In memory of "Suka" ~ 11/10/11 - 4/14/25
~and~
"Chinook" ~ 11/29/11 - 3/26/25; Adopted 8/25/21
"Grief never ends...but it
changes. It's a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness nor a
lack of faith...It's the price of love." ~Jean Heller
These posts are always so hard to write, but I find celebrating our furangels' lives is not only important, but also healing. Most of us have lost one, or many, beloved pets and know that heartbreak. Today, I want to remember and celebrate two of Jan Jasa's beautiful pups...one—Suka—was a real trailblazer as she bravely, and with the help of her hu-mom, Jan, who sought out alternative treatments, Suka successfully fought hemangiosarcoma for over two years, and she did not pass from it.
Touching words shared about Suka from her hu-mom, Jan, "From the moment I saw her I knew I wanted her. A record foster failure. I went to our Taysia Blue Rescue founder, Jackie's house to pick up my new Malamute foster. As she came prancing down the hall, I took one look and exclaimed 'Oh My God! I'm keeping her!' Jackie told me there was someone else interested in her and I pretty much said, 'Well, they can't have her, cuz I'm keeping her!' We made it official pretty quickly after that, on March 23, 2014. Suka ruled the house as any Malamute usually does...with attitude and an iron paw! She loved all the boys, even the various fosters that came and went. Her best friend though, was our handsome red boy, Titus. She definitely loved playing with him the most."
Then, in August of 2022 they received the devastating diagnosis that Suka had Hemangiosarcoma (HSA), with "a huge tumor on her liver. I was devastated. She was now our seventh dog to get this horrible cancer. Our vet had to remove the entire left lobe of her liver. I knew after that, that it was now time to start back on the same holistic and supplement protocol I had used on Lena and Titus (who also were diagnosed with HSA) to see how much more time we could get. I had blood work done on her every six months to keep an eye on her liver values and other numbers. Surprisingly, they were always good."
Click here to read Suka's story.
My own Gibson was suddenly felled by this dreaded cancer, and later on, his younger sister, Bandit. Sadly, by the time Gibson was transferred from the ER to my vet's office and officially diagnosed, and then after a week of at-home IV treatments, he was prepped for a splenectomy. Only it was too late for Gibson. His cancer and tumors had covered his spleen and were throughout his belly, with an orange-size tumor hidden behind everything. Prior to surgery, I had "that" conversation with my vet, who I consider a good family friend, and when he asked me if he found something once in there, what was he to do? Of course, I said to let my boy peacefully go to sleep. And, that is exactly what happened. After years of being a brave epilepsy warrior, I did not want my boy to suffer any longer.
I have heard so many devastating accounts of other dogs passing suddenly after collapsing from nasty HSA, which is why I was so impressed by how Jan, who was no stranger to HSA having other dogs with it, and was able to catch Suka's early enough to help her via a variety of alternative things that I wrote an article about it. "H is for Hope for Dogs Diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma." It's an inspirational tale for sure.
Says Jan, "Suka kicked cancer's ass for over two-and-a-half years, but she couldn't outrun Father Time and the nasty arthritis that comes with age. In the end, it wasn't the cancer that took her, it was the arthritis and her loss of mobility."
While beautiful Suka has now earned her furangel wings, hers is—and always will be—truly a story of inspiration and HOPE.
"Chinook" on his 13th Birthday in November 2024.
So many of us can relate to how heartbreaking it is losing a longtime beloved dog; to lose two so close to each other—is devastating. Maybe Jan's "Chinook," who she only adopted a short three-and-a-half years ago, felt the need to be on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge to greet his packmate, Suka, and is why he, too, earned his furangel wings...to wait for her when she arrived a month later. Jan had written how wonderful it was to celebrate Chinook's 13th Birthday in November. "Our
little old man, Chinook, having survived his Mast Cell tumor for over 2
1/2 years now, turned 13! Just like Suka, we never knew from day to
day how long he would be with us. He was ancient and arthritic, but food
and treats were his favorite things in the world. He...got his very own birthday cookie, and was more than happy to gobble it
up! As always, every extra day we get with our ass kicking cancer kids is a blessing."
My heart goes out to Chinook and Suka's hu-mom, Jan. I lost my Gibson in HSA in 2015, and Bandit to it in 2020. We lost
our Harley and Chloe both in the summer of 2019. There loss, and then Wolfie's, all still hurts, so I understand all too well to the emptiness, the surreality, and the compounded grief that is involved.
Join me in sending
Jan and her husband huge hugs on their losses...but remember their wonderful lives shared with a wonderful, caring family.
Hu-mom Jan shares this poignant Jean Heller quote, "Grief never ends...but it
changes. It's a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness nor a
lack of faith...It's the price of love." And it rings so very true.
She adds a special note to her Chinook, "Although our time together was short
we loved you very much. Wear your Silver Harness with pride our sweet, little
old man. Mommy and
Daddy will miss you very much."
Run free now dear, Suka and Chinook. You will always be
together now with your packmates before you, running in those beautiful
snowy fields beyond the Rainbow Bridge, and you will always be
in the hearts of those who loved you.
The bonds we have forged with our beloved dogs are forever, and not even grief can dim that love.
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That is so very sad. We send lots of love and hugs to their special families.
ReplyDeleteSending woo's to Jan and her family. Suka and Chinook were both such beautiful dogs. Our hearts go out to her.
ReplyDeletePlease pass on our respect,
ReplyDeleteSoft woos and gentle hugs to Jan and her family. She has long been a wonderful champion of those pups most in need.
ReplyDeleteWoos - Misty and Timber