We learned that Senator Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe, a region of the brain that helps govern sensation, movement and language. This was the same diagnosis given to my father (also named Edward) who passed away over fifty years ago. Unfortunately, there has been little advancement in the treatment of this type of cancer since then.

Also yesterday, our dog Missy was diagnosed with a massive malignant tumor. It was inoperable, and whatever time she had left, she would be in agonizing pain and unable to walk again. We were forced to make the heart wrenching decision to put her to sleep.

Last week I had a dream, in which I drove Missy to the beach. We parked on a precipice overlooking the ocean. In the dream I was well aware of Missy's condition (she could not walk on her rear legs), yet to my surprise, when I opened the passenger door, Missy leapt out, ran to the edge, and then jumped over the side. When I reached the ledge, I was even more surprised to see that Missy not only survived the fall (about 20-30 feet), but was racing away down the shore.

When I was able to finally climb down to the beach, Missy was no where in sight.

When I awoke, I shared the dream with my wife. Neither of us knew the significance of it, until yesterday. Missy is finally free!

I am sorry for your loss. A pet becomes a part of the family.

Having lost many to Cancer,i t made me feel bad for Kennedy and his family. It is not an easy way to go.Ted is Catholic though. That will be a comfort we all need at one time in our lives.

We learned yesterday that my 19 yr old cat has heart disease and kidney disease. The vet gives him maybe a month to live. I have had this cat for almost half my life--longer than my kids. The vet said one morning we will wake up and my cat won't. I pray that is how it happens.

those people were very important in my families lives...and while I only met Senator Kennedy once,and by mistake at that,my Father and Uncle were very involved in both brother's national campaigns.

Another little piece is slipping away.

The joy and unconditional love we get from our pets is truly amazing....and a little piece goes away with them ,too...sorry,it gets more difficult with time it seems,we think each one will be the last.

The photo http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ with his wife and apparently a nurse or doctor looking at each other behind his back is very sad, and very telling.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

I'm so sorry about your father...we never know what 'the plan' is for each of us, and that is probably just as well.

I understand your more recent pain about your beloved pet. Over the years I have had to see so many pets go that way...doing the right thing for them, so that they do not suffer unnecessarily. And each time, I've wept for days....it's like losing a beloved member of one's family, for that is exactly what they are.

Each time, I have declared 'never again', but each time, I've found that the 'cure', only to the point of helping you cope with it, is to fall in love with another furry friend.

Pets are so intelligent, and respond so well to love and attention, and they are NEVER demanding. Loyal to a fault, nearly. I have a little Jack Russell terrier now, after the loss of my last beloved Basenji. She is my shadow. She insists on going with me to feed the chickens and gather the eggs in the evening, knowing full well, that the goats will chase her (I think she loves it really), and then her real enemy is a gander, who loves to get hold of her little bobbed tail, and TWEAK it hard! But she is right there, trying to protect my bare legs.

It would be funny, except that I know the tail tweaking is painful.

I'm so sorry about your friend, Missy.

I just hate watching a pet dying before my eyes. I am so sorry, for I've been there/had to do that, so many times.

I am an animal lover...one of the main reasons I am still living out here on my 3 acres, when actually since my husband's death, I should move into town because of my eyesight. If I made that move, what would happen to my beloved dogs and cats?

You have the comfort of knowing that your cat has lived a VERY long life, full of love, and so may end up dumped in the country...having no shelter and no food. You have given the cat a wonderful home....and I'd bet the cat knows full well how very lucky it has been.

I have reached an age, where there is a distinct possibility that my pets will outlive me.

That is a grave concern to me, especially since they missed Leonard for a long time. They would go to his room and look inside at the empty bed, or to his recliner, where he kept a supply of dog treats for them.

It really is a concern that I often think about, their future and what it holds for them, when I am gone.

A pet is the real true friend one has...asking for nothing but a pat, and a kind word, as supplements for shelter and, food, and water. How many friends, real ones, don't 'hurt' you at times? Maybe unintentionally, but a pet never does.

As Missy slipped away, we promised her that where she was going there would be plenty of squirrels to chase. I think we can learn a lot from our pets. They love us unconditionally!

My heart is with you. We lost our Daisy to cancer a little over 7 years ago. She, too, could barely walk, but the day we took her to the vet to meet her final rest, she bounded over the grass to the truck just like she did before she became so ill - - just as though she knew she would be at peace and out of pain. Just writing this brings tears to my eyes. My friend in CO shared this poem with me, and it was so helpful, and I would like to share it with you. Also, if you wish, search for Rainbow Bridge, a lovely site where you can read many helpful poems and stories. Beautiful site..

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blubbering.

Two weeks ago I lost one of my cats. The vet said it was a cat form of Crohn's disease and he literally wasted away no matter what I tried to do. He was a one person cat and he adored me. He would always come up and gaze into my face and take his paw and pat my face. Although I have others, each is very special in their own way.

As everybody has pointed out, animals make such wonderful friends, and losing one is so very hard.

And they are with us for such a short period of time. I've made up my mind that from now on, I will try to treat every minute I have with loved ones as a precious commodity.

At that time, I didn't fully understand the meaning of the loss of a loved one.

Missy came into our lives about 10 years ago. At that time my wife and I lived in Elysian Park (near the LA Dodger Stadium), where there was lots of loose dogs. She was homeless, working the neighborhood, and was being fed by three families. She was an American Jindo (looked like a Husky with a curly tail), white fur, with a pronounced mark on her back, resembling an angel. She chose us to be her family.

My wife and I left our garden shoes on the front porch. Missy picked up one shoe each and took them out to her special nearby place on the corner. Originally, we were just going to keep her long enough to find a family to permanently take her, but she charmed us so much that we couldn't part with her. If only dogs could talk.

We deduced that Missy must have been previously owned by a couple. The women probably provided loving care for her; but the man abused her. At first, she was terribly frightened of me, and used to tremble when I returned home from work each evening. Eventually, she began to trust me, and we became close. Intelligent (she learned how to operate the electric windows in our car), Missy was one of the best friends one could ever ask for. She truly was what the mark on her back resembled...an angel. I mourn her passing. She will be greatly missed.

Sorry to hear about your pet, Missy, it's sad when a pet goes, many times they are one of the family, and the hurt is just as bad.

I've got Silky, aka Mad Cat, she's about 14-years-old, and slowing down a bit - I would love to know what goes through her little pointy head at times - she's got me well trained!