Cadence
Kristy and Cadence
At the end, with a weak smile, my sister-in-law Autumn reached out her hand and murmured, "Puppy." Cadence, always a good listener, leaned in for her mommy to pet her. Autumn had just been brought home as a hospice patient, and died shortly thereafter, from a failed bone marrow transplant. Nearly 4 years later, Cadence remains the only link between Autumn and my brother George. Autumn showed strength and wisdom well beyond her 31 years and Cadence, now 9, has picked up Autumn's torch after she could not carry it anymore. Autumn showed us how to fight, and George and Cadence always fought with her. Now, Cadence, who has suffered from seizures all of her life, has also developed spinal-muscular degeneration issues. She can only walk, on good days, a few feet on her own before her hind legs give out. But she remains fiesty and never gives up. And what she cannot do, my brother now does for her, just as he did for Autumn. Cadence has a sling, which George loving puts on her, which helps him to hold her hind end up for all trips to the bathroom. And he continues to take her for nightly walks around the block, using the sling, stating that letting her "sit around, getting old and depressed" would be allowing her handicap win. Obviously, giving up is something that George, Autumn, and Cadence know nothing about. Both Autumn and Cadence fought through their illnesses with George by their sides. Where most humans and their pets would have given up, this family has persevered for the sake of each other. Theirs is a story of hope, of amazing spirit, and, most importantly of true love that never dies.