Lucygoo updates/Lucygoo has passed

Dearest Gina,
This must be so hard on you so it is understandable that these thoughts are going through your mind. Try to concentrate on the fact that you have been an amazing mom to Lucy and she feels your love. You did everything right and should have no regrets or second guesses. None of has a crystal ball and, maybe, that is a good thing. I think it is wonderful that Lucy is enjoying these days. Try to enjoy them with her and live each day to the fullest. I am close by, in Rancho Mirage near Palm Springs. If you need anything I am only a drive away. I will send you a PM with my email and phone number. In the meantime, we are all here for you and here is where you should come at any time for any reason. We are standing right beside you.
Love & hugs,
Carrol

Thank you Carrol,

It seems to be harder at night for some reason....I just lose it and can't stop crying. When I am able I'll write the story of Lucy and how she came into my life. Thanks again to all of you for your kind words and support

I think night is the hardest because there are no other distractions. Are you sleeping okay? That is really important. We can't have you getting sick. It is okay to cry. That is expected but please come to us when things are bad (or good) and let us try to help in any small way we can. The shoulders are here are REAL big.
Love,
Carrol

Dear Gina,

I just wanted to let you know I am sending prayers and good energy to you. This is so hard, I am so sorry.

Jenny

Hi Gina,

I've been checking on you, following bc I care so much for you and Lucy. I thought I should let you know I am here too and sending as much love and peace as I can across the miles. You gave Lucy your heart, made your decisions out of love, and that can never be wrong. Second guessing is so much a part of the human condition, and something I still struggle with....but I always come back to the love. The bottom line to me is always the love. And that, my friend, you have proven to Lucy time and time again.
Savor every moment without the tricks the mind plays on us, when in our hearts there is something so pure, so right, that it can bring us back to the answers we so need.
You did everything out of that place in your heart...Lucy knows this, you know this, we know this.
Know too that there are many arms carrying you through....
Many many hugs and much love,
Beth

Gina -

I know your heart is breaking. You have been there for Lucy through thick and thin and she couldn't have asked for more. Then there comes the time when there is no more that we can do for them, other than to love them. It is out of your hands now but you are so in tune with her that you will know when it is time.

I've always been one who prefers to err on the side of caution and felt that if there was any doubt at all about how my dog was feeling, then sooner had to be better than later. I simply could not bear the thought of them suffering one day longer than necessary. As hard as it was at the time, that guided my decisions and made it easier in the long run. Well, not easier . . . it's never easy . . . ever. But it's what we know deep down in our hearts is best because we love them so much. Always, after saying good-bye, it was like a huge weight had been lifted from my heart. The tears still came like a flood but for different reasons.

Maybe I won't explain this quite right but I have to say that the grieving that I went through the last 3 months of Zoe's life was perhaps harder than the grieving that comes afterwards. I don't know why but maybe it's because you are still scared of and anticipating what is to come, knowing that it can't be good . . . and then afterwards, it's like the worst is now behind you and that allows you to move onto a different kind of grief and sadness. It then becomes more of a longing for what you had and an emptiness in the present, but you also realize that you are going to be moving forward from there on out. Sending hugs and prayers for you and Lucy. Sue

Hi Gina,

It is human nature to second guess our decisions once they have been made and cannot be retrieved to do over again. Whether is was a decision of action or inaction - in the end, we always wonder, "But, what if...."

When it comes to our babies, parents like you make the right decisions because those decisions are made out of love for them. No one believes for one minute that you decided on the surgery for Goo for your own personal gain - you made that decision on good faith that it would give her a higher quality of life. And it did. You bought her much more time to enjoy her world, her humans and to revel in their love and adoration. What a wonderful gift you gave her...and continue to give her.

And this is all Lucy knows today - that she is loved, adored, and wanted beyond belief. Tomorrow is a concept our babies do not understand or have a need to understand. They blessedly live in the now. I have wondered if this is because perhaps they have a secret knowledge and acceptance of what the ends holds for all of us one day - an end we humans often fear and do all we can to avoid while these "lesser" creatures understand on a primal level the wonder of being unfettered by a physical shell.

Lucy knows you have done and are doing everything you can out of love for her...and that love never fails, Gina, never.

We are here any time you want to talk, honey.
Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

Thank you all so much. It really helps to hear from people that have gone through this and understand.

I'm trying to enjoy the moments and am so grateful Lucy is feeling good now, and trying not to anticipate and wait with dread for the next episode of weakness. I'm also grateful that of all the cancers she could get, this one causes no pain.

On a funny note, I heard from Cedars recently about that tv interview I did with Lucy. She said they were airing it around the 1st of February (not sure when in LA), and was going to try to e-mail me the clip. I said I really didn't want to know when it was going to air, as it was in the middle of a heat wave, they filmed it outside, and I honestly wished I had a burka to wear that day because I looked like absolute hell. But at least I'll have her on film...maybe there's a way I can edit myself out of it....lol

Thanks again all, and will keep you posted on how the Goo is doing. So far so good and we've had 4 good days in a row...

