Bella Goodbye

Bella Goodbye
Originally uploaded by studio583art.

The Last Post.

And in so many ways the most difficult.

We are completely devastated and overwhelmingly crushed with grief, we have lost the center that was our heart.

On June 29th, 2008, we had to let Bella go. Bella was diagnosed with subungual squamous cell carcinoma the week before the Memorial Day Weekend. We had been working closely with Dr. Stubbs, Bella's Internist and Dr. Corse her surgeon to make the right decision for her treatment. We decided to amputate the toe and she came through the surgery like a champion. She maneuvered the splint and did not allow it to slow her down.

During the past few weeks, she had developed an infection in the toe next to the one that had been amputated. We continued to visit Dr. Corse with follow ups and the toe began to heal slowly. Unfortunately, early Friday morning on June 27th, Bella experienced her first of three seizures. Another would follow thirty three hours later. By Sunday morning, we knew our time together was limited, through council with her vets we knew that she had developed a brain tumor. That morning we decided to take her to Stone Mountain for a good car ride that did not involve a vet visit. The morning was great, she got to walk around, smell things and explore as much as she wanted. She had a really great morning. The sky was overcast and there was a nice breeze in the air and she was happy to be with us on yet another adventure. This would be the last the three of us would share together and this time will always be treasured and adored.

When we returned home, Bella had her third and final seizure. This one was the worst and when we got her back from it we could see in her eyes that she was tired and could not go through another. We have always been told that we would know when the time was right, and worried that we wouldn't, but like always Bella guided us and told us what she needed us to do. It was the hardest decision we have ever had to make, but we knew we had to let her go. We made arrangements, we did not want her to have to go through another seizure. She did come back to us one last time and we were able to say our good-byes and she each gave us the tenderness of her heart. She passed in her own home on her own bed peacefully.

We will miss her deeply.

Thank you to all her wonderful friends here and across the world, it has meant so much to us to have been able to share our beloved Bella with so many. Yes we are in the process of writing a book of Bella's story and if we are able to get it published we will let everyone know.

This will be our last post.

As always, love from Team Bella...Gwen & Scott