Sammy is in Doggy Heaven.

Sammy

Age 0, August 02, 2010 - July 05, 2011

Sammy, I know you are an angel now. God just had to have you home. We will see you in heaven.

Nickname: Piggy

Sammy was only 11 months old when she died during surgery to fix her heart. She was born with a heart defect and though we tried so hard she was too sick to save. The doctors couldn't beleive that Sammy lived as long as she did- her heart was so bad. I like to think she fought the good fight for as long as she could because she loved being part of our famliy so much. She was so content and devoted herself to loving us and her sister ,Rylie. She couldn't have given us more happiness and smiles, she was our little angel.

Even though Sammy couldn't run and play she loved life. She made the best of every day, especially sunny ones. She loved to lay on the deck and soak up the sun and nibble on my flowers in my garden. She loved to look over the courtyard and watch the city from above. The neighbors all miss her sweet little face looking down. She had a lovely gardenia tree that gave her a little shade and smelled pretty. It died when little Sammy passed away. I think the plant missed sweet little Sammy keeping it constant company.

Sammy touched everyones hearts. She loved kids and other dogs. I would give anything to see her face light up again the way it did when she saw a child. My husband and I are sad she won't be here to see our children- that was our biggest wish for her- I know she would have loved to be a part of a family with kids. Even though she was too sick to play in the dog park she was content to just watch through the fence and would quiver with excitement when a dog would come by to say hello. She loved to ride in her bike basket and feel the wind in her ears and take in the sites of the busy city. She loved quiet walks around our neighborhood too with her mommy and daddy- I think it made her happy to see Rylie run around the neighborhood sniffing everything even though she couldn't. She was happy just to watch as long as she had a stick she could carry in her mouth. She had the most wonderful, kind eyes that she would look up at you with and you knew that she couldn't go any further and that she wanted to be picked up and carried around like a princess. We loved it when Sammy would snort like a little Piggy. That was a sign to her sister that it was time to play. Sammy had a quiet way of just being there- she would always appear silently and watch me put my make-up on and I'd see her adorable reflection in the mirror or in the middle of the night I would wake up to her just looking at me sweetly- I knew when she looked at me like that she loved me just the way I loved her.

Piggy was a spoiled baby as we knew she wouldn't live too long. She enjoyed lounging on her soft tuffet, sleeping in our bed spread out always snoring in our ears, she was always beyond herself to see what I cooked for her (even though she turned her nose up to it pretty often after she saw it), gazing at her reflection in the mirror (she knew she was beautiful) and she loved to get Piggycures (pedicures with coconut oil for her infected paws). When Sammy had her seizures or breathing fits we would pick her up and rock her like a baby until she was okay. I would sing to her in her ears until she was calm again. She grew to trust us and knew we would do anything to take care of her. I know if love could have saved her she would have lived forever.

We buried little Sammy just yesterday in my mom's garden in the suburbs. When we saw her in her little casket she looked just like a sleeping angel, calm and peaceful. We placed her in her favorite blanket with her baby bunny toy and her sister Rylie's poodle toy in her little arms. We made sure there were pictures of all the fun times we had together as a family and of Sammy and her best pal, Rylie, clowning around. We put little black eyed susans around her before we kissed her and said good-bye until we meet again. Sam was just a baby when she went to heaven. Her time with us was short, but oh so sweet. She will be missed as I know that an angel like her only comes to earth once in a life time.

