Hi Everyone:

I just wanted to bring back an old post in hopes that it might help some people
in their journey.....
God Bless!!

Love, Denise
********************************************************************************
******************************

Hi to Everyone:

Before you read this post...........please go to my post on 10/29 @ 7:20PM, (it's part of
this THREAD) and start there first......
Thanks!!!

Love, Denise
********************************************************************************
********************************************
Hi Everyone, My Old friends, and My New friends, Here at Lightning Strike:

From my last post, which I wrote on 9/9 at 12:35am, until the newest post on 9/11.....

There have been 101 posts, in total. I'm sure right at this time, as I'm writing this in "pieces",
there are more posts..

I felt that "for some reason", the fall months were especially busy at this site.....After speaking with Marc,
he did say that this was true........
And, as for myself, I can see that this is true.

I also say that, "I am sorry that you had to find a pet-grief site........but, if you had to find one....
I am very happy that it is our "Lightning Strike"!!!
It is the BEST!!!!
In my mind.............No Question There!!!

The members here at LS, who have known me, since I joined here......
I hope that most of you know that
because I CARE SOOOOOOOO MUCH about those that have lost their babies, and are in pain, and
are suffering because they have lost their babies; their sweet life long companions....

I have always tried to respond to most everyone....
I know the pain, first hand, and I think it is sooooooo very important that we all reach out to one
another............ It is the most comforting thing in the world.... One person - reaching out to another...

These past couple of days, I have seen PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ONE ANOTHER...........
The people on LS, just seem to come together...... And, it is a beautiful thing to see.

I have some changes going on in my life, which are positive, but, I haven't had a chance to personally
post everyone, and that makes me feel bad.. Very, very bad, if you must know the truth!!

I was helped, and still am, SOOOOOOOOOO VERY, VERY MUCH, BY PEOPLE ON THIS SITE...(OLD AND NEW)...

I cry with everyone, and that's the truth!!!..... There is soooooo much pain here...but, there is a lot of healing...

I have RECEIVED SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH HELP HERE.


I became a member of LS, in the very early morning hours of February 8, 2004, around 2:00am.

Our precious girl, Ernestine, was put to sleep on 2/7/2004, at approximately noon-time...... That was a Saturday; our vet (at that time), was never in on a Saturday....
????? Was that A SIGN?????

My sweet Ben and I had one another to lean on.....but, what was I to do after he went to sleep????

Ernestine was "my girl first", when I bought her from a Boston Pet Store, in 6/1984...... It was she and I, for many
years.......My sweet Ben, became her daddy, on 3/16/2001. (even just a bit before!!)

Ernestine was "my best girlfriend......" She ALWAYS KNEW THAT.........if I was sad, and 1/2 tear was going
to drop from my eye............she was RIGHT THERE!!!!!!

She always knew........
And, my sweet girl, "I ALWAYS WILL BE GRATEFUL"!! God Bless you!!!! I miss you so much, Ernie!!!

I didn't know what to do---where to go----
I knew that one thing was for sure.........

I WAS GOING TO GO CRAZY........... THAT WAS FOR SURE!!!!!!!

I'd have to say that my girl was healthy until her 15th year, at which time she developed hyperthyroidism,
and she needed to have a thyroidectomy.... (1/2 of her thyroid was removed).

Then she was placed on "Tapazole".........I'm sure that lots of you have heard that name....

We weren't good at "pilling"........so, it was crushed into the liquid part of her food....
Alright, already.......We were afraid of "pilling"..We didn't want to hurt her....

She was doing well............Perfect........ Eating and drinking.......

It wasn't until she was 18 years old, that she developed some kidney disease....

I want EVERYONE TO KNOW that I am SO VERY, VERY GRATEFUL, that my sweet girl was with me for
such a long, long time........

Yes, we had our sweet Ernestine until she was 19 years and 10 months, and I cannot tell you how very happy
and fortunate we are........
It really is a miracle.....

I read posts of people losing their little ones much earlier than the years that we got to enjoy, with
our girl; and we are sorry!!!!

