A Message from the Founder of the Cliome Collins Cancer Fund
Every story, like every life, has a beginning and an end for we are only trustees during our lifetime for those things that are important to us. Today, medical advances have made tremendous strides both for humans and our animal friends and yet, have also created dilemmas where our vision of reality is blurred by false hope and wishes that some kind of miracle will save our terminally ill precious companions. Ironically, these very medical advances can also make for even greater heart-wrenching good-byes between us and our best friends.
When Cliome was diagnosed with intestinal carcinoma which had metastasized to multiple tumors in her little tummy and in her lungs, I began immediately to tell her just how very much I loved her and thanked her for all the wonderful and rich additional layers of happiness, laughter and joy she brought to my life… without duplicity, without judgment or criticism. I recognized her time left with me would be short and my primary effort was to insure her comfort until her time had arrived. Cliome was euthanized while I cradled her in my arms for the last time on June 27th.
I still feel the stinging pain of losing her coursing thru my body, but I have no doubts about my decision for it was my ultimate obligation to Clio and the greatest and most loving gift that I could give her - a choice that we as humans are still denied.
A number of years ago, Tim and I established a trust fund for our Maine Coons in the event that we might die contemporaneously and we wanted to provide the funds to insure that they would be well cared for and loved. It is money from Clio's trust fund that The Cliome Collins Cancer Fund was established in honor of Dr. Michele Sauerbrey who helped us through this most difficult time with compassion, comfort and guidance. Also, much appreciation is extended to her staff for their support and, last but not least, to Richard Heysek, Director of the TEAR Foundation for his immortalizing idea of placing the Cliome Collins Cancer Fund as a separate entity under the umbrella of the Foundation.
For many years now, I have wondered if we grow into our names or if we are named well. In Clio's case I feel she was named well for her name combines "Clio" (C-L-I-O) the muse of history with Cleome (C-L-E-O-M-E), one of my favorite summer flowers which were in full bloom on the day she first came to me. She brought with her the wisdom of history while being a most beautiful and delicate flower.
Aloha oe my sweet Cliome... until we meet again.
Thank you.
Sandra Collins
Cliome Collins
