by Carolyn Cevallos
When I first met my husband, he did not want pets. I would share stories about the pets I had when I was growing up, and how much happiness they brought into my life. Still, it was not enough to convince him to get a pet.
As we grew closer - I think my husband realized how much I would love to have a pet in our home.
It was around Christmas of 2000 that my husband told me that he had found a Teacup Poodle at a Kennel in our town. He said she was female and her color was ice white. We decided to buy her and give her to our daughter, Shelby, for Christmas.
We were told that we could pick our new puppy up on Christmas Eve. When Christmas Eve came, we were told that the baby was still trying to nurse on her Mommy, and we were asked to leave her a little longer. We were saddened, but the Kennel did allow us to bring Shelby to see the new addition to our family that day!
Oh - our daughter was so happy...and the baby seemed so excited - I think we all were.
The day came to bring our new baby home - but we needed a name for her. I thought with her beautiful white coat, we should name her "Crystal". We all loved it - and then our lives together began.
Originally, we had bought this puppy for Shelby; however, Ms. Crystal decided who she wanted to "own". She first started out sleeping in a carry-all, but she was not going to have that. She quickly became an official member of our bed. She claimed her territory...and we let her. My husband and I took her everywhere with us. To the store, to work, to restaurants (which we were kicked out of a couple of times), etc. A time came when we could no longer take her with us everywhere, because she began to make her presence known. This was very difficult for us because she'd look so sad when we left the house. Then, to my surprise, my husband tells me, "the Kennel has another poodle...it's a boy and he's apricot in color." Let me remind you that my husband was not the greatest admirer of pets. Well, that was then...at this point he began to realize the happiness little Crystal had brought us.
Prior to buying Boomer, we had taken Crystal to the Vet for her check-up, and that is when we were told that she had a heart murmur. We were told that little ones tend to have these types of conditions and usually learn to live with it, and some outgrow it...but that now would be the time to return her to get our money back! What? Are you crazy? Take her back like she was a pair of shoes???? Not an option...we loved her and were willing to be there for her. Now we were even more content to make our angel as happy as possible.
Off we went to buy our little boy..."Boomer"! He was a deep orange apricot and was so cute with his little mustache. We brought him home, and instantaneously, the two began to play; however, Crystal still made sure he understood that she was the "Queen of the Castle".
It was so adoreable to see the two play...Crystal taught him the rules about using the paper to go potty, and Boomer was just happy being her friend.
Times were a little uneventful - other than the usual "look at her, look at him...how cute" stuff.
Then one day, out of nowhere, my little Crystal collapsed. She was very still but disoriented. I did not know what to do. I quickly picked her up, rocked her, and pleaded with her to hang on. A few minutes went by and she came to and seemed just fine! We took her to the Vet just to check, and they said she was okay.
Holidays came and went...and they were so joyous. So many memories. In the process of life, our little Crystal became pregnant. This scared us to death, because we didn't know if she could handle it. On February 23, 2002, Crystal gave birth to three little ones, but only one survived. We were so sad, but so happy to have a least the one. We named her Mia - for "My 'ittle Angel".
One day, I came home from work and my daughter opened the door to let the little ones come out and greet me. When Crystal reached me she collapsed and was not breathing. I dropped everything in my arms and picked her up, and began screaming for my husband. We went in the house and carried her to the sink. I put some water on her head and stroked her softly begging her to breath. My husband put his hand over her heart, and he felt it slowing down. We rushed her to the Vet - where they immediately took her to the back and placed her on oxygen. I could not think. I needed to be doing something to help her. Approximately 15 minutes went by, and the Vet walked in with our little princess in her arms, wagging her little tail. I was so happy. Little did we know that this would be the beginning of our nightmare.
The doctor told us that she had a severe heart murmur and for us to enjoy every minute we had with Crystal because she would not live very long. I cried and would not accept that. They placed my baby on some medications. She told us that what Crystal had may be operable, but would require some expensive testing and radiographs. Money was no option. This was our baby. We told her to get us the name of the Cardiac doctor and we would be there.