July 11, 2011
So it's almost been a week that we've been missing you. It's not getting any easier to tell you the truth. Some days are better than others but overall your daddy and I just feel an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Everything reminds us of you and how much better it would be if you were here with Rylie and us. We know God needed you up in heaven though. Mike even said maybe you are God's dog now and then we laughed about you biting God's fingers and toes and that you might get annoyed with God if he moved his legs around too much when you were trying to sleep on them. Rylie misses you. She sleeps in the guest bathroom now in the dark when we leave her alone. She even closes the door behind her sometimes, she's so sad. Boe gave her his poodle and we walked to Petco last week and bought a new squeeker for the poodle. That made her happy, Mike also picked her out a litle tiny pig just the size of your baby bunny for Rylie to remember you by. We've been keeping Rylie busy so that she won't be too lonely. She went out to lunch 2 times this weekend and last night we took her on a walk in Lincoln Park and got Dairy Queen. We so wished you could have been there too. It was a really lovely night and that almost magical time where it goes from day to night, everything was quiet and peaceful. Maybe you were watching us from up above. Everyone was sad when they heard the news. You wouldn't beleive all the people that were praying for you Sammy during your surgery. Dr. Navin from All Pets sent a sympathy card- they all loved you. Lorraine sent you little yellow roses and everyone was calling and emailing to send their condolences. Today it is raining- this is how I feel. I've been wishing for this since I got the bad news as it doesn't seem right that it is sunny and beautiful out when you aren't here with us to enjoy it. I just took my Monday morning call- remember those. You and Rylie all sprawled out in bed lazy until like 9am. I know everyone always hates Mondays but I was always excited to start the work week with my two best co-workers you and Rylie. It's sad that you aren't here to come to work with me. Sometimes I force Rylie to sit on my lap around 10am but it isn't the same- she doesn't want to sit on my lap and scratched my leg when she jumped off. She's under the blankets now by my feet hiding from the storm. On work days I leave the door open to the balcony and even put water out there- I do it for you. It breaks my heart because you aren't there but it makes me feel closest to you. Mike and I also make sure that every day your tuffet is made up on the bed with your things in it and at night I always hold it tight just like the old days when I would wake up with you in my arms. Your tuffet and your collar still smell like you. Mike and I are scared for the day that they don't as we don't want to forget a single thing about you. When I take Rylie out I always hold my arms like I am carrying you along, I know you would want to be there. I try to imagine how much you wieghed and how soft and warm you were. Obviously it isn't the same to pretend all these things but at least if I pretend you are here it doesn't hurt as bad. Maybe I can wish you back to us. We are going to order you rememberance stones. We will place one on your grave site along with a pretty yellow rose bush and the other will be out on your balcony. I hope you knew when you left us how much we adored and loved you. I know that someday this won't hurt as much and that life will have to go on but please know we will never forget our time together and will wish everyday that you could still be a part of our family. Maybe you could come visit us in a dream sometime soon. I know Mike is missing you so and I would just love to hold you again. Until then rest peacefully my Little Sammy Angel.

July 13, 2011
Sammy girl, I am still missing you so much. I really didn't expect this to happen- seems so fast. You did so well during the angiogram and phlebotomy back in May that I just thought you would be back home with us now and that we'd have a few really great years together. I guess it's just finally hitting me that you aren't coming home. It's so sad when I think about how great it could have been. But I know you were sick and perhaps this was God's way of keeping you from suffering.

I interviewed yesterday with the FBRN to volunteer and foster frenchies. I am doing it to honor you. You were so lucky to have such a great family that loved you so much and would have done anything for you but not every dog is so lucky. You would be happy to know that I'm helping your silly little clown Frenchie friends at a second chance of finding a happy home. I think this will be a good way to honor you, mend our hearts, and to cheer Rylie up. It won't be the same with another dog in the house and I know it will be hard to say good-bye to them when they find their new forever homes... but I am doing it for you so I'll be strong just like you were. Thinking of you all the time and missing you lots. XOXOXO

July 27, 2011
Sammy the world just keeps marching on but we are still missing you so much. I think about you everyday. Your 1st birthday would be coming up in just a few days. I am so sad that you won't be here to celebrate it. You've taught me so much about life and for that I am grateful. We really need to savor every second of it, we never know what God has planned for us. I know you are with him now. That's the only thing that makes any of this easier. A lot of the volunteers with French Bulldog Rescue Network said they have frencies that look so much like you. I saw a frenchie that looked a lot like you yesterday on a walk- it made me sad. Almost everything reminds me of you... so I think of you constantly. This week has been especially tough for some reason. Loving you always.

August 1, 2011
Maxer, a foster dog from Paws, is staying with us this week. He sure is happy to be here. Though he is a sweet guy our walks are pretty bad. Rylie and him are all tangled and pulling in opposite directions. Made me remember how calm and well behaved you always were. Would have loved to have you there. I am always trying to remember how it felt to carry you around the neighborhood. This weekend I tried to make you a memorial at this art studio with mosaic glass but it wasnt turning out so I stopped. I am going to order you your memorial stones today. I visited your grave again this weekend and so did Mike. It's so sad that you can't be here with us anymore.

