends--who never met in person, but still became friends over the miles--both "neighbors" in the awesome online community of Blogville. 

 

 The many beautiful faces of Sue's White Dog Army

When my Gibson began having seizures and my work into research and studying about Canine Epilepsy began, Sue and I once again bonded over this as one of her beloved adopted dogs, The Mighty "Quinn,"  also had seizures. Fast forward to years later, Sue and her husband, Stephen, added Siberian Huskies to their pack, starting with Zsofia and then adding both Bailey and Lilly. Oh, we had lots to bond over. And, as life would have it, while we may have gone for blocks of time, each keeping busy in our own lives, but whenever we chatted, it was as though no time at all passed. Conversations with Sue were always upbeat, meaningful, and insightful. I admired her huge loving heart for helping a dog in need, and so many times she and Steve embraced new furry loves to nurture and comfort, at all stages of their dog lives.

Sue's beloved Quinn was also one of the Epi-Stars in my book, Heartwarming Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy, where she shared his Epi-story.

To purchase the book, go to our  

ArcticHouse Books & Gifts Shoppe HERE.

For November's Epilepsy Awareness Month, we are offering a 

25% DISCOUNT using our code: FIVESIBESGIBSON ~and~ DONATING 20% to Canine Epilepsy research.

Simply Email us at ArcticHousePublishing(at)gmail.com 

and put EPIc Dog Tales in subject line and you will receive an invoice with the discount. 

There is a limited quantity of print books.

💜

 

In an excerpt from my book, Sue stated this about her Quinn, "The Mighty Quinn, our rescued American Eskimo, suffered from complex psychomotor seizures where he paced and walked in circles for long periods. During these times, he would be very fearful and nervous. His attacks were infrequent and Gabapentin was effective in managing the seizures...The miracle story of Quinn being saved from Death Row in Los Angeles two days before his execution date has been told on our White Dog Diary blog. Every time I falter and lose faith in the promise of humanity, I only have to think of all those friends and strangers who worked so hard to make the magic needed to bring our boy to us. We can never repay the debt we owe those who reached out to help a single bedraggled stray get a second chance." 

Sue continued by stating, "In a special tribute to our Angel Quinn and the FiveSibes pack and their tireless work to raise awareness of Canine Epilepsy, which bridges over in so many ways to the research being done in the human realm, we have been inspired to create the non-profit “Paws to People: Bridges to Cures” (bridgestocures.org) organization. It is our hope that through continued comparative research of catastrophic diseases, such as epilepsy and cancer, we can hopefully save lives – both humans and pets."

And save many lives, she did. Sue was an amazing person. She had a brilliant mind and an equally kind soul. She co-founded  Paws to People: Bridges to Cures (that was incorporated in 2013) along with her husband, Stephan, and she held the position of president. Through that grassroots organization, they helped so many, and the mission always has been to “Generate awareness and funds to support Translational Study research to benefit better health and longer lives in both people and pets.”

 

Talking with Sue was like talking to the human form of an encyclopedia on these issues. She, through Paws to People: Bridges to Cures (P2P) noted that “Nearly 400 of the same diseases affect both people and dogs.”  

P2P helped so many people and pets over the past few years. A recap of granted grants included:

• 2022 - $13,500 to the University of Wyoming to study environmental causes of Dysautonomia in dogs.
• 2018 - $10,000 to Central Michigan University to study water quality and possible correlations to autoimmune diseases
• 2016 - $6,500 to Central Michigan University to collect and analyze data about end of life decision-making in animals and humans.
• 2015 -  $10,000 grant to Bridgewater State University to find a better way to diagnose Lyme disease in dogs

*Source: BridgesToCures.org

 

Over the years, Sue and I would chat via online on and off about research, new information, and ongoing clinical trials for dogs with Epilepsy. Sue has many times shared her words of wisdom in interviews with me for my articles and publications, and I was invited by her to write a piece on Canine Epilepsy, which I was honored to do, in her P2P newsletter Pulse. And, I was so pleased to write about Paws to People: Bridges to Cures as a special feature in AmericanPet Magazine.

Click on image and go to page 6 to read the story.

 

In an excerpt from my Live Gib Strong Resource Booklet, Sue shared a bit of her Mighty Quinn's story: 

"Mighty Quinn, our 10 years plus rescued American Eskimo, suffers from complex psychomotor seizures, where he paces and walks in circles for long periods. During these times he is very fearful and nervous. His attacks are infrequent, and Gabapentin is effective in managing the seizures. Knowing what to watch for helps us be prepared. Quinn leads a normal life with the White Dog Army...second in command, Mighty Quinn is an active important member of our Army, first to be served at dinner, and always there to add his deep bass ‘WOOF’ during the mailman song. Seizures are not a death sentence or an end to quality of life. With knowledge and observation of your pet, life can continue to be a wonderful sharing adventure."

 

I was also thrilled to have her on my show “The Sibe Vibe” on Dog Works Radio to talk about her beloved Quinn, Canine Epilepsy, and her Paws to People: Bridges to Cures organization that was "committed to furthering comparative studies research in catastrophic diseases (such as epilepsy and cancer) to save the lives of humans and pets."

 

You can tune in to listen to this podcast here. Replaying this today, hearing her voice, really reminds me of what a loss to the advocacy world her passing is.

 

 

“That is the wonder and excitement of comparative research to me…it is not about DOG disease…or PEOPLE disease…it is about ending diseases, period.”

~Susan Sehi-Smith, President & Co-Founder of

 Paws to People:Bridges to Cures & Author at White Dog Blog

 

Sue did amazing work and was still doing it right up until the time of her passing. It was our joint hope that one day, through comparative studies research, cures for diseases like epilepsy and cancer for both our two-legged and four-legged loved ones, would be discovered.

 

I can just imagine Sue up in Heaven, surrounded by her Quinn and Siku and her many other furangels, busy as ever working on important information on translational studies and how the human-animal bond goes way beyond what our eyes can see.

 

The world is a bit dimmer now without her light, but I know the heavens are a bit brighter with Sue now being a forever shining star amongst them. I’m sure she was greeted by the happiest doggy kisses and tail wags from her beloved WDA furangels. 

 

Dear Sue, 

you will always be remembered 

with joy, light, and fondness. I thank you for your

 friendship over the years. 

You will be missed. 

Your beloved Stephen and White Dog Army 

are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

This heartfelt photo is of one of Sue's many 

WDA family members waiting and watching from 

"The Watching Chair" now for their new beloved angel...

their hu-mom, Sue. 💗

(Memorial Badge Edit by Ann of Zoolatry)

 

💜

 

Note: These are the personal stories of Epi-dogs as told by their families. As always, discuss any medications, alternative treatments, new foods, etc., with your veterinarian first before giving to your dog. 

 

Other Stories in Epi-Star Series:

 

✭Epi-Star Gibson of FiveSibes, go HERE

 

✭Epi-Star Emma, go HERE.

 

 

 

 

 

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