A Celebration of Zachary's Life
The last time I wrote my blog was September 10, 2014. I wrote about Zachary's struggle with cancer and how wonderful the Purebred Dog Community is. Now, I am writing to catch you up on Zachary's final struggle.
It occurs to me that people could be so sick of me talking about Zachary and they may all be wondering what I will talk about once I finish mourning his loss. I am wondering the same thing. Life is so strange now in our house. It is quiet. There are no appointments to keep or nurses visits to prepare for. Anyone that has taken care of a terminally ill family member understands what I am talking about. Suddenly you find yourself at a complete loss of what is next. Lyle and I are trying to find a new "Normal" for ourselves.
Zachary's stem cell transplant was a long high Hail Mary pass, thrown in hopes that the cancer cells could be killed off and the new stem cells would produce healthy new cells. The doctors, nurses and our family and friends waited and prayed for good news. Unfortunately, there was no good news. Zachary never really recovered after the stem cell transplant. He never regained his strength and we could tell his body was continuing to fail him.
During all this, Zachary never complained. If you asked him how he was, he'd always say, "I'm good, how are you?". There is so much indignity with cancer and the dying process. It is very bad for anyone, but I think especially bad for a young man. Zachary turned 25 years old while he was in the hospital. He never really got to celebrate that milestone. He was just too sick and weak. Zachary had to allow me to help him take care of his most basic needs. He approached that just like he did with most things, with a sense of humor and more concern for my embarrassment or discomfort than his own.
He was a bit concerned that he didn't have any earth shattering long and impressive bucket list to complete. His wishes were modest for sure. He wanted to go to the Mandarin for dinner. He wanted to take a motorcycle ride. He wanted to go to the casino and play slots. He wanted to go to Comic Con. He wanted to see his front yard lit up at Christmas. Because of his friends, he got to do all those things except he didn't live long enough to see the lights go on in his front yard.
Zachary was a very rich young man. Not in money, good Lord knows he didn't have any of that. He was rich in friends and kind deeds. His friends came and took him out, even when it required that they had to manage a wheelchair and helping him in and out of the car. He received hundreds and hundreds of cards from people from all over the world. When we reached out for Christmas lights and displays, they also came from all over North America from people that never met Zachary, but wanted to make his days happier. The response from the Dog Community has been overwhelming for sure.
What started as a few months to live had turned to a few weeks, then alarmingly it turned into days. We had made plans to move up our Christmas with Zachary by a couple of weeks. He loved Christmas. On the Thursday morning of Zachary's last full day with us, he could barely talk above a whisper. He had grown very weak and couldn't stand any longer. He had asked a few days before if he could call Lyle and me Mom and Dad. He wanted to feel like he had loving parents with him. It was such an honor to be thought of as his parents instead of his aunt and uncle. He kept making me promise him that I would make sure Zachary's Paws For Healing would become a reality. He wanted to be sure to leave that behind as his legacy. He had a lot of things he wanted us to promise him and we took each one seriously. He made his best friend, Aaron, promise to look after Lyle and me. He told me on Thursday morning that he didn't think he wanted to do "this" anymore and that he was "done". I asked him if he was leaving me, and he said yes.
On Friday, November 28, 2014 at 9:30 am Zachary died in our arms and he really didn't make a big "to do" about it. He just went away. No more suffering. No more cares. He did as he said and he left me. He flew into the arms of God and there waiting for him were his grandparents that I know were calling to him to come. He is riding motorcycles with my son, Tom, and he is listening to the birds with my Daddy.
Now, I am doing what he made me promise. I, along with a full board of directors and a wonderful young attorney, are making sure that Zachary's Paws For Healing is a reality. We will be working with Juravinski Cancer Hospital to facilitate companion pet visits with the patients. Any patient that has a companion dog or cat that they are missing will get to have visits with them. Pets bring a healing that no other medicine can offer. Zachary knew first hand how important a visit with your pet is and this will be his lasting legacy.
Please, if you are reading this, find it in your heart to give to Zachary's Paws For Healing. Help us with your donation. Also please share Zachary's story and ask your friends and family to donate, too. If you are a member of a Kennel Club, ask your club to sponsor Zachary's Paws For Healing. We are looking for corporate sponsors, so even ask your employer to donate. We are currently working on our non-profit status, so soon we will be able to offer tax receipts.
I want to give my personal thanks for everyone's kindness and generosity during Zachary's battle with cancer and during our time of sadness.
There will be a Celebration of Zachary's Life:
Saturday, January 17, 2015
2:00 PM
Royal Canadian Legion # 163
435 Limeridge Road East
Hamilton, Ontario
435 Limeridge Road East
Hamilton, Ontario
Board Room
You are invited to share a funny story or how you knew Zachary during the service. If you are unable to attend the service and would like to share a memory, please email your story to djenkins@rogers.com and it will be read at the service.
You are invited to stay for Light Refreshments afterward.
In Lieu of Flowers, Donations may be made to Zachary's Paws For Healingat http://www.gofundme.com/Zachary-039-sPaws
Thanks so much to the following people that have already donated to Zachary's Paws For Healing. Your generosity and love will bring joy to many patients and will give Zachary's life lasting meaning.
Tammy McAllister Ginny Meeker
Steve & Ashley Parker Kristen Hamer
Laurie Chermaz Lynda and Al McFadden
Jenn Stooke Toni Hoover-Mendenhall
Maureen Merkler Marlies Visser
Angel Wagner Karen and Gord Prokopetz
Patty Madsen Janna Jackson
Sandy Alexander Bob Boxma
Danny & Debbie O'Hearn Penny Osborne
Jane Mangat Amanda Ferris
JoAnn Green Marian Van Ekelenburg
Heather Brennan Laura Van Pelt
Claire Mathieu) Nuria Trujillo
Debby Krieg Lori Payne
Carmen Chang Helene Belanger
Samantha Green Shawna Peeres
Karen Kuhn Jeff Roth
Moira Gunn Gloria Bracchetti
Lynn Barron Wendy & Shelby Reyn
Aleisa C McKinlay Nicholas Peeres
Lorraine Pullen Patricia Grant
Not only will I be working hard for Zachary's Paws For Healing, but Lyle and I will be back out at the dog shows with Cara's puppy, Biscuit. We are looking forward to bringing Biscuit out in Canada and the USA and seeing all our Dog Show friends. I will be back in the mix and will be bringing my blog back monthly. So if you have something you would like to contribute to the blog or see or hear of a kindness paid in the world of DOGS, please pass them on to me to include in my blog. We can never say enough about the good that happens in our world of dogs.
If you are at the show and we haven't met, please be sure to find me and introduce yourself. I want to know you. If you know where our trailer is parked at the show, drop by and visit. We may even offer you something to eat or drink.
Remember, kindness goes a long way. If you see someone new and looking lost and could use some help, offer them your hand and show them the love you all have shown Lyle and me.
See you at Wildwood! Good luck during 2015!
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