This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to put in writing, mainly because it means that I have to accept it as reality. On Wednesday, December 10th 1997 I had to say goodbye to my beloved Lightning. One week previous I had brought Lightning to the vets as I had noticed her "zoning out" and she was sleeping a more than usual. At this time she was diagnosed with Insulinoma and I was given some medication to help control her sugar levels. The medicine seemed to do its trick, she was dooking everywhere, winning every wrestling match with her sisters and seemed to be herself again. Wednesday morning, everything changed. Lightning had the very first seizure of her short life, luckily I was home this day and some sugar to the gums brought her out of the seizure immediately. One hour later, she seizured again; at this point I phoned the vets and said I was on my way in. By the time I arrived at the vet she was screaming in pain, she was given Valium to help her calm down. The remainder of the day, Dr. Bernhard fought to increase Lightnings blood sugar level to a point where she could be stabalized. Even a glucose drip directly into Lightning's veins resulted in a lower blood sugar level. Nothing we could do was helping. I had promised Lightning earlier that day that I would not let her be in pain again, so I made the hardest decision in my life and had her put down. I was with her until the end, and I am positive she knew I was there and she was loved. I have since found out that Lightning's life was taken from me at the young age of 4, due to a very aggressive tumor that had spread from her pancreas to her liver where it spread so quickly that the body had no chance of fighting it at all. Even though I have to say goodbye Lightning, I want to thank you for everything that you have given me. You will be forever in my thoughts and always close to my heart. Thank you for your life Lightning, I'll love you always Paige [Posted in FML issue 2155]