One Week without Po
It has been 7 days without Po.
Last week, after a bad night and an early-morning Emergency vet visit, We discovered that Po had cancer in her spleen. After some time to consider all the options, in consultation with her doctor, I made the heartbreaking decision to let her go.
We found each other in Kona, when I was volunterring at the Kona Animal Shelter and she and her many siblings were brought in at the age of 3-4 months. We never really knew how old she was but we estimated her birthday in September of 2013. Her name was “Enola” but after spending a few visits with her, she was “Po” to me and I worked out a Hawaiian name to accomdodate her nickname and she became Po’ele (the darkest part of the night.)
Immediately, her personality was evident: she was a happy dog. She loved people and everyone she met was a friend, even if they were not friendly to her. When she was younger, she had the unfortunate habit of getting so excited to meet you, she would pee - sometimes on your feet. For many years after, we adapted to make all her greetings outdoors for easy cleanup.
During those years in Kona, she loved her walks on the waterfront, stopping at her favorite coffee shops for a drink of water or a nice time enjoying the cool tile floor on her warm belly. When my time in Kona was coming to an end, I flew her back to Caliofrnia where she lived with my sister and Rick and spent some quality time being part of the Thompson “pack.”
She and I spent about 18 months living with the Thompsons, moving into an apartment in Claremont, moving back to the Thompsons, until we officially signed on to move into the parsonage in Walnut. And there we spent 5 good years. She loved the backyard and her antagonists, the squirrels who taunted her. We lived through Covid together, reopened the church and then heard the call to go back into Mission Work. The only requirement I had in accepting a missionary job is if I could bring Po. It cost a fortune, but it was worth it to have my Po with me.
For three years, Po and I did our ministry together in Spain. During our time there, Po had some serious health problems and honestly, in 2023 her health was so bad I didn’t know if she’d be able to return to California with me. But she healed and made the trip home. And these last 18 monthes I felt were BONUS time for us, living in Pasadena and Altadena.
We'd lived in 8 homes together and she always did her best to adjust to her surroundings, her new way of life, her new friends. One highlight of these last months was the Christmas party we had for the Board and staff of our new church in our small house in Oasadena. She loved meeting all the new people in my life and give kisses to new friends.
So, now I adjust to life without her. I am so grateful to have had these 13 years with her, her ability to find joy in all expereinces and her constant unconditional love when life was difficult. She always had a way to make me feel like “everything was going to be okay” and no matter what, I was loved and needed.
Rest in peace, my good girl, my Po-Po, my Sweet P.
Forever grateful to you and for you,
Po’s mom