Be moved by the power of spirit working through the animals we encounter daily. Your adorable pet is not simply a companion; he's more than a family member. He's love and care and inspiration wrapped up in a ball of fur, but definitely not to be called a "fur ball" This book tells the story of two women whose love for their pets took them on a journey that began with giving healing to their own precious fur babies. They soon discovered much more than they ever imagined. As they connect with all types of animals, their hope is to be able to deliver the animals' messages about how they help us heal. This is an inspiring true story of healing, transformation, and love.
Reiki Fur Babies
By Candy Boroditsky Ming Chee-BrownBALBOA PRESS
Copyright © 2012 Candy Boroditsky, Ming Chee-Brown
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4525-4682-7Chapter One
The Story of Reiki Fur Babies
"Caring for the physical and mental well-being of all creatures." - Reiki Fur Babies
CANDY'S STORY
I am a daughter, I am a mother, I am a grandmother, I am a wife, I am a sister, I am an aunt, I am a friend and I am a woman who lives in love and gratitude. I come from a poor family who worked hard and made their children work just as hard. My father was a shoe repairman like his father, and he and my mother also ran a successful restaurant in our home town of Buffalo, New York. The fact that my father had a gambling problem was the backdrop of our family life; it didn't matter how much he made he was always looking for the big score. My childhood can be recalled as very bleak with a brutal father who never spared the rod. He did love his children yet wasn't capable of knowing how to be kind. Through the difficult and miserable childhood I was able to create a wonderful life inside my mind – that's why I always knew the power of intention was real. I had to surrender the life I was living as a child because you are helpless in childhood to a higher power. We were certainly not a religious family, but somehow from within I found the strength to believe beyond my circumstances. I've always found that helping someone in need gave me the healing I needed inside me. If there's a room of a hundred people I have an internal magnet that draws me to the child or adult that has the pain I could really connect to.
When I met Ming it was because my new Boxer puppy needed to play. We moved into the same new home development and I knew no one. I scoped out the neighborhood and noticed Ming, who lived a few houses down from me, had a dog. I rang her doorbell and tried to set up a play date for our dogs. When we first met, I could feel Ming observing me. I believe it was because I say what is going on; I speak my mind, and encouraged her to try to do the same. Over time a wonderful and true friendship grew. Ming is my dearest and, for many years, my best friend. We talk and see each other almost every day. We are grateful that we have husbands who have always supported our deep abiding friendship. We certainly have had so many special adventures together. We always laugh and really allow each other the space that each of us needs just to be. I am sure that it's the comfort of our relationship that gave us the foundation to begin a business together. Ming and I are aware of each other's strengths and also our weaknesses.
My journey in this story begins with my Boxer Ry. He taught me so many incredible lessons and he introduced me to Ming. I have lived in such gratitude that God allowed Ry to live five years with so many valuable examples that my wonderful fur baby taught me. Of course I grew up with dogs and had three or four dogs before Ry. If I had to judge myself, I would say I'm a good pet owner. I gave them car rides, treats, vet visits, and above all love from all of us. When Ry came along I had an empty nest. On the same day we picked up Ry at the airport from Canada, we moved into a new house in Venice Beach. Because the house was in a new development neighborhood, the grounds were all dirt; there was no grass yet for our new puppy. The house and puppy were both brand new. Back in Pasadena while we were packing up to move, we had a big puppy shower; thirty or forty close friends came to celebrate the arrival of our Canadian Boxer puppy. It was all a fresh new beginning for us as we moved into our new home, got grass growing and started training the wildest puppy I had ever known. Ry was so handsome, but very unpredictable. He'd be sitting on my lap so sweet, and then he would turn around and jump at my face. I would laugh hysterically because I couldn't believe this little beast! My husband and I were so in love with this guy. I brushed his teeth every morning, went for walks, and looked for other puppies to play with. How lucky for us Ming also bought a house on the same street as we did. She had a little dog called Molly. Ry and Molly became great friends as did Ming and I. Ry would talk to me over everything; he always told me what he needed. If someone called me, and Ry wanted me, he would just start howling and yelling so I couldn't hear the other person on the phone. Whatever he needed, he would communicate to me. Ry loved going to the kennel club where he played with such gusto. He would jump up and be playful with all the staff. They all fell in love with Ry, too.
Thinking back, maybe my real story began when one day when my husband and I were sitting on the couch in our living room. We were discussing my husband's upcoming surgery on a tumor that had developed on the side of his face. We were pretty confident that it would be benign. At that same moment Ry jumped on the couch and sat next to me. As I was gently petting him I felt a lump on his neck. I made a comment to my husband about the lump, asking whether he thought it could also be a tumor. I wasn't about to take any chances so I took Ry to the vet the next day to have her check out the lump. Then her announcement came that she thought it was cancerous. A needle biopsy would be done to be sure. I was stunned. I was having trouble believing her so I lived in denial until I got the results. In the meantime, my husband had his surgery. It went great. Success. It was benign. Not so for Ry. The vet called back for the follow-up visit and she confirmed her diagnosis – cancer. I called my best friend Ming because I couldn't breathe. The vet wanted me to take Ry to another veterinarian who specialized in treating dogs with cancer. The appointment was made and it was Ming who drove me and Ry to his first Oncology visit. I believe I was in shock when they called us into the examination room. I must have appeared to understand what was going on and what they were saying, but all I recall is watching their lips move in slow motion as my head tried to process their words. And then Ming and I left for an hour while they took Ry into the other room to do whatever it was they had to do. We went over to McDonald's and sat and drank diet sodas to pass an hour. Then I broke down and began to cry. It hit me right then and there. My sweet baby boy was having cancer treatment while I was sipping soda.
An hour later we headed back to the doctor, there I was in front of her again and all I could see were her lips moving. I forced myself to hear her words, but I felt too overwhelmed. The vet told us that these treatments were very expensive, they were very difficult for the dog to tolerate and they may only prolong his life by a few months. Nevertheless, I paid $1,500 and made the next appointment for Ry. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, he was brought out to us. He was very glassy-eyed and shaky, he couldn't walk without help and he had these bubbles of skin all over him. I was heartsick seeing him in such a confused and dazed state.
When we brought him home, Ming's dogs Sammy Diva and Lucy were there waiting for us. Sammy Diva licked every puffed up area on Ry's body. Each bubble was filled with liquid from his cancer treatments. It was as if the other dogs knew what he was going through and they were being so gentle and loving to Ry. Ry went back several times for more treatment, and they kept adding more drugs with each visit. As it turned out, I had to administer many of the drugs to...
