Maggie

Maggie, Melodina's beloved dog died on Monday. Since Melodina passed away it has often seemed that Maggie understood our grief and emotions and looked after us in many wonderful ways. She would have been 18 years old next month. After Melodina died Maggie spent three days searching every corner of the house without sleep. We understood she was looking for Melodina. They hadn't seen each other for over a year because Mel was in the hospital. Maggie seemed to know somehow what had happened. She settled down when Indira gave her the blanket Melodina had died in. Maggie slept on it for the rest of her life.

When Indira would be distraught with grief Maggie would come to her and insist upon sitting on her lap. If I was sitting in a chair feeling sad Magggie would come and lie on on, not near but on my feet. She knew our feelings and comforted us.

Her passing brought back, full force, the pain, the grief and the inspiration of loosing a child. We are grateful to Maggie and all the love and devotion she gave us.

Hello

I know it has been a long time since I wrote on this blog. For those of you who are new, hello. To repeat visitors please accept my apologies. Today I got an e-mail from an old and dear friend who decided to write to me after viewing www.melodinatribute.org. He asked for more information about Melodina and I realized I hadn't been keeping up my end of the blog.

We have been to funerals of other great souls, mostly children, who were in the bone marrow transplant unit with Melodina. Caiden, the four year old inspirational boy I talked about earlier in this blog passed away at the age of eight. Adam, a major inspiration to anybody involved in the National Kids Cancer Ride passed away. Adam and I had a date to ride our bikes together when he got better. That won't happen now. Others who always wore a smile and expressed concern for others despite their own suffering have left this world - infants, children and teens. Each and everyone giving more than any human could possibly be expected to. Each and every one an example of how to live for others, for a better world. They are all missed. The cancer Kids are my heroes.

As a family we continue to raise money for Sick Kids Foundation through the Melodina Ski and Snowboard day. I will announce soon the plans for next February. All your support is appreciated. Let us do all we can to help relieve the suffering of children and help build a better future for this sick world. Enjoy life, be grateful and do what you can to bring peace. i will write again soon.