( LEAH’S STORY ( EULOGY ) , PURPOSE OF THE GOFUNDME BELOW )

LEAH’S STORY 

Leah’s adventure began when she was whisked away from a puppy mill back in the summer of 2006. A gift from our uncle a few days after my 12th birthday. She came to us at six months old. When my dad went to pick her up in North Carolina and bring her to Florida, when visiting his brother in NC, she had escaped her cage and comidically made them chase her around this giant plot. She was very shy and scared when she finally got home and hid behind our entertainment center for hours. All of us sat and waited for her to be comfortable enough and slowly but surely she came out to meet her family. She came out of her shell quickly after that. She was playful, mischievous, food driven and cuddly. One of her first moments home was pooping directly in my youngest sister Laura’s shoe. Leah chose me to be her partner to sleep with since day one, but while we were at school she would follow my mom around like a little shadow. Getting deli meat and hot dogs to her heart content. We didn’t realize how four years later when my mom passed how much she would do for five kids who were hurt and lost. Though she herself was definitely hurting, she made sure she was there for us when we felt like we had no one to talk to or anyone to listen because walking kids through the loss of a parent is something not everyone can help with. She was snuck into luxury hotels where she would bark and security would come and ask if we have a dog, my mom would reply, “ Uh—that was one of my daughters “ and she loved exploring and sniffing every place she went. Leah lived to smell the air of new places outside her home, eat anything on your plate,  sleep on your laundry pile or your most softest blanket and make you smile with her silliness. She loved charge down long hallways and be unleashed to run all the way back home on a walk. She lived for all of us together giving her attention all at once. When she needed to go out she would have certain barks. When she wanted in or DEMANDED a treat she would do the same. Leah had a huge personality for a tiny spirit and loved all of us so much that in her final hours, every time she would crash and come back, all she wanted to do was be held by me and know I was there. Because we’ve always had each other through the hardest times. Even until the very end.

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GOFUNDME

Leah died from pnemonia complications. She had an infected tooth pulled Friday and two days later developed pnemonia from the surgery. She stopped breathing in my arms at home during recovery from surgery which had me digging In her throat and patting her side and giving her CPR where she was rushed to the ER at 4AM. Leah fought hard the whole time. The liquid in her body was too much and she couldn’t expel it. She stopped breathing the first time and I was called to come give her hope. I stayed by her side and even though she was in agony, she gave me her sweetest smile like she always did with her eyes of adoration. The next day (last night) she stopped breathing again and had to be intubated. She was breathing on her own so she was taken off ( before being placed in an oxygen box ) and during that time all she wanted was to be in my arms and know I’m here for her during these moments she didn’t understand. I held her for as long as they would let me. After that I stayed in the parking lot for three more hours to see if her breathing would get better or if anything would change. The vet knocked on my car door saying she was crashing again and that was it. I rushed inside where she had been intubated one more time and she was deteriorating quickly. Her heart was having issues starting back up but we looked at each other one last time before she passed on. She waited for me until the very end. Leah was just everything to me and I can’t thank her enough.




I have been unemployed since May and have no work. Her vet bills total up to $4,000 and added cremation which I took from my savings and drained it completely dry. I was in the middle of moving from LA to ATL since I had gotten opportunities to work originally in June, but now later this year.




If you have anything to give this holiday season, even a dollar. I would really appreciate it. Knowing I spent so much and she’s still not here is killing me. Words of encouragement are also accepted and appreciated.