In June 2001, Misha was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, which would prove to be fatal. At her age (13.5 years) and with the many, many surgeries she had had, we did not want her last few months to be fraught with the stress of surgery and chemotherapy, neither of which would guarantee any better quality or quantity of life. On these pages are a few pictures of the last months of her life . . . to celebrate her living, not mourn her death. I have also included some postings about her that I sent to adtlovers list and other cyberfriends during these months . . . some funny, some poignant. I hope that making this site will help me through my grief, and will do the same for others who have sent their beloved pets across the Rainbow Bridge.
25 December 2000	Misha loved Christmas. For her, the best time of the year was all of December, as gifts arrived in the house for her to open from 6 December (my birthday) through 12 December (Cari's birthday) through 25 December and often even through January of the next year! She was delicate; no ripping open boxes and damaging gifts . . . she just took the paper in her front teeth and tugged. Cari's job was to take the paper and ribbon and disperse it all over the house. April, of course, was the supervisor . . . she doesn't put strange things into HER mouth, she says; you don't know where that paper's been!
"This is how it's done, Cari."
Cari & Misha were lying-about buddies. Cari was able to get Misha to a semblance of play, but their best times together were snoozing times.
	Of course, if one dog is ill, the others think they are, too. Or at least PRETEND to think so!

CONTINUE WITH MISHA IN MEMORIAM HERE