My Two Inspiring Pets

Thursday, 27 September 2007

My husband was a firefighter in Pomona, CA. He was a Battalion Chief. In 1999 he was killed in the line of duty in an airplane accident, going to a coordinator’s meeting in Sacramento, CA. He was going to hit bad weather, so he landed in Bakersfield. He called me and told me he was going to wait for better weather. He waited three hours and decided to fly home. He hit bad weather in Gorman, CA, and flew his plane into a mountain at 140mph. I was in an electric wheelchair at the time, because of a neck injury I had. I was contacted at 1AM in the morning that he had been killed and was in the LA morgue. I was absolutely devastated. I called my son and he went and got my Mother. How was I going to manage without him, and my being in a wheelchair forever didn't help. I couldn't work because I was permanently disabled. My Mother stayed with me for a week. It really set in when she woke-up the following morning and said to me, "Carla, you're a widow now". I truly realized I was all alone in this difficult world. His Dalmatian’s name was Boot, like a recruit on the fire department. He rode on the ladder trucks with him when he went on calls. He was devoted to my husband, and he loved me too. Well, I was determined to get out of that wheelchair and walk again, by any means possible. I went to a new neurosurgeon and he said, "Carla, I think I can get you out of that chair some of the time". I was filled with joy and a new determination came over me. He sent me to Casa Colina, one of the best rehab. facilities in the state. They put me in braces up to my knees and I used a long walking stick, and by golly, I learned to walk with them. I used them for two years. Mean while, I still had my faithful dog Boot. After two years, I developed a knot in my heal and went to a bone specialist, and he told me I had to get out of the braces and back in my wheelchair or I would distroy the bones in my ankles. I came home and threw my braces in the trash and walked with that stick and fell down a lot. I didn't tell you that if I fell and hit my head, my neck would break and I would die. I always fell on my bottom. I think God was protecting me. After several months, I started walking without my stick. Today, I walk really well, and am starting a part-time pet- sitting business. But, alas, I had to consider putting down my dog, Boot, because he had arthritis so bad he was falling down a lot and was 141/2 yrs old. I decided to get a yellow lab. His name is Joshua and he is the light of my life. We are totally bonded to each other, and he is my best friend. I trained him both in a novice class and in an intermediate class, and he won first place in one event and second in another. I walk him and play ball with him every day. I taught him how to fetch. He loves his children's swimming pool and just plain loves water. I still miss my beloved husband of 23 yrs., but I'm content and happy now. God has been good to me. I have had two inspiring pets, so I am a lucky person. By Carla Murray, Murray’s Wet Nose Pet Sitting. July 6, 2007   Feel free to edit this, as it is really long. Thank you for considering my article. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it