Wednesday morning our beloved 165 pound Leonberger joyfully
woke me up wagging his tail and then bounded down the steps, ready for the new
day. There is nothing like a pet, or a smiling baby, or child to bring you into
the here and now.
We went downstairs for his breakfast, raw duck which he
happily gobbled up. Dogs bring us unconditional love and are so grateful when
we feed them. I’m grateful for the love I feel when I feed him too. When I got
the leash to take him for a walk he jumped up and playfully pounced around like
a puppy, so happy to be going on his morning walk.
It was a beautiful day and
we walked our usual route around the neighborhood. The three of us felt calm
and peaceful. He had his usual normal bowel movement. I always notice his
elimination knowing how all health begins in the gut. 18 months ago, he had had
bad psoriasis to the point of bleeding which we healed with the help of a
holistic vet and a change in his already healthy diet. His first vet told us he
would have to be on antibiotics and steroids for the rest of his life. As a functionally trained health coach, I
knew better.
It took Simba about 6 months to heal, utilizing the 5 R’s of
functional medicine, I’ve explained in other
posts, that included some high-quality
supplements and tweaking his diet. (This was challenging because my husband
loved to give him junky treats. There are always temptations when we are trying
to change our diets whether dog or human.) It was a hot day so he was panting
some when we got home, but not more than usual so I kept him in the cool house
with me the rest of the day with plenty of fresh filtered water.
A Leonberger is a dog originating from Leonberg Germany. The
mayor wanted a dog mascot that looked like a lion. He was purposely bred from a
St. Bernard, Newfoundland and a Pyrenean Mountain Dog. His biggest trait is
that he wants to be in the middle of whatever family gathering is happening. He
is the consummate family dog, a gentle giant with children and babies.
I always ask my new clients if they like dogs before our first
appointment (if they are coming to my home office) to prepare them to meet my
beautiful beast at the door. I had this
conversation around 4:15 looking at Simba on the cool tile floor next to me and
my daughters small dog on the couch. Simba often comes into my office or my
husbands around this time to tell us to wind down and get ready for his walk. Not long after I hung up, I was writing a
follow up email when Simba began to pant heavily. My first thought was he was hot
so I turned up the AC and went to get him a few ice cubes. He had been in the
house all morning so there really was no reason for this. He also had plenty of
clean filtered water in his bowl. When
he refused the ice cubes I started to panic, called my neighbor for help and
ran to get some treats. No response, very unusual. I knew I needed to get him immediate
medical attention. Twice he tried to lift his head and it fell back hard to the
floor. A few minutes later he was gone. I panicked. I was in shock and
disbelief. By this time, Kevin had gathered two other neighborhood men and four
of us carried him to my car so I could rush him to the hospital. I was
hysterical. I didn’t want to believe that he could really be gone. That my
perfectly healthy beautiful baby boy could be so happy and well one moment, and
gone the next. He did not suffer, he was surrounded by those that loved him
dearly, Kevin, Tracy and myself.
Devastated, I’ve spoken to several veterinarians, including
the autopsy center. What went wrong? What could I have done differently? How could we have prevented this? It’s very hard not to have these feelings of
guilt and responsibility when our beloved pass. In our grief, it is hard not to
want to apply blame. If only….what if…?
We ruled out almost everything. My vet with 25 years of
emergency room experience told me that for a sudden death in an otherwise
healthy animal it was most likely a heart attack or a hemangiosarcoma near his
heart. He had no fluid in his abdomen, nor history of any sarcomas. Simba was beautiful. He had just been groomed two weeks
ago and his coat and skin were as beautiful as always. He was the picture of
health, with vibrant sparkle in his puppy eyes. It makes no sense to me. In my grieving,
I’ve tried to figure out what went wrong, what could I have done differently
and what message does his passing give to us?
So I think it is important today to talk today about the #1
killer in the U.S. Heart disease. I’ve written a lot about
cancer as a chronic disease but heart disease is called the silent killer for this reason. Most don't know that I've suffered from heart disease. I don’t look like someone with a cardiac
condition. I look like the picture of health. But so did my beautiful Simba.
What we don’t know can and will kill us. It’s the hidden
stressors that create chronic disease. Last week I wrote a paper for an upcoming
workshop I’ll be giving in June on Befriending Cancer and Chronic Disease
Prevention, and Anti-Aging Strategies. (Yes, they are all the same.)
What I’m passionate about is, how do we prevent these
tragedies? How do we assess for hidden stressors? Sometimes we can, and
sometimes we can’t.
When I went to my cardiologist two years ago he told me, “Face
it Lisa, everyone will need to be on hypertensive meds when they get older.” I said, “No, I want to know why I have high
blood pressure. Is it mental emotional,
is it stress, is it dysbiosis, h-pylori, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability?
What are the hidden stressors that I’m not addressing?
I’ve uncovered all of them. Yes, I had h-pylori and intestinal
permeability leading to food sensitivities. Yes, I had mental emotional stress.
Did I need to change jobs? Do I need to work in an environment where there is
more collaboration and cohesiveness? Yes, yes, and yes. All of this makes a major
difference.
Pay attention to all the messages your body is giving you.
The day before, when it started to get warm, Simba was
panting heavily so we only took ½ our normal walk. Yesterday, he seemed to be
tolerating it well. I don’t know if I could have done anything differently or
made a difference or not.
I do know that we gave him lots of love and attention
and we gave him a very good life. He will remain in our hearts as the big gentle
giant. He was the King of the neighborhood. He helped to keep us grounded and disciplined. He forced us to take multiple daily walks. He was warm, kind and generous in his affection. He
offered unconditional love. What better role model is that?
He’s prompted me to not take my own health for granted . To
call my health insurance to get that sleep study that I’ve been putting off for
over a month. To follow up with the cardiologist that I’ve been procrastinating
because I don’t want him to put me back on medication. To not take anyone for
granted and to live each day to its fullest.
This lifetime is precious. What legacy do you want to leave
behind? How can you live each day to its fullest? How can you live each day on
purpose?
Thank you Simba for your unconditional love and for these precious reminders. You will forever live on in my heart.
With Love & Gratitude,
Lisa
About Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN
Lisa is an author, inspirational speaker and a coach with a mission to inspire others to feel and look their best at any age.
Lisa's book, Savvy Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive outlines her seven-step process towards optimal health that is fun and transformational.
Lisa is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.
She is the former Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
