In Memory of Suzie...

I found out this weekend that a dear friend from high school passed away. Suzie was a kind soul in a school riddled with social climbers. She was a sweet, steady and quite frankly brilliant part of our group of friends. She attended and completed Vet school, but while there developed a fungal infection in her lungs from infected birds. Due to many complications, Suzie never was able to beat this infection. Suzie fought it for years. It was a horrible thing when she had to give up practicing her craft. She hated being away from the clinic, out of touch with animals. I always valued Suzie's insights and often emailed her for "appointments" for my dogs. Slowly this infection gained on her and I remember the day she told me that she was not eligible for a lung transplant. We both refused to discuss defeat and we both looked to specialty hospitals around the country. But Suzie was never strong enough to travel.

Despite her constant fight, we, her friends, never really considered how terminal the disease was. Suzie had a way of calmly explaining that she hadn't been answering her emails because she was in the hospital. She happened to cough up a cup of blood, or maybe two, but she was feeling better now. She was able to rebound over and over again. It was a joy to see her in the summer of 2006, when I went back to see my San Diego sister. She was tired and her face was puffy from yet another round of meds. but she and some of my dear friends gathered to meet. She even wanted all four of the kids there!

Her death is a sad sad loss to many of us. She loved her dear husband, Jim. She loved being a vet. She was a devoted friend who was always available when needed. She had so many talents, she must have been too special to remain on earth and God called her home.

Suzie, we love you. Journey safely and we will see you again soon.