Welcome to Cody's Rainbow Residency

Memories of Cody

Rest in Peace Sweet Lab In Memory of Cody: April 12, 1992 -- August 23, 2005 It was Sunday, and I realized that this wasn't just a mild infection as his vet had suspected. Cody was getting sicker. He tried to get as close to me as he could and barked hoarsely as if to say, "Help me, Mama. Make it go away." He was too weak to walk, and I couldn't carry him on my own. My roommates helped lift him onto a folding table, and used it as a gurney to get him to my car--his car. My co-pilot was going for his last ride. We arrived at Animal Care, and I went in to get help. They called over the loudspeaker for a triage nurse. We went to get my baby, who put up no resistance. The nurse wheeled him in as I held his beautiful golden paw that was hanging over the side. Then they took him in back to stabilize him. And I had to leave my sweet angel behind. Going home without him was so difficult... but I still had hope. Then the tests came back... diabetes, anemia, possible pneumonia. It didn't look good. But again I had hope. IV fluids, antibiotics, and insulin could work wonders. But the next morning when the vet called with his ultrasound results, my heart froze. Cancer had taken over his liver, and his prognosis was poor. But could my baby come home for just a few more months? I held hope that he could make it through his acute problems and come to live in the new house I had found just for him: lots of space to walk around, a perfect little yard, soft carpet, and not a step in site to aggrevate his arthritis. He would be safe and happy there. But it was not to be. Monday night I visited my sweet boy. His breathing had become difficult, and the spark had disappeared from his eyes. I almost made the decision that night, but then I knew I had to give my guy one more chance to fight. He looked back at me as they put him on the gurney, as if to make sure I was coming with him. I petted him, he rested his head, and they wheeled him away without me. I hated leaving him when he was healthy, so this was agony to be separated from my sick boy when I knew he wanted me by his side. But I wasn't ready to let go. Tuesday morning showed no improvement. If anything he was slowly getting worse. I knew I could no longer put it off. I waited for him in the visiting room. They rolled him in on a gurney. He looked up and saw me--and his tail wagged for the last time. They set him gently on the soft-blanketed floor and left us alone together. I stroked his soft beautiful fur, caressed his velvet ears, and showered him with kisses. I told him he was the best friend I could ever hope to have, I loved him more than anything in the world, I would never leave him again, and Mama was going to take care of him. He was counting on that. He lay beside me and closed his eyes. We sat together for over an hour, spending our last precious time together. But he was suffering, his breathing was labored, and his old body was giving out. It was time for good-bye. The vet and nurse came in, petted him, told him what a good, sweet boy he was, and he went to sleep. I stroked his cheek with one hand and held my hand over his heart with the other. I felt it slow and then stop. And Cody was gone. After 13-and-a-half years of love and loyalty, my sweet boy is gone forever. He and I were so close, No matter how difficult life became, I always knew it would be okay as long as we were together. The one thing we could always count on was each other--and I knew Cody counted on me in those last moments to make the pain and suffering go away. He deserved that from me after all his years of faithfulness. We had a stronger bond than I have ever had with another living being, and I feel so empty now, like a part of my soul is gone, and my heart is torn apart. I can't remember a life without my Lab; I can't imagine a world without him. But I must go on with memories and pictures and the hope that I will see him again someday. But my heart will always ache because he was my special boy, and there is no filling that emptiness. Good night, sweet angel.

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