I lost Mandi in October, 2004 — it still seems unreal. She seemed to be in pain, but I couldn’t tell where the pain was. For three days I took her into the vet — but there was no answer until she started having seizures — then the symptoms all jumped out and a diagnosis of a brain tumor was finally made.
I wasn’t ready to lose Mandi — we had lost our rescue baby, Didi in April. I was still feeling the loss, the pain of Didi’s passing. She too left with very little warning. So when Mandi was starting to have problems I tried to tell myself that all would be okay…. The seizures broke that illusion.
My sister and I had made up an Easter card with Mandi’s picture put on a tulip, and Didi’s picture put on a daffodil. They were our too-lippy (Mandi definitely had ‘attitude’) and daffy dill. The names worked.
After the loss of Didi my sister decided she would like to have a daffy dill garden — with the loss of Mandi it became a daffy dill and too lippy garden. I have purchased memorial stones to place in the garden so that they will always be remembered. The ashes of Didi have a special place in my sister’s house, Mandi is with me.
I still haven’t made my way through the grief, and I am not convinced I ever will. I have lost other dogs before — but the loss of Mandi has hit harder than any of them. I am hoping by creating a garden for her that I will have a place to spend time, and just remember. There are so many good memories — she was a very unique, and special dog. She got me through some of the roughest times in my life —
I thank the creators of the website — to forever memorialize the girls in my life is very special.
Still grieving
| Eileen |