We needed her for five years,
She needed us for nine months.

Sophie came into our lives – a spunky little border collie – not quite a year before Dean was diagnosed with MS. That year was very tough for Dean, and Sophie was forever by his side, especially on his bad days. She gave us what we needed – love, comfort, support and above all FUN!
         

When she turned four, Sophie started having seizures. We almost lost her after her first one. For nine months, she had a seizure every two weeks. She always came to one of us right before it happened so we could be with her to comfort, hold and reassure her – like she had done many times for us at our time in need.

Her last seizure was August 20, 2008, at Eagle Lake in northern Maine, where she happily chased boats, birds and squirrels. She was cooling off in the lake and must have had a major seizure and drowned. She couldn't get to us this last time.

We buried her there, by the water. Our therapy dog died too young – at the age of five – when we still needed her loving presence. She made the first four years living with MS bearable – our sweet girl Sophie.

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