A message from Mom:
Life changes in the blink of an eye. It changed again when I was told the people who support Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund were going to save us. You were going to try. Your help feels like love is surrounding me.
What is your worst fear of what could happen to your loved ones?
I know for many people it is losing their beloveds when they have no control—like in a fire.
Sadly that’s what happened to me. An electrical spark set our house in flames. I got two of my dogs out and into my car. But the fire alarm scared Rosie and she ran further into the house to hide. My husband was in the basement. They both were trapped behind walls of smoke and fire.
As I stood on the porch banging the floor to try to get their attention, it hit me I might never see them again. The police and firemen pulled me away from the house and assured me they’d do their best, once the fire was under control, to find them.
My husband and I got Rosie from a rescue. She had had five puppies, and after they were adopted, we got her. She was a strong little dog so I named her for Rosie the Riveter.
Our sweet girl especially liked men. She always jumped on her daddy’s lap to kiss him, and she slept on his feet every night. Whenever my husband came home from each of his five recent surgeries, she licked him all over. I think she was trying to nurse him back to health.
When a fireman emerged from the wreckage of our home with a little limp, soot covered being, I cried with joy that they rescued my Rosie.
But tragically, my tears turned to sorrow as I realized my husband could not be rescued. He succumbed to smoke inhalation. I was devastated.
As I turned to Rosie for comfort, I saw that my pup was having trouble breathing.
My brother rushed Rosie to the emergency vet, where they said she had smoke inhalation and she’d need to stay in the ICU.
When I realized what it was going to cost to try to save my Rosie, I slumped to the floor. I couldn’t lose my house, my husband and the dog who meant so much to us both.
How was I going to survive this? My life had just changed in the blink of an eye.
Update on Rosie & Her Mom:
Rosie is now out of the hospital and living with me at my brother’s. She seems to understand that her daddy is gone but that she and I have each other. I am so thankful I have my three fur babies. When Rosie kisses me, I feel like Gary is telling me it’s OK. He had been so sick and now he isn’t in pain anymore. As I start the slow process of rebuilding my life, I am focusing on the love you and others are giving me. Thank you for supporting me through this tragedy.
Thank you for saving my little cuddle dog that reminds me a part of my husband and all of you, are forever with me.