Gina and Goo

Gina,
Just checking in to see how you are doing.
Love & Hugs,
Carrol

Hi Carrol....thanks for checking in on us.

Lucy is still hanging in. She's still having episodes of weakness but snaps out of it pretty quickly. She has such a strong will to live. Just when I think she can't go on anymore she perks up, starts barking at people outside and wags her tail and begs for food. It's getting tougher for me, of course, but I can't justify putting her down yet just out of convenience for me. Just trying to enjoy each day now.

I am so very sorry for what has happened to Lucygoo and what you now must endure.

You have been so brave and strong for her. I read about her surgery and was in awe of how well you handled it all.

Sometimes we are stronger than we think. Sometimes, when we think we can no longer be strong, we rally and carry on. You have been so brave for so long. The anticipatory grief is very hard to go through but it is a stage of grief we experience.

Lucy is living now in the moment and somehow you will live in the moment with her. She will tell you when. You will know.

I can't tell you how many times my litle cat rallied. She was not ready to go. When she was finally ready, I knew.

You have so much to be proud of. Always remember that.

Hugs,
Addy

Quote:

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You have so much to be proud of. Always remember that.

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Addy has hit the nail on the head. I will add that we are also so very proud of you and sweet Goo.

Hugs,
Leslie and the girls - always

I'm struggling now with whether to put Lucy down in the next few days and am looking for opinions. Everyone keeps saying I'll know when it's time, but I don't know. Called Dr. B yesterday and he said to see if she eats. She's eating chicken, with gusto, but she's had increasing difficulty getting up and walking, to the point where yesterday she didn't get up at all. Even when I helped her up she would fight me and just collapse back down. She did get up on her own at around 2:30 this morning to go outside. Once outside she collapsed again. The hardest part is that she is alert and keeps looking around. I think I know it's time but I almost wish she wouldn't eat anything and wouldn't look so damn alert, but it kills me to see her struggle to get up. It's like her legs just won't work anymore. They have someone that can come to the house, which is what I'm going to do I think.

Oh Gina, I am so terribly sorry that you're facing this decision. But nobody in the world knows Lucy better than you do, so I have no doubt that you'll end up making the decision that is the very best for her.

I do have some general thoughts, though, that I will go ahead and share with you since you have asked. I realize that I've often told people the same thing -- that their dogs will let them know when it is time. But even in saying that, I also believe that we have to do our best to interpret signs and signals that may not always be so obvious. From my own dogs, I have now learned how good they are at masking pain until it reaches a breaking point. So in a situation where I knew that my dog was suffering from a terminal illness that had the potential to cause great pain or collapse, my own thought would be to release them before they reached that point of suffering.

This is such a hard call to make. When my Barkis was so ill at the end, my husband and I went back-and-forth for a couple of days. I remember him saying, "How can we put him down while he's still able to stand and walk?" While I was saying, "How can we wait to put him down until he can no longer stand and walk?" It is such a fine line. But in the end, together, we both decided it was time. And I think we took comfort in knowing that we released him at a time when he still retained his dignity. He left this world as the proud dog he had always been throughout his life.

From what I've written, I think you can guess the timing that I'd choose if Lucy were my dog. But that in no way means that I think it is the right choice for you. Because, as I say, nobody in the world knows her better than you. I will support you, Gina, no matter what time frame you decide upon.

Please give her special hugs for me, Gina. And here are some special hugs for you, too, from across the miles.
Marianne

Lucygoo....my heart, my goo, passed away at 4 p.m. pacific time. I had to let her go. It was very peaceful but my heart is broken. Just wanted you all to know

Gina,

I am so sorry. It is so hard, but again you put her needs first. She will be missed by everyone here. We were all so fortunate to be able to be a part of her pioneering surgery. Thank you Gina for sharing her with us. She leaves a legacy that will benefit so many in the future.

It may be raining here, but her star shines brightly.

Godspeed Lucygoo.

Sending Love and Hugs of comfort to you Gina.
~Mary Ann

Oh Gina,

I am so, so sorry for the loss of your sweet Lucygoo. Letting our furbabies go is the hardest decision we have to make but we make this decision from the deep love we have for them in our heart.

My heart is breaking for you, my dear friend, we all loved her too and we love you very much. Please stay with us as we understand what you are going through and we will be here for you, always.

Godspeed Lucygoo.

With Heartfelt Sympathy,
Lori

Gina,

I am so very sorry for your loss of Lucy, I have been following your story and my heart is breaking for you. I am praying for you at this awful time. You are enduring pain that I too will one day have to face and made decisions I will have to make and I can't even wrap my mind it all.

I am shedding tears with you.
Beverly

Oh Gina ... I am so sorry to hear the latest on Lucygoo. She was a pioneer of the surgery in the US and she will be always famous in my books. You were a wonderful Mum (or Mom as you say) and did truly love and care for her.

Take care and hugs to you
Angela and Flynn

Gina,

So sorry to hear about Lucy. Another angel has their wings.

Jenny

Dear Gina,
I am so sorry. My heart is heavy for you and our Goo Girl. Rest in Peace Lucygoo, You are our newest and brightest star in the sky.

