G'bye Jazz...

With great sadness we are writing that Jazz has died. 

Chris went to his parents were Jazz has lived (even though he was Chris's dog) for the past many years.  Chris arrived there mid afternoon and found Jazz to be in respiratory distress, swollen front 2 paws, and gasping for breath.  Jazz has had congested heart failure in the past and has taken a diuretic (water pill) for it. 

I was worried how his heart would tolerate surgery... 

The vet gave him the best medical care, the family gave him the best love and support....  despite it all he needed eternal rest. 

RIP dear Jazzie!  xoxoxo

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Chris was lying next to Jazz when he passed.  He was able to talk to him and stroke his head up until the end... he watched him take his last breathe.  A tragic yet wonderful experience.  I know that some will never be able to understand the "wonderful" in this. 

It is truly amazing how all living things (animals, people, plants, etc...) are born helpless, and we die just as helpless.  God's amazing power is way stronger than anything on earth and that is hard to fathom until we see, feel, and experience the birth and death process.  Death can be as beautiful as birth, although not as joyous.  We have a choice.... to see death as tragic or to see it as a reminder that we are living here on earth for a reason, for a short time and eternity is offering us much greater things than what we as humans have the ability to imagine.  Death as we know it here on earth is our birth into eternity.

The sting of death is sharp and unforgiving.  The understanding and acceptance of death will bring us overwhelming peace and calmness.  Some of the most beautiful experiences of nursing had been sitting with patients as they greeted death with acceptance and thankfulness.  Also some of the worst, saddest experiences had been watching a dying patient fight the death process bitterly... without success. 

 There is a higher purpose and stronger power... I hope I never forget that!