Beloved Sofia

June 13, 2010

Our beautiful Sofia, a Papillon puppy who has been a part of our family for the last six months, has died unexpectedly and suddenly after an acute, twenty-four hour illness whose cause is still a mystery. She had her whole life ahead of her, but it was tragically cut short for reasons so difficult to understand.

Even though she was with us a only a short time, we are devastated by the loss.

The finality of it is terrible -- There will never be another Sofia! Nothing could ever replace her! She was so adorable, so generous, so loving.

As humans do, we try to find meaning in all experience. How amazing that a small creature weighing less than four pounds can be so profoundly equipped to provide us with essentials for our own existence: The need for a connection to others; the need for understanding; the need for love.

Such a loss begs the question, is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? The answer is yes, a thousand times, yes! It's the memories that we can hold onto that sustain us. As the poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote in his poem, In Memoriam:

I hold it true, whate'er befall;

I feel it when I sorrow most;

Tis better to have loved and lost

Than never to have loved at all.

Sofia, we will always remember you! We loved the way you greeted everyone you encountered -- not by wagging your tail, but by wagging your whole bodyWe laughed as you impishly scampered in circles around us, managing to stay just out of arm's reach when you didn't want to be 'caught.' We delighted in the kisses you so lavishly bestowed upon us as we sat contentedly watching TV together. We enjoyed seeing you toss up your favorite toy to tease us into playing with you. We were amazed at how you quickly learned any new trick in a flash, always ready for more fun and games. We loved all this and so much more!

Perhaps the key to working through the grieving process lies in finding perspective: After all, Sofia was a dog, not a human being. How someone could endure the loss, say, of a child, is unimaginable. But love is not qualified by the species on whom it is bestowed, whether human or animal. Love is only limited by our heart's capacity to give love. And love for Sofia filled our hearts completely -- It was a large love. And just as large is the gap where she should be!

Sofia, you will always hold a special place in the heart of every member of the Hicks family. A star has fallen in our sky -- A light has gone out in our heaven, and it will take some time to get through the darkness.

We are grateful that we do not have to go through this alone. We are mindful of the support of our extended family, of our friends, of our team, and our clients at SSAH. We thank all of you for your comforting words & prayers. We also sustained by the love of all our other pets with whom we share our lives. And we have meaningful work to perform. We must get on with things -- But we will always remember Sofia.

Lovingly Submitted,

Dr. Jim & Marith Hicks