JAY HERE!

So I want to tell you all the story of my beautiful baby girl (puppy), Daisy Ariel. About a year before my dad was diagnosed, I started saving up for a puppy. We had three dogs at the time, but we had my mom’s dog (Cinderella), my dad’s dog (Minnie), and the family dog (Ethel). My parents both had their dogs that loved them so much and chose one of my parents as “their human”, and I wanted a puppy that would love me the way my parents’ dogs loved them. So, I saved up and when I had enough, we started looking around for rescue dogs.

One night we were all sitting in the living room together, my mom got a notification from Facebook. Her friend, who worked at an animal rescue, had just saved a puppy from underneath a truck. The poor little pup was only about five or six months old, and she was covered in mud with matted fur and fleas. She was hiding underneath the truck scared to death! Thankfully, my mom’s friend saved the puppy, cleaned her up, and was finding a home for her. She posted a picture on Facebook to see if anyone would want to adopt the puppy she had temporarily named Polly.

So that night, my mom asked if I wanted to see a puppy that was up for adoption. Of course I did! She only showed me the picture that night, but it was love at first sight. Polly was the cutest little pup! She was pretty much just a white ball of fur with deep chocolate brown eyes that could look into your soul and make you feel like everything is okay. Two days after seeing the picture I got to meet Polly in person!

My mom’s friend brought the dog to our house, and I was soooooo nervous. When they arrived, I didn’t know what to do. I ended up sitting on the ground by the door, and I’m glad I did! My parents opened the door, and this ball of white fur came running into our house and straight into my lap! She ran into my lap like she had known me her whole life, and it was the best feeling in the entire world! It was like we were meant to be together. I looked up at my parents with so much joy in my heart and smile. Polly was immediately a part of our family, but something still felt wrong: her name. I asked if I could rename her, and my mom’s friend said to go for it. The puppy was such a cute ball of cheerfulness that I renamed her Daisy, both after the flower and the Disney character. My favorite Disney princess at the time was also Ariel, and since it’s such a beautiful name I decided to make that Daisy’s middle name. From that day on, Daisy Ariel has been an amazing part of our family.

Daisy arrived just in time, because a week after we adopted her my dad went to the ER for severe pain in his side and our cancer journey began. Daisy was with me through the whole thing, and my mom says it was obvious Daisy was my lifeline through it all. Daisy has made me smile even on the darkest of days, and she is the best friend a girl could ask for. She is my light, my love, my baby-love, my joy, and happiness. She’s seen us laugh so hard we cry, and she has seen us sob uncontrollably from broken hearts, but she has always been there to kiss away tears from both us. She loves me and my mom, and we love her so very much. She is our world, and she definitely knows it.

SHELL HERE

Our little Daisy is our world. Before death entered our home I always grew up with pets. They were always a big part of my life. Growing up I had a white fluffy dog named Mutley. She was my everything and when she passed my heart hurt like it had never hurt before. Her loss was devastating, and I believe this was my first experience with death. Jump forward to many years in the future when death strikes again and who consoles my heart the most — our little white fluff ball Daisy. When my husband died, Jay and I left our home and city to get away from it all. On our journey away we took Daisy with us. I didn’t have the heart to keep Daisy away from Jay knowing that she was grieving the loss of her father. Taking Daisy with us so we could grieve in peace was the best thing we did. Daisy comforted our broken hearts and licked our tears. There were days when Daisy was soaking wet from tears and she didn’t mind, she just kept loving us through it all. Daisy was our lifeline and she continues to be a treasure during our grief. She is the light in the dark; she is the comfort when we feel tragically alone, and she is the joy everyday of our lives. The universe knew Daisy’s purpose in our lives, and I am forever grateful for that fateful day when “Polly” was on Facebook waiting to be adopted. I only wish Art had more time with her, but we know he is close by and grateful for Daisy too!

We’re sure Daisy would tell you to be kind to yourself!

With Aloha and gratitude,

Jay, Shell, and Daisy