Gina,

I am so sorry for your loss. Just as you've always done, you did what was best for Lucygoo. My thoughts are with you.

Carol

Dear Gina,

This news breaks my heart. :(

I am so sorry for the decision you had to make, but you did everything you possibly could have done for her, including releasing her. Please take some comfort in that.

Rest in Peace Lucygoo,

Dear Gina, I am truly sorry for the loss, of your Goo, your Lucygoo. My heart is full of sadness and the tears are hard to contain. Now there is another sweet angel at the Rainbow Bridge. I know the pain right now is too raw, but always remember that every decision you took for your Goo was out of your immense love for her. Her peaceful goodbye is another testament of the incredible bond you shared with her.

I’ll be praying for your heart to heal and for you and your family to be surrounded and supported by all the love of the people that got the honor to have met you and your sweet Goo.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, I will be lighting some candles in memory of Lucygoo.

Dearest Gina,

My heart is with you along with my hugs. You made the most unselfish decision and that was to honor her by helping her pass. You have always been there for her and you were there again for her.

(((((((((hugs))))))))))
We will always remember your Goo.
Terry

Dear Gina,

I am so very sorry. You always did everything you could possibly do for Lucygoo. You did what was best for her. Rest in Peace Goo.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Gina, I'm so sorry that your Lucygoo has passed....you were an awesome mom to her and no dog could have had a better human to love and care for. That final decision is such a hard one to make....no time is the "right" time....but I believe that our dogs trust us to make the decision at the right time for dog and human.
Please come back to let us know how you're doing and to tell us how she came into your life.
(((HUGS)))
Jo-Ann

Dear sweet Gina,

I am so sorry, my heart is just breaking and has been since yesterday when I read your first post. You and Lucy fought such a brave battle, forging the way for others to follow and we have been blessed to be allowed to share in her life.

Today Lucygoo is watching over you; she is now whole and strong once again, running in the sunshine, chasing butterflies and playing with all her new friends - always holding you in her heart with the same tender love you gave to her.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

With deepest sympathy,
Leslie, Squirt, Trinket, and our Angels, Ruby and Crystal

Dear Gina,
I am saddened for your great loss. God Bless your precious Lucygoo and may you find the strength to get you through this painful moment. Tight hugs. Jeanette

Gina,

I am so terribly sorry for your loss. The Goo Girl will always be a star here on the forum and now she's also a star up above shining brightly.

Godspeed sweet Lucygoo.

Gina - I am so sorry to hear of Lucy's passing. I know your heart is broken. I hope wonderful memories of your girl will help you heal in time.

Sincere condolences... :(

Gina I am so very sorry for your loss of Lucy. Sweet angel Lucygoo fly free and shine your light down on your mom and all who loved you.

Gina - I am so so sorry about Lucygoo. I think she was telling you, as best she could, and I think you listened to your heart and did the absolute right thing for her. Her story touched so many of us here and I know that we all share in your sadness. Sue

Gina,

So sorry to hear about Lucygoo. It is the hardest decision we have to make but only possible because we love them so much. My thoughts are with you.

Linda

Hi Gina,

I'm so very sorry to read about Lucygoo, you will have your love memorys . someone had a heart made for with blue roses on and a verse that is called STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN made in memory of my pip i hope this helps you as much as its helped me

If tears could build a stairway,
and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to heaven
and bring you home again.

love Julie

Dear Gina,
Deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved Lucygoo. The loss of a beloved fur-baby is simply devastating.

The poem Julie quoted is so beautiful and true. We treasure their memory and their spirit is alway with us.

This is the inscription on the garden stone in my beloved furbaby's memorial garden,

"I thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday and days before that too.

I think of you in silence, I often speak your name.
All I have are memories and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is my keepsake, with which I'll never part.
God has you in His keeping, I have you in my heart."

(((Hugs))) Penny's Mom

Gina... I'm so sorry.

It is so painful to lose them and I know that having fought for one the way you fought for Lucy makes losing her even more excruciating. You build a bond with a dog like Lucy that is so intense.

Bless you for making all the right decisions for Lucy despite the struggle that it meant that you would go through. She was truly beloved.

Natalie

Hi all....

Just wanted to thank everyone so much for your heartfelt words. It really helps. The pain is still raw now and I'm sort of physically recovering now. Didn't realize how much I wasn't eating or sleeping for about the past month, and after Lucy passed it hit me like a brick. It's amazing how we can keep going as long as we have to.

When I am able to I want to write a little tribute to my Goo and her story, but I'm just too exhausted right now. I just wanted to let you all know, though, that I really appreciate your thoughts and I have been reading and it's very touching.

Gina

Gina
I am so sorry to hear about the lose of your beloved Lucygoo. May she finally be free.
Prayers to you
Hugs Sonja and Apollo

Gina,

I'm so sorry for your loss of Lucy. I lost a little Eskie, the love of my life, to hemangiosarcoma back in 2004. It is a terrible disease, nearly always fatal.
We can only go one, carrying our love and memories in our hearts, knowing that our 'babies' are in a far better place and that they are waiting for us.

Bonnie and Angel Criss