BELIEVE ME, I KNOW THAT BEN AND I WERE!!!! We were very, very fortunate to have our sweet "Ernie-Bird" in our lives for sooooooooo long.....
THANK YOU DEAR GOD!!!!!!
***************************************************************************
I knew that this would happen............. I need to stop this now, and resume a bit later....
I'm sorry.....

Love to all of you,
Denise (Muffins)


Now, I'm back and I hope that I can finish what I started to post....

****************************************

With Ernie's Kidney disease, she did quite well for awhile..........
There were lots of blood tests, say every 1 - 2 months, to see how her kidneys were holding up.

We had changed her diet to a "kidney formula"....

It was in December, 2003, that we noticed she was starting to lose weight.....
Even though she was eating.......we couldn't ignore the weight loss.

Other than that, she was fine.....

It seemed that the end of January, the beginning of February came rather quickly,
and with that, our girl went from 8.2 pounds to 5.9 pounds....

The night before she was put to sleep, I stayed up with her, and noted that she wasn't able to use
her box, and she didn't have an appetite, at all.
I opened several cans, hoping that she'd just take one "lap of food", but she had no interest....

I was sick, because I knew what this might mean ------ I PRAYED TO GOD, AS I HAD IN THE PREVIOUS
FEW WEEKS TO "PLEASE TAKE OUR SWEET GIRL IN HER SLEEP", but, that wasn't to be....


So, when I phoned our vet on Saturday, I was surprised to hear that they were open.
We went in, and she was put to sleep.....
Out of her pain & suffering......she wasn't going to "starve herself", She was finally gone
to a MUCH BETTER PLACE, ***Rainbow's Bridge***.


Of course, I "didn't know that in my mind right then and there".....

Ben and I were crying, and I just remember looking at her little lifeless body, and wondering,

"Why didn't I hold you more",
"I should've been a better mom to you",
"Why, when you were meowing, did we shut the bedroom door at 4:00am???"

I remember, when Ben and I spent time with her afterwards, that we could touch her hind quarters, which for
some reason, were always soooooooo sensitive....
I know the feeling all too well of 'I WANT HER BACK'!!!!

I don't have to tell anyone here, about THE LIST, of "I should'ves, why didn't I", etc., etc.....

I haven't cried in A LONG, LONG TIME............BUT, NOW I START....... It's all coming back like it's 2/7/2004...

But, for the next week, I felt ILL....
I was nauseaus, I was crying, and it wasn't "just crying", it was more than that......
Like, from my own soul....
I don't know.....

My chest hurt, like someone had taken a serrated blade and was pushing it in and out....
I had a migraine, which lasted forever. My head wouldn't stop killing me!!!!
The crying.........it felt like it was "coming from my feet, and out"....
I just couldn't stop.

And, I also, didn't care where I was....... If I felt that lump in my throat, and needed to cry, then I did....
I couldn't "stifle it"....

I slept with Ernie's two favorite Beanie baby toys for a good while, her "Lemur", and her "Lion".
I just wanted her with me....

When I found LS........or, as Sue said in a post recently...."Did LS find us???" I wonder......

But, I wrote out my story and I cannot tell you, the outpouring of love, help, concern, understanding, etc., that
I received was IMMENSE!!!!

AND, I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WILL ALWAYS KNOW, JUST HOW VERY MUCH I HAVE BEEN HELPED BY EVERY
SINGLE PERSON ON THIS SITE.
WHETHER YOU ANSWERED MY POSTS OR NOT.....
EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN MY HEALING!!!!!
AND, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND SOUL, I DO THANK YOU ALL!!!!!

After a few weeks, I really started to feel better, and I realized that Ernie, our sweet girl WILL ALWAYS & FOREVER
BE A PART OF US!!!!!!
She's not REALLY GONE.............She lives on in our hearts and souls!!!!!

I believe that now, and it's a wonderful feeling..........

Knowing the company that Ernestine is in, up at Rainbow's Bridge, always makes me smile....

Of course, my journey was "not this cut and dry", but I wanted to post something that will show the newcomers
and people who haven't read my many posts, that.......

*************************THINGS WILL GET BETTER, AND YOU WILL GROW AND MOVE ON FROM THIS*******************************

NO, WE WILL NEVER, EVER forget our little ones, not at all..... That will never happen!!!!
I know that we will all be reunited with our kids......

