On May 16, 2013 our sweet Roman passed away . . . but is still in our minds and hearts every single day. He was our first, per se, rescue, but we just didn't know that he rescued us. Katherine has a heart condition, is slightly hearing impaired, and wears glasses, not to mention a long list of other things including epilepsy and she just happened along a post for this pit puppy who had a fatal heart disease, was mostly blind and deaf, and had a neurological disorder where his back legs didn't work properly. It's as if God made Roman for Katherine to help her overcome all her obstacles. Katherine begged me to drive seven hours to pick him up and then we drove seven hours back. He was the best little thing ever . . . just loving on her the whole drive back home. He was just a little mess - literally. We were told he would be lucky to live for three months or so because of all his anomalies. We didn't mind that . . . we just wanted to show him love while he was here.
He was impossible to potty train because he really couldn't control his hind end very well and, well, he just didn't have the mental capacities. He adjusted well to not hearing or seeing very well and bonded rapidly with our senior dogs. He gave us our wake up call every single morning at 5:00 a.m. without fail and ran laps around the kitchen and living room prancing like a horse when his back legs would cooperate.
Even though he had all these things wrong with him . . . he was just perfect! He had eyes that didn't focus, but only saw the good in EVERYONE! He couldn't hear very well, but he heard when you were crying and licked away your tears. His back legs didn't work all the time, but he certainly jumped up in your lap and just cuddled. His heart was functioning at less than 10% at its best, but he loved as if his heart was at 200%.
We were fortunate enough to have him ten months . . . seven whole months longer than several vets had expected and they were ten glorious months. I've never mopped up so much pee in my life, but it didn't bother me, because as I mopped it up, he would "help me" by attacking the mop and it became a great game. I've never "fetched" so many tennis balls for/with him because he couldn't find them himself and even Belle, one of our seniors who loves tennis balls, won't play with Roman's special tennis ball . . . I believe out of respect for Roman.
He taught us so very much and it is because of him that it is our desire to rescue all the "unlovable" babies out there and show them human love and companionship. We are founded on the love Roman showed us . . . unconditional . . . perfect . . . never failing. We can all learn a thing or two from our babies if we will just let ourselves.
Roman, we love you very much and know that now that you have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, you experience the perfect health that we always wanted for you. We miss you terribly and you will NEVER, NEVER be forgotten!
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