by Barbara Pennachio
This journey begins on 4/1/92. Michele became the proud owner of two eight week old "Rotts" Teddy and Bear. My was she proud! She had just purchased a little horse farm and was planning to move in the first part of May. She knew Teddy and Bear would have acres to romp and play with no fences and never being tied....what freedom. Michele was only 38 when she adopted them and knew it was going to be happy times! Well the journey took a sudden and sad turn when Michele became terminally ill in April 2000, but what we didn't know was that Teddy was sharing the same illness as her. Well as Michele's illness starting taking its toll on her Teddy, was starting to show signs of her illness as well.. Michele spent only two days in the hospital for her entire illness. The first day she went in, I came home to find Teddy in very bad shape...I immediately rushed her to the hospital as well. It was discovered that she had cancer of the spleen and surgery was performed the following morning to remove it. We received a call at the hospital where Michele was staying she came through the surgery fine and we would be able to take her home on Saturday. I picked up Michele from the hospital and we decided to stop by and see Teddy on the way home. I must admit she looked tired and sore, but boy did her eyes and ears perk up when Michele came into the room. The people at the animal hospital provided a sand chair for Michele so that she could sit close to Teddy. (Michele was not doing very well) After our visit we both hugged and kissed Teddy and told her we would pick her up in two days. That was not ment to be, you see she threw a blod clot that night and died at 10:00pm Our last memory of Teddy was how truly happy she was when she saw Michele and that we really believe that's what kept her going. Now Michele pasted away on 8/6/00 at the young age of 46....who would have ever knew this would happen!!! That left me and "Bear" by ourselves, not only did she lose her sister Teddy but now she had to deal with the lose of her "mom" as well. Bear passed away at the age of 12 on 3/6/04, four years after her sister and mom. The purpose of my writing this story is to let everyone know that Teddy and Michele were true sole mates, and Bear was lost during these past 4 years. Though my heart is broken that she is gone from my life I know in my heart she is young again and romping with her sister Teddy and her mom Michele.