I was the one person who swore up & down, left and right, (and what other way I could swear), that
"I am never getting another baby to love ---- NOT EVER!!!!"

If Ben would even mention "one word", I just put my hand up, as if to say, "Be quiet, I don't want to hear...."

But, the silence in this house was deafening, and since I was here during the day, I COULDN'T STAND IT!!!!!

So, on 3/7/2004, one month after Ernestine went to Rainbow's Bridge, we went to a shelter and rescued two
furbabies..........
Ms. Lucy is 7 years old (looks just like Ernestine), and Mr. Yoster who is 8..

We don't know their correct birthdays.......their ages are approximate...

They came from a household in which four other furkitties were also "dropped off at the shelter"....
The man "just didn't want them anymore"....

They have been abused... But, thank God, they are doing well...
Their spoiled, but of course, they should be....

I know that some of you know our story with Ms. Lucy...............
She's been sick on and off..........
We tried two other vets who "just couldn't figure her out"........... but, thankfully, as they say,
"Three is a charm", and our third vet is spectacular!!!!!

Ms. Lucy does have asthma, and she has tested positive for diabetes, which could be as a result of her
"oral steroid", so we will be giving her "Flovent Inhalor", as soon as we receive her "AeroKat Spacer"....
(like when you give a child an inhalor).......
We hope that her sugars will go down as soon as the oral steroid is stopped.
Until that time, she will go in for weekly sugars.

I want to say that Ernestine's vet............He never sent us a little condolence card, and that really
bothered me quite a lot...

I mean, my background is in the "human medical field", and I'd say 1,000 cards would probably cost 10 cents
each, add a stamp, and, all for under 50cents, you could make someone feel like their kitty mattered to them.
I would've never known that perhaps "we should have received a card", until I came here and heard that other people were getting a card, a paw print and maybe a tuft of hair.....

I am soooooo happy for all of those who have a "remembrance" of their little family members.... For sure I am!!!!

Ernestine will ALWAYS & FOREVER LIVE IN MY HEART........
And, I have memories of her that will never, ever be taken away...
That's the beautiful thing about memories....
THEY ARE OURS TO KEEP!!!!!

Well, I know that I've gone on and on, but I just wanted to share my story.....

I am soooooooooo sorry that there are soooo many people suffering;
You have all come to the right place, OF THAT I AM 100% SURE!!!!!!

Together, all of us helping on another,
this is how we will all "get through this awful, awful pain"....
And, it is HORRIBLE!!!!!

***I am sorry, very sorry that I'm not able to answer everyone's posts right now.... Please know that I do read
your posts, and that I grieve right along with you......
I will always be here, and to read everyone's posts. I am sorry that there is such pain, and that pain HURTS!!!!

Everyone here, you are all in my thoughts and prayers!!! ALWAYS!!!!

There are sooo many hundreds of very wise people on this site, and there's one statement that I'd like to share....

*****At a time when NOTHING MADE SENSE TO ME, ONE POSTER WROTE TO ME AND SAID,

"Denise, YOU TOOK ON ERNESTINE'S PAIN, SO THAT SHE COULD BE WITHOUT PAIN.....*****

And, I would do it again!!!! I thank whoever wrote this to me, way back when, and I hope that it helps all of you.....

God Bless you all, my friends, Old & New,

Love you all,

Love, Denise & Ben.........also, Ms. Lucy and Mr. Yoster xoxo

Hi Denise,

I first posted here on LS on Aug. 24th at 10.05PM because I was out of my mind with grief over the loss of my best friend and faithful companion for almost twelve years---Little Man aka Zoey. I lost him on Aug 18th. I was in search of a grief site for pet lovers and this is the site that caught my attention. After I posted, I turned the computer off and went to bed for yet another sleepless night. The next day when I checked to see if anyone had responded to my post, I was surprised to see I had six replys already.

