This is about my little girl Soft Coated Wheaten terrier Abigail, also known as “Wait For Me” because we spent all night (from 6:30 pm to 5:00 am) at the Newark, NJ airport, waiting for her to arrive from her Phoenix, AZ breeder when she was 11 weeks old. The plane was held up by storms, but Abigail was happy as a lark to see her new mom. A few minutes later, she fell asleep in my arms as soon as we started up the car. Three weeks ago, Abi was diagnosed with Protein-Losing Nephropathy, a kidney condition that is the most common killer of wheatens, and she is only eight years old. It is breaking my heart into small pieces. We are going from day to day with many medications, a special diet, and twice-weekly infusions of saline solutions that act as a low-level dialysis.

She feels much better after the infusions and doesn’t have to be enticed to eat then. I treasure my little girl dog. Abigail has been everywhere with me, from Philadelphia to Germany to Florida and point in between. She loves everyone, including cats, other dogs, and everyone she meets and greets with great enthusiasm. Abi loves watching television, especially when she sees other dogs, whom she tries to touch on the screen. She is still a happy -go-lucky dog and doesn’t understand, thank God, that she is a very sick little girl. Blessedly, here is no pain. I live in fear of the day when she will tell me that it’s time to go. When that day comes, my wonderful memories of eight years with the most loving dog in the world will sustain me. Until then, I will try not to cry, because Abi knows when I’m unhappy. The picture shows her in her favorite place, looking out the window to keep up to date on who walks by and to let me know when someone comes to visit.

Ingrid from Florida