Ease Ryan and Suz's Burden in Memory of Duke

Hello beloved family and friends,

It is with heavy hearts that I share that Ryan and Suz’s most beloved Duke has passed on. And I have an urgent request for support.

If you met Duke, you met someone truly special, truly once in a million lifetimes. Those of us who knew him well knew he was unlike any other dog on earth – he was in so many (sometimes alarming) ways much more human than dog. He understood complete sentences and held full conversations with us, and he appreciated natural beauty like the ocean and sunsets – often, he would go to a window where the view of the sunset was best, rest his chin on the windowsill, and watch it til the sky darkened, or ask to go on a walk to a special spot where the sunset view was good, and sit and watch it, then walk home.

Duke first came into Ryan’s life as a gift from his wonderful parents and became his constant companion, until Suz came into their lives and they became a family of three. Duke was infinitely more than a pet. He was the most loyal, playful, intelligent, affectionate, deeply feeling, empathetic, and emotive companion, friend, mentor, child, and soulmate to Ryan and Suz. He was truly a member of our family and spent many happy days with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on the Chavez side and his grandparents and aunt and uncle on the Powell side. And I know he was chosen family to many of you as well.

He passed away unexpectedly about 2 weeks ago. While he was old and beginning to have some hearing and mobility issues, his sudden departure was absolutely shocking and heartbreaking to all of us who loved him deeply and to Suz and Ryan most of all.

On his last day, there was a lot of confusion about what was happening. The morning of his transition, he was acting strange and panting a lot, so they took him to an emergency vet. After running tons of tests, at first the vets thought he was having a bleed from a previously unknown tumor and likely to pass that day. Then after treating him to keep him comfortable, they realized it may not be the case, and recommended seeing a specialist vet across town. They gently and hastily drove Duke to the special vet, where they ran tons of additional tests, and after hours of tests and x-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, and a biopsy, decided it actually didn’t seem as bad as they originally thought but they needed to keep him overnight for observation before getting some of the blood and biopsy test results the next day. They sent Suz and Ryan home. Then, Duke started having seizures. The vets stabilized him, but called Suz and Ryan back in and said it was time to say goodbye. It was a completely overwhelming, confusing, and absolutely heart breaking experience.

Our culture doesn’t have a good relationship with grief, and we don’t make nearly enough space for the way it brings us to our knees. In our culture, time doesn’t stop or even slow for us when our lives fall apart, which means Ryan and Suz are both already back at work by necessity, performing and managing big shows and projects because that’s their livelihood and they have to. But I can see in them both that they are in unspeakable pain and forever changed.

Here’s where I’m asking for your generous support. The vet bills from that nightmare day total over $4,000.

I believe that no one experiencing deep, soul wrenching grief should have to worry about paying bills, as the minutiae of everyday life becomes almost unbearable during deep grief, as all of us have experienced or will experience at some point. To make matters even harder, this week while Mom and I were visiting to help, their AC broke and their bathroom sprung a leak and ruined the floor. Normally either one of these home maintenance occurrences would be a frustrating setback, but in these tender weeks following Duke’s transition, the additional costly repairs and stress are just too much.

I would love to give Ryan and Suz - the most generous, quietly loving, and hardworking people I know - the gift of not having to worry about these vet bills. They don’t know I’m asking this. My hope is to call the vet first thing Monday and pay the bill so that when they go in that afternoon to donate the remainder of his medications and food, they learn that they don’t owe a thing. And to do that, I’ll need your help.

I ask that if you’re able and if you ever met Dukey, or have ever felt a deep connection with an animal or other soul, or ever watched a sunset that took your breath away, that you help Suz and Ryan not have to worry about this bill in the midst of their grief. No donation is too small, seriously – every bit helps. Even $5, even $1. Whatever you can give is so deeply appreciated not just for the financial burden it eases, but for the expression of support and solidarity behind it.

And in Duke’s memory, tonight you can watch what our family will forever call “Dukey’s sunset.” Step out, look at the changing sky, send love out into the universe, and hug your loved ones, tell them you love them. Savor it.

Thank you thank you thank you in advance for your support. I’ll be calling the veterinarian on Monday morning and would love to have the money raised by then if possible.

Please like and share this page, as that helps as well. I will tell Ryan and Suz on Monday and make sure every single person who gives (unless you give anonymously of course) is listed in a card to them, as well as any message you’d like to share here.

We are also planning to plant a tree in Dukey’s memory and hold a ceremony for dedication at Audobon Park in the fall. Those of you who wish to be a part of the memorial can reach out to me and I’ll update you as plans solidify.

Thank you again for your love and support during this extraordinarily difficult time.

With love,

Rebekah Powell (Suzannah's sister)