You were the first person to respond and you did it in the wee hours of the morning and it wasn't just a few words, but a very long heartfelt and comforting reply that helped me more than you will ever know. You were followed by ginger'spal (Patti); Beth 4275 (Snoops mom); BabyHannah's mom (Marcia); Stymy's mom (Vic) and Arnold's mom (Nanci). I was overwhelmed at how each of you in your own way managed to say just the right thing to help me try to come to terms with my loss. I had never posted on a site of anykind before and didn't really know what to expect. The love, concern, understanding, and compassion I found here was more than I could have ever hoped for. I do believe it was God himself that sent me to this particular site (there were quite a few) but this is the one that "jumped" out at me. Over the next few days, there were several more responses to my post and I just couldn't believe there were so many people who understood and really cared.

I'm certain Tribble (who was the inspiration for this site) is very proud and honored to see how the love his owner had for him has brought so many people together. There is a lot of pain here, but everyone comes together to help one another, and somehow we all seem to become better people for it. I also like to think our beloved pets had a hand (paw) in seeing that we all "found" each other. They are all together now at the Rainbow Bridge and maybe, just maybe, they helped see to it that we are all together now as well. It's a comforting thought, isn't it?

Thanks again, from the bottom of my heart to eveyone on this site. My heart still aches for my Little Man and I suppose it always will; but it is truly comforting to be able to talk about him with people who undertand and care.

LOVE AND HUGS TO EACH OF YOU,
__Jim

Dear Jim:

Thank you so much for responding to my post.

I remember your first post about your "Little Man" - aka Zoey....

It is true.............I believe that God must've helped me get to LS, at my most distressing time of need. I believe that.
The responses that I received after my initial post "blew me away", but I was sooooooooo grateful that people even
took the time.....

That's why this site is so very special to me.....
In today's world, PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE.....it's almost unheard of..(sort of)...

I am sure, as well, that "Tribble", Marc's kitty, must be looking down at his daddy, and smiling proudly at him....
I can picture Tribble, up at Rainbow's Bridge saying, "Yep, My dad started that site......"

And, you're right in thinking that our "furkids" had their paws in all of us meeting one another......
I think that, for some reason, this is the way "it was meant to be"...
We all need each other, and at such a dark time, we are not alone....
For, our babies wouldn't want that for us!!!!!

It is such a comforting thought, Jim -- Thanks!!!!

Your heart will still hurt and ache for your "Little Man"....but, that ache will start dissipating, somewhat.
You will always think of your Little Man -- Always....

And, memories that you two have made.....THEY CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY!!!!
We will never forget our sweet kids, that's for sure!!

Even in your grief Jim, you have helped soooo many people by responding to their cries for help.

That's what happens here ---- No matter how much "we are hurting", we are able to help others
because we are feeling the same pain, or have gone through that pain...

It really is an amazing gift, I think... I'm grateful that I am a part of this big, wonderful family!!!!

I must admit, I loved reading about Little Man's name, and how it came to be....
Really, it's a precious story....


God Bless you, Jim.....
You'll always be in my thoughts and prayers,

Love, Denise & Ben

****page 10****I invite everyone to look at photos of our precious Ms. Lucy and Mr. Yoster****
I'm a bit "computer illiterate", and I don't know how to add some pictures of them....

To Everyone at Lightning Strike:

Hi!!!

I came to Lightning Strike in the very early morning hours of February 8, 2004........

Our sweet Ernestine -- (her 1st name was Muffins ) -- had to be put to sleep on 2/7/2004.

I have been blessed so very much because of this absolutely WONDEROUS SITE!!!

Every single person who comes to Lightning-Strike, has helped to make LS the most
superb, wonderful, unbelievably caring & loving, etc., "Pet-Grief site", in MY OPINION.

The Thread that I brought back is:

1. relatively new ---- it was written 7 weeks ago, tomorrow, which is 10/30/2004
AND
2. I started this thread on 9/11/2004.

I read A LOT of posts today, and I am hearing that lots of people are having a very, very tough time.
Just like everyone else here, I know how it feels to lose a precious, beloved furbaby...

I just wanted to bring back this post in hopes that it might be of help to someone.....

God Bless You All!!

Love, Denise

Hi to All at Lightning-Strike.............

I have been a "member" here, since the VERY wee morning hours of February 8, 2004..........

My sweet girl Ernestine, was put to sleep on February 7th @ noon-time............and, I DESPERATELY NEEDED TO FIND
"SOMETHING"......After my husband went to sleep........I was all alone, with my thoughts.........

