Kasey
Kasey’s Story
(by Amie Zimmerman) I don’t want this story to only be about Kasey leaving us from this world too soon. I also want to share how special she was to our family. My name is Amie Zimmerman, and I live in Sun Prairie with my husband, Doug, and daughter, Hanna. For the past 12 years, I have worked as a receptionist at Deer-Grove Veterinary Clinic in Cottage Grove. Recently I was named a finalist for Petplan’s 2017 Receptionist of the Year Award, and I was to list a pet charity, which, if I won, would receive a $1,000 donation. I was introduced to the PuppyUp Foundation by Jen Schleicher. Jen began fundraising for the PuppyUp Foundation in her dog, Layla’s, memory. Who knew a simple task of Jen dropping off flyers at my work for the 2016 Madison PuppyUp Walk would have such an impact me. Also, little did I know that when I picked the PuppyUp Foundation canine cancer would also affect my family. I ended up winning the Receptionist of the Year Award, and was honored to give the donation to the PuppyUp Foundation for Jen’s fundraising efforts. It’s a special feeling knowing that Layla is the reason I became aware of the PuppyUp Foundation.
Kasey was born February 24, 2006, and we picked her up in Caledonia, MN. Her dog mom was a Bichon/ Cocker mix named Dora, and her dog dad was a Poodle. We ended up naming her Kasey Dora. We used her full name to scold her just like you would do with your child. Kasey knew Doug and me as Dad and Mom. We taught her how to ring a bell to let us know she had to go out potty. As she got older, she’d ring the bell, not to go potty, but to go outside and sit on the porch. I always called her my outside girl. She loved to have a ball thrown from the Chuckit, and she could run so fast, catch it, and then bring it back to us. She would go crazy if we told her Grandma (my mom), was coming over. She was so smart she knew exactly what we were taking about. She also loved apples for a snack, and throughout the years she shared many apples with us. She also loved to lie on her back with her feet in the air, and at night, she would sleep next to me.
In September 2016, I felt a lump on Kasey’s neck. As a receptionist at Deer-Grove Vet Clinic, I’ve taken calls regarding lumps on dogs’ neck, so before she was even seen I was very worried. We brought her in, and Dr. Frame aspirated the lump. We set up surgery that following week for September 20th, 2016, and by the time we had brought her in, the lump had grown, and there was also another small lump next to the original lump. During surgery we also opted to remove some small sized lumps that she’d occasionally get all over her body. Recovery was rough, but she’d had surgeries in the past, and had worn her e-collar, and did quite well with it. When the results came back from the histopathology it wasn’t good. Kasey was diagnosed with high grade hemangiosarcoma. The lump on her neck was not the primary site of the cancer, and Doug and I decided not to pursue a consult with an oncology specialist. We decided to keep her comfortable, spoil her even more than usual, and make the most of the time we had left with her. I had an especially hard time, because she had to wear a bandage around her neck, along with an e-collar, and I feared that she would die with her e-collar on. I am thankful, that 2 weeks post-surgery, we were able to remove the collar.
Doug and I had discussed in length about the hard decision, and how would we know when it was time. I knew that I needed her and us to be ready, and I didn’t want her to be in distress. The morning of October 29th, 2016, her eyes had lost their glisten and she didn’t eat her breakfast. Doug and I knew it was time, and we brought her into my work. We are grateful that she had her Mom and Dad by her side giving her kisses and telling her it was okay for her to go to heaven and that we loved her.
Admittedly the days following have been very difficult. I continue to see her throughout our house and I miss having her sleeping next to me. I didn’t realize how hard it would be for Hanna. At the time, Hanna was 7 years old, and Kasey was her first pet that she has lost. I’m relieved that she has finally stopped crying herself to sleep. For my family, Kasey’s story isn’t solely about her cancer diagnosis, it is about how much we loved her and how much she loved us. We are thankful that she was a part of our lives, and she will forever be in our hearts.
