Sally's Final Battle
Donation protected
I don't even know where to start; so I will start at the beginning.
In 2012 Seth got a doctor approval to get a service dog to help with his PTSD, Anxiety and Seizures. Within two years, Seth had been contacted by a company that wanted to give him a fully trained dog.
Seth made the trip to Bellingham, Washington with my dad to meet up with Denise Costanten of Brigadoon Service Dogs. This trip was a 2 week trip; where Seth got to meet all the available dogs and got a chance to work with them one on one.
Upon meeting Denise, Seth was introduced to a room full of Collie's-some long hair, some short. All trained and ready to serve their companion, whom they pick.
Sally. A beautiful short haired collie with the biggest snout I had ever seen. She picked her partner. Seth.
During the next 2 weeks, Seth got to connect with Sally and she got to connect with him one on one. She slept at the foot of his bed in a small travel trailer. She immediately alerted whenever he would wake in the night. She learned his body language. She learned his pains. This would mark the beginning of Sally's journey with Seth.
Sally became a part of our family when she was 2 years old, in July of 2014. She has queued Seth whenever a seizure was coming on, and she instantly knew how to ease his anxiety. With Sally, my husband thrived! He was able to go into public, he was able to feel safe. He counted on Sally to do her job, and she did an amazing job at what she was trained to do. He became more independent with Sally by his side, and the 2 of them often went on trips together alone; flying solo to Portland or cramped in a Greyhound bus to Seattle.
Sally has traveled thousands of miles with our family from Oregon coast to Washington beaches. She has walked countless steps besides Seth. She has seen death, and she has lovingly welcomed 2 brand new babies into our family when Storm and Wynter were born.
Monday, September 3rd, 2018. I noticed Sally hadn't eaten her dinner, which was very unlike her. I also noticed that her behavior seemed a little off. I chalked it up as she's probably depressed, because she did take on Seth's moods.
Tuesday, September 4th, 2018. Sally didn't eat. She's very sleepy. Her breathing is scattered and shallow. She sits in front of the water dish and drinks water. Lots of water.
Wednesday, September 5th, 2018. Seth's birthday. We go to town to run errands and take Sally with us. She's a bit rusty, but she's keeping up with Seth and staying right at his side. Later that day, I noticed her demeanor is still a bit off. I call the vet and make an appointment.
Thursday, September September 6th, 2018. Sally and I go to the vet. She is so scared and shaking. She lays her head on my lap in the waiting room. We go in, she gets examined and then has multiple tests done to figure out what is going on with her.
62 pounds. 62 pounds of love. 62 pounds of devotion. Sally has lost about 10 pounds in the last few days.
After doing bloodwork, the doctor came in to give me Sally's test results. Elevated Calcium, elevated Chloride, elevated ALTs, elevated SDMAs. Low white blood cell count, low platelet count. Urine is dilute.
At that moment I knew enough to know something was wrong. Really wrong!
Prognosis-Cancer, Addison's disease or Kidney disease.
We went immediately from the vet to Pet Emergency, Internal Medicine. Sally threw up in the car. Hotdogs. The only thing she managed to get down in 3 days. We checked in and they took her to the back. I signed paperwork, and they told me they would call me in 2 hours.
Abdominal ultrasound. A definitive answer to what the problem really was. 2 hours later I go to pick Sally up. She is shaved on her sides and belly. She is very weak and shaking. She has no energy to lift herself into the car, so I gently pick her up and lay her in the car.
We would have the results in 26 hours. 26 hours of wonder. Worry. Stress. Sickness. Countless prayers.
At 5:00pm on Friday, September 7th, 2018 Seth's phone rings. He hands me the phone.
The results from the Pathology came back.
Large Cell Mass in her GI Tract. My mind is going 100 miles an hour. "She has Lymphoma of the GI Tract. Cancer. I'm so sorry Mrs. Cole." Those words crushed me. I prepared myself before we got this call, but you are never really prepared when your life is going to drastically change.
Our family is at a loss. Our hearts are heavy. Tears weep from our eyes. My best friend is losing his companion. His side kick. His best friend. The mighty warrior that brought him out of his darkness is now fighting her own battles.
On Monday, September 10th, Sally Mae (as momma likes to call her) will be concluding her final battle with the cancer monster. At 7 years old, Sally has spent everyday of her life helping others. She has devoted her life to caring for my husband. She has given my husband back his life, and given him the strength to push past his own fears and keep going. She gave our family hope when we had nothing. For this, we would like to be able to give something back to her.
This GoFundMe is created to help cover costs of medical bills, cremation and an urn so we can bring Sally back home with us. Our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts and we know you will be mourning the loss of Sally with us.