The next day, the doctor called with a name of a doctor in town that could do Crystal's heart ultrasound. My husband took her over, and that is when they discovered that she needed further treatment and x-rays. We were referred to the Texas A&M Veterinary School of Medicine. Here they would be able to perform a Doppler Scan of her little heart.
The appointment was scheduled for April the 3rd at 9:30 a.m. My husband decided to take her, and that I should stay at work because I had just started there. My husband rented a car and left at about 5:30 a.m. to get there in time.
I received a call from my husband at about 1:00 p.m. He said that Crystal was diagnosed with a PDA and that the doctor was recommending surgery immediately. The surgery was to cost $2,000.00, and the doctor asked that my husband leave Crystal there so they could monitor her. My husband refused and said that he would bring her back in the morning. The reason my husband did this is because he wanted Crystal to spend another night with her family - just in case. I played with my little one until it was bedtime. I woke up at about 2:00 a.m. to find her nursing her little baby, Mia. I went back to sleep and woke up at about 3:30 a.m. to get my husband up. He got up and showered, and was ready to head out. I told my baby that I loved her and that I'd be waiting for her. I told her to come home to Mommy. My husband picked up his keys, and Crystal began squirming out of my arms, so that she wouldn't be left behind. I gave them both a kiss and they left.
The plan was to try catherization to get the blockage in her heart. My husband was told that it was a simple procedure; however, if it did not work, they would have to perform open heart surgery. Time seemed to go by so slowly. Then at about noon time, my husband called me to let me know that it did not work. They were scheduling Crystal for Open Heart Surgery for first thing the next morning. I was devastated. My husband was not permitted to take her home this time. She needed to stay to be observed because she had anesthesia. My husband drove home to me in San Antonio, and we waited. They said that if we were there, they would not allow us to see her, so we should just stay home and wait.
The next morning came, and my husband and I were nervous wrecks. They called to let us know that Crystal's surgery had been bumped to the early afternoon, because two other "littler" ones had come in. We made plans that we would leave in the evening and stay in a hotel. We would go and see the sites on the University and wait for the call that we could finally see her.
My husband came to my work and we had lunch together. We remembered all of the good times we had with Crystal, and discussed how we were so happy that she would now have a good chance at life.
Before my husband left my work, we decided to call to find out how our baby was doing. My husband spoke with a Receptionist and she told him that Crystal was out of surgery and doing well, and that Merry - the caseworker assigned to us - would be calling us in about 10 minutes.
Merry contacted us; however, Crystal was not out of surgery. Merry said Crystal was half way through and has made it passed the biggest hurdle. She said they would contact us about 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.
My husband left my work to pick up our daughter from school. This was at about 2:00 p.m. At about 2:40 p.m., my husband called me and told me that Crystal had died in surgery. I asked him to swear...and he did. We were both crying. I went to the bathroom to throw-up. My car had broken down the prior evening, so I had no way to leave. My husband would have to come and get me.
I was so devastated. I was so numb! What was I going to do without our little one?
Today is Monday, April 08, 2002. Crystal died on Friday, April 05, 2002. This is so hard for me and my family. The hurting and crying does not stop. We have so many "what ifs" and "why's". We were only trying to do the best we could for her.
We miss her so much! Each day that goes by, we seem to hurt a little more.
My husband and I just got finished purchasing her casket. It is so hard to know she is sitting in our freezer right now. It has been raining here non-stop so we have been unable to bury her.
I read the poem about the Rainbow Bridge. I hope to God that this is where our little Crystal is, and that she will be waiting for us when our time comes.
I feel so empty and lost without her. I am left to take care of her newborn baby - and the daddy, Boomer, is so sad.
I just wonder if this will ever get any better, because a piece of me has died inside.
Thank you for allowing me to share our story. This was a nightmare and I hope those that have gone through something like this have found peace and comfort. I'm not sure that we ever will.
For the love of Crystal...Born November 10, 2000 / Died April 05, 2002.
We love you, baby girl!
Mommy, Daddy, Shelby, Boomer, and Mia