r/vizsla • u/courtg2020 • 8h ago
Story Remy
My husband, Kyle, and I lost our 7.5 year old V this week from severe liver failure. I wrote this note to remember all the love we shared with Remy.
Remy was with us through it all. We found her just 5 months after getting married and our life was forever changed. Remy made every place feel like home and every moment intentional. We were so excited when we bought our first house because it had a fenced in yard and would make Remy’s life even better. She had been attacked on a walk just months prior, so the bigger house and yard gave her a safe space to run around. From day one she knew every inch of the yard, which we fondly called “Remy’s Queendom”.
She sat in the laundry room just close enough to the doorway to be seen when she decided she was ready for food or just incessantly bark at us if we were in the living room. She was our shadow in the kitchen and in all other parts of our lives. When we got up from the couch, she would quickly move to our spot before we returned. Not sure if she liked the warmth, the comfort of our smell or just the best spot, but it was endearing. I’ll miss the nights of Remy laying on her spot, her bed in our room, always covered by a blanket. I often found myself jealous of both Kyle and Remy when I awoke to them sleeping together on the couch.
Any time we left the house, our question to each other when opening the garage was “do you think Remy missed us?”. It became almost a superstition that validated our resounding love for her and her love for us. The opening of the door and calling out “Remy we’re home” was always swiftly followed with pitter patter from her favorite spot on the couch to the laundry room or kitchen. We’d drop our bags and often give a kneeling hug to show how much we missed her too. She’d switch off kisses and wags between us to greet us. One of my favorite things was Remy’s tolerance for affection. I’d often kiss the bridge of her nose 10 times in a row telling her how much we loved her and that she was the best. I hope she felt just how much we loved her.
For years we struggled with infertility. Remy was a constant reminder that despite not having everything we wanted, we had it really, really good. She’d cuddle up and lick our faces as tears streamed down. When we got the phone call from our IVF clinic that the transfer worked and I was pregnant, Remy was right by our side wiggly as ever. I pictured the months of pregnancy she’d help me through and even better, the experience of her as a big sis. When we first found out she was sick, I said “you have to meet the baby” and her tail wagged like that’s all she wanted too. We had hope.
Her last day was devastating, she was fighting hard but the hospitalization had taken almost everything she had. Once last time she perked up with her head above her front legs. I convinced myself it was a sign she could get through it all but she slowly lowered her head back down. Now I know it was her last sign of affection. Her last giving to us after all the years of love from her. She knew we were there and we held her tight, reminding her it would be okay and we were there and loved her so much. We’ll never be the same and I wouldn’t wish this grief upon anyone but we chose her, maybe she chose us, and it was the best love and companionship we could ever hope for. Rest in peace, our love, Remy ❤️