I am sooooooooooo thrilled that I found "Lightning-Strike".........
Everybody here is, and has been...... sooooo WONDERFUL, to me!!!!

I find sooooooooooo much love and comfort here, and I will FOREVER BE GRATEFUL!!!!

On 9/11/2004, @ 8:53 PM.........I decided to write kind of like a "synopsis" --- from the beginning of when I started here..............to the present..... here at Lightning Strike.

Physically, I have been very ill lately, and it really hurts me, (MUCH MORE THAN ANYONE COULD REALLY KNOW), not to be here to answer, comfort & love....... all of you wonderful people here that are in pain....

I am ALWAYS HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AT LEAST READING EVERYONE'S HEARTBREAKING STORIES, AND OCCASIONALLY, THE
STORIES THAT UPLIFT OUR HEARTS!!!!!!!
But, I WANT TO TAKE TIME TO ANSWER EACH AND EVERYONE'S LETTERS........ I surely will............but, it will be just ONE LETTER AT A TIME.....
That's the best that I can do, right now......

For some reason, I have never been able to answer a post in one or two sentences, and ---- that's fine ---- It's just "who I am!!!.
It's probably because when I was a teenager, (started at age 11), I had over 100 pen-pals (ALL OVER THE WORLD) ----- My passion was writing, and I believe that it still is....

I'd receive letters that were 10+ pages in length, and I would send back at least 10++ pages, if not more....
Hmmmm...........no wonder I never made it in to Medical School; how could I keep my grades up, if I was responding to
10 letters per day?????
Oh well!!


Some wonderful people here at LS, have known me since February, and they know that I've not been well. I am (very) happy to say that they have been "along the ride" with me, and I'm sure that you all know it's something that I sincerely Thank God For !!!!!

Some of you might just be starting a new journey without your sweet "furbaby".........., or you might have just "joined us" in sharing your story.......

I just want to let everyone know that "if you had to join a pet-grief site", that you have all come to the perfect place!!!!!!

To myself, and also, to countless others............Lightning-Strike is just like a family.......
A HUGE EXTENDED FAMILY THAT WE CAN ALL COUNT ON during our babies diseases, illnesses......and also, when they pass over to "Rainbow's Bridge"........
********************************************************************************
******************************

First, the reason I am continuing this thread is to show lots of people that all of our posts "do not get answered"......

**YET, ALL OF our posts DO GET READ BY SEVERAL PEOPLE.......***


You can tell that by the number of your posts that have been "VIEWED".......
Some people can receive ADEQUATE HELP/AND JUST THE RIGHT "AMOUNT OF" MEDICINE that they need by reading our posts, and then reading the replies that we receive.......

SOME PEOPLE DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE "ANSWERING OUR POSTS".... Some people just feel comfortable READING helpful things, rather than responding......

My feeling is that if people can come to Lightning-Strike, and by reading all of our posts, and say, "Yes, that's just the
information I needed to read/to hear".............
And, they don't write us back.............
THEN, I AM SINCERELY HAPPY FOR THEM..........
A lot of people are not comfortable responding to posts in a forum.....
And, that's just fine - in my book...........


THOSE PEOPLE LEARN A LOT FROM WHAT WE HAVE WRITTEN, AND THEY ALSO LEARN JUST WHAT THEY NEED BY THE ANSWERS THAT WE RECEIVE BY OUR REPLIES......
OFTEN TIMES......THAT'S ENOUGH FOR THEM.....

Sometimes, I have seen that "in the future", we will "HEAR FROM THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE", who don't RIGHT NOW, feel comfortable SHARING WITH US.
That's fine......
Everyone has a TIMETABLE........

SOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY PEOPLE DO LEARN SO MUCH FROM WHAT WE HAVE WRITTEN, AND BY THE RESPONSES THAT
WE HAVE RECEIVED.
It doesn't mean that our posts "HAVE BEEN IGNORED"...............NOT AT ALL!!!!!!

People do learn by THE WRITTEN WORD...........AND, I REALLY FEEL, THAT..... IN ITSELF....
IT IS A WONDERFUL GIFT!!!!!!!!

As you can all see by my post here, that I started on September 11, 2004 in the evening............

