I've had a best friend for seven years. Her name was Miya. Four legged, bushy tailed, ginger-tipped ears, distinctive eyes and a beautiful howl. She knew when I needed her, when I needed a cuddle on a bad day. She was gentle and loving. We've spent lots of happy and sad times together. I'd come home from school and she'd be there waiting to greet me wagging her beautiful bushy white tail. She made me so incredibly happy. Miya was a massive part of my life. She had my whole heart. Some people say a dog is just a pet. A dog was a part of me. Miya was a part of me. Miya was not just a pet, she was part of our little family. But most of all, my best friend.
Rewind back to June 2018...
Miya started early wake up calls with my Mam. They started at 12am. She was restless and didn't really know what she wanted and asking to be outside to sniff the air. The wake up calls continued.. 4am, 5am then 3am. She was testing my mams patience at this point. Mam was exhausted having to 'sleep' downstairs every night with Miya. Mam would be lucky if she got one hours sleep without a nudge from Miya's nose to say she wanted fussed. She would bark too when Mam told her to lie down and settle. We really didn't know what was wrong with her. The early wake up calls seemed to get better. She lasted 'til 5.30am. I mean, that's still very early but better than 4am, right? Miya kept the early wake up calls going. 2.45am she woke my Mam up but for cuddles this time - Mam was okay with that. We were noticing that she wasn't her self through the day at this point. She just didn't seem right. She was bumping into walls in our house and unsteady on her feet. This got worse and Miya developed this thing with her paws. When she walked she was very unsteady and her little paws bent back on themselves. She didn't know where her water dish was. It had been in the same place in the kitchen for years. We had to go up to her dish and make ripples in the water so she knew it was there then she'd drink. This was heartbreaking for us to watch. We took Miya to the vets to see what was wrong. She was put on a week course of steroids in case she had a bad infection. We sat as a family in the vet room with Miya. The vet done some tests and discovered that Miya had also lost her sight as well as lost strength in her legs. This wasn't right. This was sad. My baby girl was poorly. Day three on the steroids, Miya was very sleepy. She was snoozing a lot and curled up on her little bed in front of the fire. She still had significant weakness in her legs. The steroids weren't doing anything. She finished the course of steroids and we took her back to the vets for a review. The vet explained that her thoughts were that Miya had developed a neurological problem. A possibility that there was a tumour growing inside of her head causing her loss of sight and severe weakness in her legs. The vet explained that there wasn't anything she could do and we needed to think about the quality of life she was going to have. We needed to make the decision to let her go and end her pain even though it felt like the hardest thing in the world and I didn't want to lose my bestest friend in the whole world.
12th June 2018...
We sat as a family with Miya in the room of the vets and said our goodbyes. We made the decision to say goodbye and end her pain. It was the best for her even though it was completely breaking my heart. Me and my mam held her in our arms on the vets floor saying goodbye and giving her lots of cuddles and kisses. Tears streaming down my face and a lump in my throat. I left the vets sobbing with her leader and harness in my hand.
I've never felt heart break like it. Just like that, she was gone and no more cuddles, no more play time, no more kisses, no more walks. She was only seven years old. I didn't expect that to happen at her young age. I thought she had lots of life ahead of her. Our bond was so strong and I classed her as my best friend. I loved her unconditionally. Still to this day it breaks my heart into a million pieces that I had to let go of my precious girl.
Miya was a part of me. That part of me is missing. It happened very quick; I still cannot comprehend that she's gone out my life. When I return home after my day she's not there waiting to greet me wagging her beautiful white bushy tail. She's not there when i'm sad to give me cuddles and make me happy again. But she is in my heart.
"There's an empty space
where you used to lay,
and an ache in my heart
that won't go away.
I couldn't have asked
for a better friend.
You were my faithful companion
until the end.
Now you're roaming endless fields,
forever free to run.
Listening to the song of the wind
beneath the golden sun.
Meet me at the rainbow
when the time is right.
Run into my arms again,
walk with me into the light."
You will always be in my heart, Miya. My gorgeous, best girl. I will never forget you. Sleep tight my little angel. I love you Miya. Until we meet again.👼🏼💖🌈
Miya: 24/07/10 - 12/06/18
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