Forever our Love,
The Cole Family
Seth, Katrina, Raine, Skye, Storm and Wynter
In 2012 Seth got a doctor approval to get a service dog to help with his PTSD, Anxiety and Seizures. Within two years, Seth had been contacted by a company that wanted to give him a fully trained dog.
Seth made the trip to Bellingham, Washington with my dad to meet up with Denise Costanten of Brigadoon Service Dogs. This trip was a 2 week trip; where Seth got to meet all the available dogs and got a chance to work with them one on one.
Upon meeting Denise, Seth was introduced to a room full of Collie's-some long hair, some short. All trained and ready to serve their companion, whom they pick.
Sally. A beautiful short haired collie with the biggest snout I had ever seen. She picked her partner. Seth.
During the next 2 weeks, Seth got to connect with Sally and she got to connect with him one on one. She slept at the foot of his bed in a small travel trailer. She immediately alerted whenever he would wake in the night. She learned his body language. She learned his pains. This would mark the beginning of Sally's journey with Seth.
Sally became a part of our family when she was 2 years old, in July of 2014. She has queued Seth whenever a seizure was coming on, and she instantly knew how to ease his anxiety. With Sally, my husband thrived! He was able to go into public, he was able to feel safe. He counted on Sally to do her job, and she did an amazing job at what she was trained to do. He became more independent with Sally by his side, and the 2 of them often went on trips together alone; flying solo to Portland or cramped in a Greyhound bus to Seattle.
Sally has traveled thousands of miles with our family from Oregon coast to Washington beaches. She has walked countless steps besides Seth. She has seen death, and she has lovingly welcomed 2 brand new babies into our family when Storm and Wynter were born.
Monday, September 3rd, 2018. I noticed Sally hadn't eaten her dinner, which was very unlike her. I also noticed that her behavior seemed a little off. I chalked it up as she's probably depressed, because she did take on Seth's moods.
Tuesday, September 4th, 2018. Sally didn't eat. She's very sleepy. Her breathing is scattered and shallow. She sits in front of the water dish and drinks water. Lots of water.
Wednesday, September 5th, 2018. Seth's birthday. We go to town to run errands and take Sally with us. She's a bit rusty, but she's keeping up with Seth and staying right at his side. Later that day, I noticed her demeanor is still a bit off. I call the vet and make an appointment.
Thursday, September September 6th, 2018. Sally and I go to the vet. She is so scared and shaking. She lays her head on my lap in the waiting room. We go in, she gets examined and then has multiple tests done to figure out what is going on with her.
62 pounds. 62 pounds of love. 62 pounds of devotion. Sally has lost about 10 pounds in the last few days.
After doing bloodwork, the doctor came in to give me Sally's test results. Elevated Calcium, elevated Chloride, elevated ALTs, elevated SDMAs. Low white blood cell count, low platelet count. Urine is dilute.
At that moment I knew enough to know something was wrong. Really wrong!
Prognosis-Cancer, Addison's disease or Kidney disease.
We went immediately from the vet to Pet Emergency, Internal Medicine. Sally threw up in the car. Hotdogs. The only thing she managed to get down in 3 days. We checked in and they took her to the back. I signed paperwork, and they told me they would call me in 2 hours.
Abdominal ultrasound. A definitive answer to what the problem really was. 2 hours later I go to pick Sally up. She is shaved on her sides and belly. She is very weak and shaking. She has no energy to lift herself into the car, so I gently pick her up and lay her in the car.
We would have the results in 26 hours. 26 hours of wonder. Worry. Stress. Sickness. Countless prayers.
At 5:00pm on Friday, September 7th, 2018 Seth's phone rings. He hands me the phone.
The results from the Pathology came back.
Large Cell Mass in her GI Tract. My mind is going 100 miles an hour. "She has Lymphoma of the GI Tract. Cancer. I'm so sorry Mrs. Cole." Those words crushed me. I prepared myself before we got this call, but you are never really prepared when your life is going to drastically change.
Our family is at a loss. Our hearts are heavy. Tears weep from our eyes. My best friend is losing his companion. His side kick. His best friend. The mighty warrior that brought him out of his darkness is now fighting her own battles.
On Monday, September 10th, Sally Mae (as momma likes to call her) will be concluding her final battle with the cancer monster. At 7 years old, Sally has spent everyday of her life helping others. She has devoted her life to caring for my husband. She has given my husband back his life, and given him the strength to push past his own fears and keep going. She gave our family hope when we had nothing. For this, we would like to be able to give something back to her.
This GoFundMe is created to help cover costs of medical bills, cremation and an urn so we can bring Sally back home with us. Our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts and we know you will be mourning the loss of Sally with us.
Forever our Love,
The Cole Family
Seth, Katrina, Raine, Skye, Storm and Wynter
Organizer
Seth & Katrina Cole
Organizer
Nine Mile Falls, WA