I did receive (only) ONE RESPONSE from _Jim, on 9/12 @ 12:17am.......................
YEP..............I received "ONLY" ONE RESPONSE.........
but, what a wonderful response it was, and I will forever be grateful that _Jim did respond.....

It is because he felt ready to, and he wanted to......

I believe that my post was "viewed by many"......


LIGHTNING-STRIKE IS A WONDERFUL, SUPERB PLACE..........FOR ALL OF US THAT ARE EXPERIENCING GRIEF OVER LOSING OUR
BELOVED BABIES......
For Ben and I.................it has been nine months since our girl was put to sleep........
Really, we feel quite well that she is enjoying Rainbow's Bridge.....

And, Life does go on...........
We are ENJOYING SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH, OUR SWEET MS. LUCY AND MR. YOSTER ......

Ha....Ha...........Me.........I NEVER, EVER THOUGHT I WOULD WANT TO OPEN UP MY HEART AGAIN TO LOVE OTHER
FURBABIES.................BUT, ALAS..........ONE MONTH LATER...........WE DID ADOPT!!!!!

And, our lives are full with the love of these two kids....
(Thank you sooooooooooooooo much Dear God!!!!!!!!)

Mr. Yoster (the 8 year old) has been healthy, thus far...........and we are grateful for that......
He's a sweet, gentle "Mr. Man"..... (lovingly, that's his name!!!).

Our wonderful veterinarian feels that Ms. Lucy must've had upper respiratory infections when she was younger.....
She's now approximately 7 & 1/2 years old...........and has developed asthma.......
And also, diabetes, which we are treating with Insulin.

We have an appointment in about 6 hours for her AM glucose level -- Since Ben has been asleep for about 2 hours, perhaps he will go.............Hmmmm.....we'll see.....

and then after feeding her normally all day at home........we will then take her back @ around 6:55pm, to have her evening blood glucose level....

Ms. Lucy has already had a few blood glucose "CURVES" at the veterinarian's office................so, they look at all of the
data, and see where she is...
Right now, she is on 5 units of Humulin Ultralente in the AM.....

Well, it's time for me to go to bed now.............

*****Really everyone......I just want you all to know that if you feel that your posts are being IGNORED, they really are
not....*****

Sometimes people are very, very busy in their day to day lives, and they don't have a minute to respond to you -- although they would love to........

To Every person who does post here............
YOU ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.....

AND PLEASE, IF YOU ARE DESPERATE TO GET A RESPONSE, PLEASE DO SAY THAT.......

IT WON'T BE LOOKED AT AS "WEIRD".................TRUST THAT SOMEONE WILL RESPOND TO YOU....

When I first started here..............I posted here SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!! And, I am sure that most of the time I was not making sense..........BUT, PEOPLE (WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PEOPLE DID RESPOND TO ME).....
I WILL ALWAYS AND FOREVER BE GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE......

I spent TONS OF TIME READING THE POSTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE..............

FOR INSTANCE, "LITTLE GIRL'S MOMMY", "BABY HANNAH'S MOM", "ZOEY'SDAD", ETC. ETC...........THERE ARE SOOOOOOO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE HERE......
Those are just three names of MANY who make up the family of "Lightning-Strike"..... Given the time, it's hard to
think of other wonderful people here....

In the very beginning, I would "pick a name", and then read their COMPLETE STORIES FROM BEGINNING TO END ---- OR, AT LEAST, BEGINNING TO THEIR [U]MOST RECENT.......[/u]

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE THIS.....................I (AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HERE) HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT YOU DO!!!!!

You will be able to see how some people "are making it through this very, very tough time"........
And, it does make it easier, and also, it's helpful (much, much more helpful)..........to know how people get through the
illness of their furbabies........
And, when the time comes................How they deal with their passing onto Rainbow's Bridge.....

I hope that this post has helped some-------------Really, I do.....


Goodnight and God Bless you All!!!!!

Love, Denise, Ben, Ms. Lucy and Mr. Yoster xo

************HI!! I WANTED TO COME BACK TO MY THREAD AND TELL ALL THAT SINCE I STARTED THIS ON 9/11/2004 AT 8:53PM................THERE HAVE BEEN 104 VIEWS (104 people have "viewed this post".........)