August 9, 2011
Sammy I was just in the guest room and saw a fly buzzing around. It reminded me of the day not so long ago around this time when the sun has moved to the east side of the house shining really bright on the bed just on the one corner. I remember we were in there just hanging out- you and Rylie loved that room so much and would wrestle on the bed and spawl out on the fluffy pillows above my head. You used to feel so big because you could run and jump on the bed with no help. I loved going in that room and waiting for you and Rylie to come running in after me- all excited and ready to explore the off limits room. Anyways that day a fly starting buzzing around in the window and I remember your face when you saw it first. I could tell you really wanted to catch it but you were too small to stand up to the window on your own. I picked you up and you followed the fly as it buzzed from side to side of the window. When you caught the fly finally after minutes of tough pursuit you were so pround of yourself. When Mike got home from work we raced out to tell him what a great day you had. You loved to do doggy things like carry sticks, stick your head out the window, catch flies, be outside... that is why even then, not knowing how things would turn out, I knew that would be a special day for you. I left the little fly in the guest room buzzing around just like that day. I miss you still so much, it's still so hard. I cry for you all the time still.

August 17, 2011
I miss you sweetheart.

September 6, 2011
Sammy, thinking of you a lot today. We will always love you. Today we get a new puppy. I wish it was you. This is a very bittersweet day. She will never be able to replace you. You will always have our hearts. With that being said I am so excited to meet her. I remember how happy the four of us were when we were all together. Looking forward to that again but I know it won't be the same... but it's okay to be happy again. I know that is what you would want. I know Rylie will be happy again to have a doggy friend until you guys meet back up in heaven. Sammy, I miss you so and love you sweetheart. I wish you were here.

December 2011
Sammy- We still think about you all the time. Our new puppy Maddie and you would have been such good friends. She sure is naughty compared to you but sometimes I laugh thinking you might have been just as naughty if you weren't so sick. This christmas we took on a little frenchie from the bulldog rescue network that is sick just like you were. We gave her a bed, blankie, treats, and toys. She's probably enjoying them now all snuggled up- poor little Rolla. Look out for her in heaven when she comes. Sometimes I pretend that Maddie is you but I know she's not. We'll see you someday up in heaven. We did move back in October- it was tough for me to go. I was sad that I won't be able to look out on the deck anymore where you used to sun. I think this Spring I will bring Maddie and Rylie to our old neighborhood and walk around to remember you. It has gotten easier as time goes past but I still am so sad that you were too sick to be a playful little puppy. I know you will get that up in heaven though- I hope you are enjoying it. Someday we will see you again. Until then we will be remembering you and missing you very much. Love you little Piggy.

March 2012
Thinking about you. By your old dog park... still makes me so sad. The weather has been wonderful this Spring and I wish you were here to lay in the sun. We close on our new house in a week. I am sad that you couldn't have lived in the suburbs with us. We'll have a fenced in yard for Rylie and Maddie to play in and they will have a little dog house and can run around the yard sniffing everything. I really wanted you to have that. And you would have loved the deck at this place. We are even going to have outdoor furniture on the lower deck- I could picture you lounging on it. I'll be thinking of you as we settle in. We'll put your rock in a pretty garden that I will build with lots of yellow flowers and every time I look at it I'll remember you.

April 2012
Moving into our house this weekend Sammy. You would have loved the back yard, our new Frenchie Maddie sure does. She runs around in it and plays the way you would have if you weren't sick. Poor Rylie is all stressed out to move again. Hopefully you are up in heaven running around like a crazy little frenchie should. Yellow flowers are blooming all over your and Hobey's grave at my mom's house.

July 3, 2012
Sammy, I can't beleive it's already been a year since we dropped you off for your surgery. I remember the ride to Indianapolis you were looking out the window and having such a great time. I am still sad we had to leave you there all day on the 4th without us. And I still wish I would have said good-bye better. I really didn't think it would be over so soon like that. I loved you so much. It's strange how you start forgetting but I have lots of videos of you and pictures. I try not to look at them too much because it makes me too sad. Rylie loves Maddie and they play a lot. I still think she loved you the most. Maddie annoys her because she is so playful. It's just not fair that you had such a short life.