#GracieMaysGift

I'm raising money to benefit Whispurring Hope Animal Rescue, an Iowa nonprofit saving animals who are lost, abandoned, sick, injured or struggling to survive on their own. This is in honor of a beloved yellow lab, Gracie May, who died too soon.

My hope is this: that by sharing Gracie's story, together we can help those animals who need it now more than ever. It will be one more gift Gracie brings us. 

 

Gracie’s Legacy
A few lessons Gracie taught us in her short time on this earth:
 
- Stop and smell the roses – literally and figuratively
- Always be excited to see the ones you love
- Forgive quickly and easily
- Sit in comforting silence with those in need of healing
- Cuddle as often as possible
- Play hard and sleep equally hard
- Be fiercely loyal and protective over your loved ones (but never take yourself too seriously)
- Find strength in the face of challenges
- And most importantly, love unconditionally
 
Gracie's Story 
Gracie was special. She could sense when you were hurt (either physically or emotionally) and lay by your side for hours to help you heal. And, she could tell when you were happy – she especially loved when you were happy – and would smile, run, and play with you until she tuckered herself out. She never knew a stranger, and those who met her promptly fell in love with her too.

 

One Sunday afternoon in early 2020, we found a medical indication that something was very, very wrong with Gracie. We immediately took her to an emergency vet . She passed the following Thursday morning, after multiple vets diagnosed her with terminal liver failure with unknown cause – likely due to a hereditary trait.

In the days leading up to her last day, we sat with her and – knowing there wasn’t anything we could do – began the grieving process. We didn’t eat or sleep for much of that time. We couldn’t stand to leave her behind at the vet’s office, though we knew she was gone. 

The vet told us that too often our pets shield us from the true nature of their suffering, which sounds like something Gracie girl would’ve done for us. 

 

Gracie’s sudden death at the young age of three was painful and unfair. I just couldn't grasp why something like that could happen to such a good soul. In reading the stories of cruelty that Whispurring Hope encounters when saving animals, I'm reminded that more souls who don't deserve pain and suffering need our help. 

All the love in the world wasn't able to save my Gracie girl, and I can't even imagine how many animals are currently in need of the kind of love we have for her. Please consider sharing some of your heart by donating today. Every bit helps.