******AND******

[B]THE ONE AND ONLY PERSON TO RESPOND TO MY THREAD WAS [U]_JIM ( THANK YOU VERY MUCH, "ZOEY'S DAD -- _JIM") THE OTHER 3 "THINGS" WERE SOMETHING THAT I ANSWERED/ADDED..........


So, for those of you that might feel a litle bit bad, and/or "slighted" that your posts are not being answered....------PLEASE JUST KNOW THAT Theyare BEINGVIEWED.......

AND, FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE.............THAT IS JUST WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO AT THIS TIME.....U]

EVERYONE HERE AT LIGHTNING-STRIKE IS LOVED..................AND, EVERYONE [u]MATTERS!!!!!!

Hi Denise, I wanted to say I am thinking of you and thanks so much for the e-mail. This site has been a real blessing to me and I have made many friends from which I have received much comfort from. I know often times I don't say a lot when I reply to a post as I am not good with words but I do try to comfort everyone than I can.

As a dear friend used to always say to me before she passed away "You are loved" and I love all my new friends. I am just sorry there has to be so many broken shattered hearts filled with pain, sadness and loneliness. After losing Chili Bean I understand the pain even more than I did before. Even though it was fear that drove me to this site for fear of losing my Snookie it has been a blessing finding people as wonderful as they are here.

Sometimes it is hard to find compassion in this world but I have found it here and I feel like you are all family united by love, loss, caring, compassion and understanding..
Love, Ann

Hi Denise and everyone else who remembers me!

Denise your posts always give such comfort - you are a truly remarkable person and even though we met
under sad cir%%stances I am glad we did meet and you are thought of often....and Lucy and
Yoster as well....oh and of course Ben!

I haven't been on here in quite a while but today is the 18th.......which means 5 months since my
baby boy went to the Rainbow Bridge. Time does heal, but the pain is still pretty deep and each
and every day I have thoughts - lots of thoughts and memories of my Buster. My heart goes out
to ALL OF US ON HERE.....loosing a precious furchild is terribly painful and forever changes
you. So I just wanted to pop in and say "hello" to you all and offer my condolences to EVERYONE....

*hi Kathy & Patti too!*

Love to you all....
Karen

Hi everybody!!!


Denise, you are absolutely right - this website is definitely a godsend - it truly kept me from drowning in my grief right after Phoenix died.

I don't know how people stand it to have to come back home to an empty house after their baby has had to go. One of the other major things that kept me from drowning was knowing my other babies still needed me - and that they were scared and very confused too.

I know about the guilt!!! All the times I thought about how much I had taken Phoenix for granted, she'll always be here with me - then she was fine and dandy on Sunday and dead on Friday. I'm still bewildered! Of course, she wasn't fine on Sunday - that's just when her symptoms started showing up.

But, I just have to tell y'all how wonderful our vet is. He had made an appt. for us with GA Veterinary Specialists in the hopes that they could help Phoenix. That's where she was put to sleep.

Ga. Vet Specialists called our vet and told him.

Not only did we receive a card from him - he had called our house to talk to us before we even got back home after Phoenix was put to sleep!

I really thank God that we have such a wonderful, caring vet and that somehow I found this wonderful site (or, did it find me?) - and I thank God for all of you here.

Love,

Jan

Hi Denise,
First I am glad your new furbabies are doing better. I have to say sometimes this site has helped me grieve. I didn't think that anyone would understand how I feel. My family has moved on and then has moments where they miss my Indy or another pet. We are the farm on the block. Our house is bursting at the seams. I appreciate everyone here too especially for just reading my posts or even responding to them. I have been on a roller coaster since the passing of my boy. It helps for me just to read, I want to respond but I am nervous about giving advice when I should follow what comes out of my mouth!!! I had 3 furkitties before my boy and they are with him up there with your Ernie. You all have helped me through this hard time and the loss of Max as well. Although I don't know if Max got a new home or if he was sent to Rainbow Bridge but in a way I don't want to know. I think that no matter how long we have these wonderful companions it hurts just the same. Someone tried to tell me well I only had my dog for two years and yours was old so it shouldn't hurt as much. WRONG!!!!! My heart doesn't feel that way and everyone here has opened my eyes that there are people who feel as I do and still do. Max brought something to me which I needed and in return he got all the love from my family. And now I am rambling. I don't come here as often due to the fact I work with computers and I don't want touch mine at home when I get home. Denise, Muffins mom, Hannahs mom and many more have made it so much easier for me to deal with these losses. I hope you come and visit often Denise . . . I would love to see more pictures of your new babies.
Thank you to all, ChrissyW

To Everyone:

Bringing back one of my old posts.....
I'm hoping that it might help even one person
on their journey through grief....

