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SHE AINT HEAVY ....SHE'S MY MOTHER

She Ain't Heavy ... She's My Mother

Bill and I fostered Silly Staci starting on Christmas Eve in 2000. She came to us just after surgery and we were to help her recuperate and learn a few home manners before going on to her permanent home (or so we thought.) Her first night with us she had a terrible reaction to the anesthesia so I spent the night on the floor next to her crate just in case she was sick during the night. She recovered well and soon was ready for her new home. Just a few days later, Lisa Nolet called asking if we could foster her again as her new owners had let her out and she ran into a barbed wire fence. The Daytona no-kill shelter contacted Lisa and Ron Johnson picked her up in Daytona and brought her to us. Needless to say, Ms Staci stole our hearts and she joined our family on January 3, 2001. We nursed her back to health again and began a very special relationship that would eventually go full circle and she would soon be taking care of me in ways I couldn't even imagine.

Since then there have been many changes in our family. Our two male greyhounds, handsome fawn Ty and beautiful black Tug, both went to the Rainbow Bridge in August and September of 2001. A second foster failure became a permanent member of our family when we adopted Legs Marvina (Bitsy). And then Bill and I moved to Tampa, leaving our good friends and our volunteer efforts with GPAGO behind. And just recently, Jordan, our rescued Golden Retriever, joined Ty and Tug at the Bridge. With the exception of Bitsy joining our family, there has been a lot of sadness in our lives.

After living in Tampa for about a year, I developed a balance problem and I freeze or panic when I have to walk on concrete or asphalt and often fall backwards. I have had several bad falls on asphalt and on the tile in my home. Staci has become my savior. When I am unable to regain a sense of balance in my home or when walking around the neighborhood, if Bill is not around I hang on to Staci’s collar and she supports me so I can move again. She walks really slow and if I say “wait” she stops and looks at me to see when I am ready to move. When I have fallen at home, she is right there looking at me with those eyes saying, “Mom, do you need help?” She often senses when I am trouble and comes right away. She stands very still while I hold on to her and stand up. I don’t know what I would do without her. I couldn't have a better "nurse" then Ms. Staci.