April 9, 2018

Sachi's on the road photo coming from California to join the WDA

White Dog and the Army let out a long low howl at the news that Sachi had crossed the Rainbow Bridge. In a weekend of catastrophe, it was not how it was supposed to end; the storm would be weathered and we would embrace once again the miracles of love.

Not to be this time. Steve was standing in the lobby holding Sachi on his way home yesterday afternoon. The eye surgery had been successfully completed; our Little Man would recover in just a few weeks.

And he stopped breathing. Out of nowhere. He was ripped from Steve's arms and rushed to the back where efforts began to get him going again. They did and he went into constant monitoring in an oxygen kennel at the hospital. He could come home once he was breathing on his own.

Before Sachi came to us he endured TWO brutal debarking surgeries which both failed to stop his bark but which did leave him with scarring and webbing in his throat. When he arrived at White Dog Ranch our specialist scoped the injuries and concluded that it was too risky to attempt to go in to remove the tissue for fear of MORE buildup. At that time the vet thought that the area was stable and that there would be no more natural formation. We have lived life to the background sounds of his gaspy way of breathing and funny "bark."

During the surgery to remove the eye, the operating team had to resort to neonatal puppy-sized tubing to get down his airway and at that felt there had been some scraping internally. But Sachi came through that. Anti-inflammatories were given as well as muscle relaxants to keep the air passage relaxed. In light of the constriction, the game plan was to revisit the specialist once he was out of ER to consider options.

Sachi struggled all evening to draw air and when Steve went to visit after dinner he and the vets agreed that if needed a tracheotomy would be done to open the throat to more air.

The little tube was not getting enough oxygen into his traumatized body; his heart was working in overdrive. We got the call while Steve was walking dogs. In the moments it took from him to run home, jump in the car and drive the 3 minutes to the hospital, the surgeon had attempted the procedure. Steve walked in to find our Little Man's heart had given out.

For 18 minutes CPR was attempted. Sachi had left to join the Angel White Dog Army.

Steve brought Sachi home so that all could say their farewells. It was not fair to them to see their brother carried out of the house crying never to return. The staff at the hospital created a little white coffin with Sachi's pawprint on the top. It was a very caring touch that made an impression in our reeling shock.

Zsofia, Sachi's best friend and wrestling partner, just laid down next to the casket and draped her head over its top. The others all came to touch and pay respects.

This morning in the screaming silence we carried our Little Man out and took him for a final ride. The music of our lives is jangling quiet.

Sachi Marie, the Undaunted One, eight years old, a member of the WDA in the person for five years now in the spirit forever. Know you are loved always.