Not sure how to even post this (Callie)

Callie, I often think of you and David and hope that each day brings you a little more strength.  With the loss of Billy and your hospital stay and the continued care needed since you've been home, your household has been given too many burdens at once.  I'm sure your hearts and bodies are weary. 

I completely agree with Ron's eloquent post.  You and Billy share the admirable quality of being able to connect so strongly with so many people.  He was definitely brave, and I find it very easy to imagine him enjoying the words of Shakespeare.  In fact, maybe he's leading a book club discussion right now, under a shady tree at the Bridge!   Take care.

ron2

He probably read Shakespeare behind your back and probably knew that "t'were better it were done quickly. For 'tis a far better place I go to than I have ever been before."

That certainly wouldn't have been hard HERE cos both David and I are Shakespeare buffs --

Billy was a kisser  (Romeo to Juliet, Scene 5:  "O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, " (prelude to "the kiss";)

*chuckle* a doggie kiss from Billy was the sort of spiritual thing he enjoyed!!  But if you wanted to use your hands to pet him that was kewel too!!

Sorry -- Billy loved a good comedy!  But Ron, you're exactly right -- that would have been a Billy thing to do/feel.

RIP Billy.

So sorry for your loss Callie. ((HUGS))

Oh, Callie--I'm sitting here sobbing my heart out. I feel so, so badly that I MISSED knowing about this. I have a direct link to the boards, but it goes directly to the IMHA thread, where I can check in on the doggies I know have been battling this horrible disease. When I saw your posts of sage wisdom to people coming in for answers, I just assumed Billy was okay. When I came in tonight to check in, I saw a reference to losing Billy and frantically began searching the boards.

You and Billy have been such beacons to me and to my Emma--and, I would bet, to so very many others. When Emma was at her worst, I kept thinking that this thing COULD be beaten--after all, Billy had!

Please know that my love--and Emma's--are flying to you even as I type this. And I'm so sorry not to have said anything before. I hope it didn't seem insensitive.

(I typed a row of hearts below, but they went poof. Know that they're there--or were!)

Hon don't worry about it.  I didn't make a huge announcement on the IMHA board -- those who know me *knew* and so many have had such a gi-normous fight for life, I just didn't want to discourage ANY one. 

Billy was an IMHA ***survivor***.  He would be completely incensed if anyone thot otherwise.  It was his heart -- we knew the heart was weak from the iMHA but dang it -- he was a buffy coat cocker and heart stuff is part of them too. 

And someone said it above -- Billy's heart was just TOO big and FULL of love!  Frankly, that IS the best description of my boy ever.

Not for a second did I think badly of you at all.  You were one of the very **first** we were able to help and Emma has been a real buddy since and a help to so very many others!!

YES--I think of Billy as one of the ones who "beat" IMHA. It's just so dadgummed unfair that so many of these babies also have other health things going on--IMHA-related or not. It reminds me of my grandfather, who was fighting cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson's, all at once. In the end it was pneumonia that took him from us.

I know you'll keep helping other IMHA dogs and their people fight the good fight for Billy's sake (and, I suspect, because your own heart is pretty large, as well). Thanks for all you do--and I also give thanks for Billy for helping us by giving us an example of how happy a dog can be on the other side of the diagnosis.