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pandorasmom
01-10-2010, 08:31 PM
The owner(Amy) of the rescue I volunteer for lost her Mom today. Betty was like the grandma I never had. All of my Grandparents either passed before I was born, or before I remember them, except one Grandpa and I was 5 when he did and only vaguely remember him. Betty and Larry (Amy's parents) are both like grandparents to me. I've spent alot of time at the rescue and therefore alot of time with her and her parents. They are family.
Her mom passed away this morning. She's had her round of problems healthwise. Prior to it though Betty was always known for her smile, and her never ending strength. She was one of the strongest women I ever have known and she was a rock. It was never easy for her dealing with Amy as a diabetic. She made sure she took care of Amy though and Amy took care of her. Betty had a lawnmower accident last year and lost half of her leg. She bounced back from that in time, only to fall and end up back in the hospital again. Then she got an infection, and pnemonia, fought off both of those and pulled through again. She came back home in November of 09, and then shortly before Christmas she fell and was put back in the hospital. Today she passed away from an infection and kidney failure. Betty was a great person and always a joy to be around. I can't remember her exact age but she was in 70's.
Larry, Amy and the others in the family will be heartbroken, but Larry and Amy will take it he hardest I think. Larry is a strong guy but his love for Betty is unmeasurable. He's been having some health issues of his own lately, he's 78. Amy who is in her 40's has lived at home with her parents pretty much since birth. Only left for a while I believe. Amy always took care of Betty and Betty of Amy, and both of them took care of Larry. hehe :P
I worry most about what this will do to Larry. Amy is a strong person and she'll be fine I have no doubt. Larry is a strong guy, but in his current state of mind he feels he has nothing to fight for anymore, and his heart is broken into millions of pieces.
We went down today to adopt a dog out and feed/wash out kennels for them. Larry normally feeds and wash kennels, and we do the adopting of the dogs, wormers, shots,etc. While we were down there Amy and Larry came home from the hospital and told us Betty had died.
My mom was at the house with Amy, and I was busy washing kennels with Sarah (sister) when Sarah's phone rang. Mom had called her and said a lady was on the phone with Amy and wanted to know if Amy could take in 10 bottle puppies. Amy can't on a normal basis take care of the bottle ones like she wants to, and she asked Mom if we wanted to take them in. Without hesitation we of course said yes.
The lady brought them down there this afternoon while we there, and said they'd found them along side the road in a box nearly frozen to death. She wanted to know if we could take them in. So in the blink of an eye our life has changed again. For the worse to begin with and then for the better.
How amazing that no longer then 2 hrs after Betty has left us, that 10 puppies are givin' a second chance at life. Betty loved dogs just as much as Amy, and I believe in my heart that Betty (with the Lord's help of course) helped give these puppies a second chance at life.
I have a few pics of the puppies I can post in a minute once I upload them.
I just wanted to post and ask for any Prayers for Amy,Larry and their family. I know they can use all the prayers possible.
We are also babysitting 4 of Amy's house dogs, as they would only be in the way of people coming and going. They are now here for a few days until things get back settled at Amy's. To top it all off, I get a call from my sister saying Juvella(my goat) is sick with a temp of 94.5, which for goats is almost a death sentence. She's healthy as a horse, except cold. We've got her in the house under a heat lamp and she's doing fine. Temp is back up to 100.7 and she's fine now.
Sooooooo...the cold got the best of her is the only reason for her sickness that we can find.

I don't know how much else could've been squeezed into this day.

I kept reminding myself of a phrase I had on the front of one of my calendars a few yrs. ago:

Lord help me remember that nothing is going to happen today that you and I together can't handle.

Thanks y'all!
Sharon

Gypsy Rose
01-10-2010, 08:38 PM
I'm so sorry, Sharon! You've had a really rough day!

I'll be keeping Amy, Larry, and their family in my thoughts. At least you will have puppies to care for to keep ou busy.

Sure glad the goat is okay, too. That would have been awful if you had lost her, too!

CaddoCinnamon
01-10-2010, 08:43 PM
Sorry for your friends loss and yours as well. i will keep you all in my prayers.

pandorasmom
01-10-2010, 08:54 PM
Here's the pictures! There are 5 girls and 5 boys. We ain't got a clue of the mix they are. We think there is some lab, and we are still working on the other mix. lol :p We'll have to see when they mature a bit.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/summershadowfarm/DSCF0245-1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/summershadowfarm/DSCF0239.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/summershadowfarm/DSCF0233.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/summershadowfarm/DSCF0221.jpg

P.S. I don't normally wear fingernail polish period as it gets in my way on the farm, but I wore it the past 2 Cowboys games because of the significance of them. lol :p If it keeps them winning I'll keep wearing it,so I don't jinx it.

natisha
01-10-2010, 09:40 PM
I'm so sorry all that is happening.
On a good note the puppies look good & won't be on bottles too much longer.
You can get a blanket for the goat. Mine wears one that looks like a little horse blanket, even has shoulder gussets. It's actually for a dog but works well for goats too. If you have a big goat a foal blanket will work, just measure for size.
I hope things settle down for you.

outriding01
01-10-2010, 11:26 PM
Wow, what a day. I'm really sorry to hear about Betty. I know how you feel, dealing with experienceing death and the miracle of life so close together. it can be a little disconcerting. those puppies are too cute, especially the speckly ones!

Gypsy Rose
01-11-2010, 08:43 AM
What cute little puppies! I'm sure they'll thrive under your care.:)

Bessie13
01-11-2010, 11:23 AM
To me your letter is both sad and refreshing. I am sorry for your loss. I can only imagine what such a wonderful woman has meant in your life, there are people in my life just as you described too. I also am greatful for your find. Those puppies look as if they couldn't be in better hands. I do believe we are guided by many things and I think Betty's hand is lighting your way. Keep up the good works you do and you too may be that special person in someones life.

pandorasmom
01-11-2010, 04:59 PM
Thanks for all the prayers, thoughts, etc.!

The puppies are still doing well today. Kept us up alot last night. We are guessing their age to be approx. 1 week old. So they'll be a few more weeks of getting up with them at night for sure.
I'm already feeling the lack of sleep hittin' me.

Bessie, I do hope your right. :) Betty was an amazing person, and I hope one of these days I'll make a difference in someone's life, if only in a small way.

We went back to the rescue today to take care of the dogs for Amy. Dogs were happy to see us, hehe. They love when we come visit, because they get loads of extra attention and tlc, lol :p.

Amy, Larry and the others are holdin' up good I think. Visitation will be tomorrow night, funeral Wednesday.

If anything changes I'll let ya know. Thanks again y'all!!!