May 1 was always a big deal in our household. Why? It was Layla’s birthday of course! We would celebrate with a doggie cake, ice cream, presents, singing and lots of snuggles!
Today is May 1 … Layla’s birthday. She would have been 13 today …
Instead of picking up a doggie cake, going for ice cream, making cookies and opening endless amounts of presents, I am spending it at a cancer walk … A walk to raise money to fund comparative oncology studies in humans and companion animals. I hope that during those 2-miles with my 20+ person team, that my broken heart can begin to mend. I will be holding my precious babies collar, my husband will carry her leash and my parents will be wearing one of her many bandanas around their arms. I will spend that 2-miles remembering Layla, NOT the cancer.
To my dear sweet Layla girl,
Today is your first birthday at rainbow bridge. Momma and Daddy miss you terribly, but will spend today remembering your sweet face, happy go lucky personality, beautiful smile and sometimes stubborn disposition. Today we celebrate, YOU! I am so proud of you Boo, Boo. You took everything in stride, never showed weakness … you were a brave girl straight to the end. I know you will be walking next to us today … wiggling your butt and looking back at me with that smile and little tongue hanging out to make sure I was right behind you. Thank you for always making sure I was well within your protection range. We love you, baby girl – love Momma & Daddy.
I promised Layla that I would continue her fight, and I will stick to that promise until we meet again. That is why today we are walking to find a cure – a cure for the horrible disease that gave Layla her angel wings way too soon. Today we will leave cancer at the starting line and finish the walk with hope – hope that the money we raise will find a cure.
If you lost a family member – animal or human to cancer, would you please donate now? The walk starts at 11:30 am, CST and we would like to meet or exceed our $5,000 goal by 12:30 pm. We have less than $1,000 to raise – would you help us go over the top?
Cancer. Touches. Everyone.
A year ago today … Layla turned 12 years old. It was a warm and sunny Friday. I took the day off of work to spend with my precious baby girl. I made cookies for her and dressed her up in her pretty birthday bandana that grandma had made for her two years earlier. It was a quiet morning, but it was spent together – Momma/Layla day. We went to her favorite store for treats and snuggles and found ourselves some yummy Chocolate Shoppe vanilla ice cream for a special treat.
I will never forget that day … it was the last birthday Layla and I would celebrate together … my heart hurts.