Saturday, March 31, 2012

Our Friend, Payton

We have lost a friend.

Mom & I found Payton's blog sometime last year (pre-Vinny), and we were both so inspired by her. She was a real-life miracle pug. PDE is a dirty "word" in the Pug world. It's terrifying. Pugs with PDE don't survive for long. But Payton did! She fought and she not only survived, but she thrived! She amazed everyone, including her doctors. And that was thanks in huge part, we all believe, to her incredible family, including her mom, dad, and her grandparents, who we all know as Gammy and Gampy.

We were lucky enough to actually meet Payton, her mom, and her Gammy last summer, when they came to our house at the same time as our friend Hank came to visit from Indianapolis on his Summer 2011 Midwest Tour. We didn't even realize at the time how close Payton lived to us. Mom remembered that Payton lived in Illinois (we live in St. Louis), so she decided on a whim to email Payton's mom and see if she might want to make a (what we thought at the time might be a long) drive over the river and join us? We were so surprised when her Mom told us that the drive was super-short and they had actually taken Payton to the patio of the coffee shop down the street from our house just a few weeks before!

We had so much fun that day meeting Payton. She was unsure of us at first. Her mom told us that she hadn't been around a lot of other pugs before so we were quite a test for her (because Vinny is kind of out of control, I am an angel of course... um, yeah, that's the story). But Payton held her own! She let us know when we were out of line! (Which we were!) Payton came out of her shell so much that day and it led to so many more adventures for her. She ended up going on so many travels & meeting so many of our other blog friends in the following months! We were SO proud of her!! This little girl, given such a scary diagnosis, let nothing stop her.


Payton, her Mom, and Gammy at our house

Vinny being annoying and Payton being adorable

Hank (and his Mom Sarah), Me, Vinny (and our Mom) and Payton (and her Mom Christy).
Payton was giving us the stink-eye that we deserved.


Today, we learned that our sweet friend went to the Bridge. She fought as hard and for as long as she could. Payton will forever be a legend in Pugdom. Despite drawing the short straw early in life with PDE, she defied all of the predictions. And she did that because of her mom, dad, Gammy & Gampy. She knew how lucky she was to have landed in the most amazing family a pug could ever have. She could not disappoint them. She loved them too much.

Sweet Payton - you succeeded. You not only fought, but you taught even seasoned, expert doctors new things, so that they can help more pugs like you in the future. You are a hero, Payton. And you loved every minute of your life, thanks to your family who devoted everything to you.

We miss you already and we hope that your family can heal soon and that you can give them the strength to do that from the Bridge by letting them know that you are happy there with your friends who went before you.


We love you sweet, beautiful, brave girl.

Vito, Vinny and Gina

8 comments:

Minnie and Mack said...

We never got the opportunity to meet Payton in the fur, how lucky you guys were!

Your post was heart felt. Blogville will miss Miss Payton. We love your post in her honor.

Minnie and Mack

Brutus, Ellie, Pippa and Otto said...

We were lucky enough to meet Payton at Ellie's birthday party. That girl was full of spunk!

She will be dearly missed.

Pugs & Kisses,

Brutus & Ellie

Punchbugpug said...

Wonderful post....

Noodles said...

There you go makin' my eyes leak all over again. Payton was special - Stubby like special - and I know I will miss her every day (even though I never met her).
Love Noodles

Elgor82 said...

We were never lucky enough to meet Miss Payton or her wonderful family but we know she was loved and will be missed by many!

Love Ellen, Zoe, Peyton, Webster & Liberty

Tweedles -- that's me said...

What a beautiful post about Payton! And you are right - she was our hero. She shared her story and through all that she shared- it will give hope to other doggies with PDE.
She amazed everyone- and her pawrents were right with her every step of the way.
Thank you Payton for being our hero.
We love you
xoxo
tweedles

dw said...

A very nice tribute to a very special girl! Run free, Payton!

Meredith LeBlanc said...

What a blessing to have met Miss Payton!

XOXOXO
Meredith & Scarlet

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