We wanted to thank you so much for your prayers - for KC AND for us.   We let her go to Rainbow Bridge Saturday Feb. 2nd around 11 AM.   I had cooked for her Friday night and I went Saturday morning to see if I could get her to eat but she wasn't at all interested.   She was so much worse than Thursday when I took her in.    Dr. Coakley had come back from vacation and had been with her all night Friday night, checking more blood and everything.   When I asked her if it was time, she said, "I think we're really, really close ..... we could try through the w/e and see if we could get her to eat...but I wouldn't let her go more than a couple of days."   (She had given her a shot for pain Saturday morning).   So I told her .... 'let's just go ahead and do it'  ....

KC had multiple problems - kidney failure being the main problem:  Severe anemia - her kidneys weren't filtering the toxins, causing internal bleeding and the black 'tar-like' stool; and deteriorating spinal nerves to her back legs which is why she wouldn't/couldn't sit down anymore and when standing still, her back end would 'sink' causing her to almost 'kneel' and she had a really hard time getting up.   Unfortunately, none of these conditions were reversible and both could be quite painful.  

Her general health had always been excellent except for the tumor on her leg several years back.  She always had her regular vet checks, blood work (for heartworm and thyroid), so we couldn't understand how this could come on so fast, but Dr. Coakley said it's not unusual in a dog her age.....12 and 1/2 is really, REALLY old for a Great Dane.    The conditions had probably been coming on for quite a while, but just escalated to the critical level within a few days.

Dr. Coakley gives the anesthesia first, waits several minutes to make sure they're asleep and comfortable, then gives the other shot.  I was cradling KC's head in my hand, talking to her and loving on her and crying, of course.  When Dr. Coakley started to give the first shot, KC startled me - she raised her head abruptly, looked at me, gave a feeble lick on my chin, and laid her head back down in my hand.    She was gone in about 10 seconds.   She didn't need the other shot, her heart had already stopped, she's gone.    That's how sick she was.  

So, our precious Gentle Giant has gone Home to wait for us with all of our beloved pets (and yours).     We were so blessed to have been able to keep her as long as we did.   And I know we were really lucky for her not to have been sick and/or in pain a long time.  

 Little Bit seems all right....I think she knew something was wrong with KC - just the way she'd sniff her ....  she seemed sort of 'blue' Saturday, but we think she was picking up on our incredible pain and sadness.   She loved her big sister, but she was really Kathy's shadow.  We're going to miss KC as a buffer - she loved everybody and always thought whoever came to the house came just to see her....she used to tell LB it was OK to go to them and be petted...   And of course LB has her 'charges' to look after (kitties - 2 garage, 3 outside and 1 inside). They should keep her busy.   But she still misses her big sister.

It's funny - even when you have perfect peace that you've done the best, most unselfish thing for your pet, and even when you reflect on the wonderful memories - the funny times -  the pain and sadness are overwhelming at times.   You find yourself laughing about something she did and a sob threatens to choke the very life out of you.

But God is so good.  And He promises to heal these holes in our hearts. 

Thank you for your loving support and friendship ..... God bless!

We appreciate you SO much!