God Bless!!

Love, Denise

Dear Denise,
Thank you so much for posting that one again, so all of us newer members were able to see it.
I found this site around midnight, on the sunday evening, the day after I had to put my dear Winston to sleep. I was in so much pain, & didn't know where to turn. I didn't even know for certain there were any pet loss support sites - there ended up being maybe pages of them, but this was the first & only one I looked at (maybe, as you say, it finds US). I wrote & wrote, tears streaming down my face, and by the time I switched my computer off it was 2.30 am. I checked the next morning (I had to get up for work again at 6.30). I didn't know if anyone would have replied, & to my amazement there were half a dozen kind, comforting, supportive responses. Yourself among them, dear Denise; even though it was the anniversary of sweet Ernestine's passing on - you must have been in so much pain yourself, & I really appreciate your response, so very much. I was so, so, deeply touched by all the kind words from everybody, I cried again as I read them.
I was so very reassured to be told that Winston knew that I loved him, that I shouldn't feel any guilt for the times I hadn't been able to spend with him, and that I would one day see him again, at Rainbow's Bridge. And it was so reassuring to know that others knew what I was going through, and were willing to give comfort & support.
Over the last couple of weeks since I first joined, I have come across so many lovely people on this site, both old & new members, with so much love, and it's really restored my faith in mankind that there are such wonderful kindhearted people out there, that love & respect animals as they deserve to be loved & respected. I have more respect for my furkitties - and for animals in general - than I have for alot of people I know in my everyday life.
Almost every day, there's a new member, sad & heartbroken over their loss, & my heart goes out to them as I know, we ALL know, the pain & hurt they are going through, and the guilt, and the emptiness. And we all know the joy it is to love a furchild, and the happiness they bring us, & the things they teach us. We all have been brought togther due to sad cir%%stances, but finding this site has helped make those tough times somewhat less tough. If there was one good thing to come out of Winston's death, it was finding all of you guys. Without this site my healing would be so much more of a painful & lonely process.
I know your dear Ernestine is up there now, Denise, & is welcoming Winston & all the other new furbabies, & showing them the ropes.
Much love to you Denise, & to everyone,
Elsie

Muffins,
I have to smile each time I see your post....u must be a fast typer. I'd love to sit across the table with you and have a cup of coffee. I bet you are a kick in the butt!!! Your inner soul pours through your words. I am glad you were here when I needed everyone.
You have come a long ways, you have faith, hope and endurance. I am glad you posted your story, some of it I did not know because I joined in Nov.04. Wow almost 20 yrs..you had....that is how I lost my Summer kitty, with the thyroid problem, she got so skinny and was so hungry all the time, she made it to almost 17 yrs old, she was quite a symbol for me, it was the day I stopped drinking...I have not drank since she came to my window the first day of summer 1985, she represented a turning point in my life, one that was needed at the time.
Anyway, this is my chance to thank you for all the kind sincere thoughts and words you sent my way, they have helped more than you know. And when we meet at our final destination, I will thank you in spirt. Love Pamela

Dear Denise,
Thank you again for sharing your loss and for being such a kind compassionate woman. And for taking the time to help so many who are hurting as well as yourself. I know none of us have the power to heal another but it sure helps when we have kind words and hugs. I just can't help but cry when I read your story each time.
Hugs
Love, Ann

Dear Denise-
Thank you so much for sharing your story and for all of your compassionate replies.
Like Pamela, I would love to sit across a table from you and many others
who are part of the LS family. I sometimes fantasize about a huge gathering of everyone who posts here.
I just want to give hugs and say "thanks". I don't know what I would have done without these people.
Love,
Fran