Shirley Enebrad

Author, Speaker & Grief Counselor

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Missing Maile

Missing Maile

March 10, 2017 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

The inevitable happened yesterday. My beautiful fur baby crossed over the rainbow bridge. Through sheer love and determination plus the aid of Chinese herb medicine and a few rounds of chemotherapy she gave us joy for two and a half bonus months. Maile Izzy Baby Lulu Enebrad Geller was like a child to me…my child. I had always had rescue dogs and she was so different. We shared a bond I believe was a result of her imprinting on me since we picked her up from the breeder when she was seven weeks old. I know, I know, but don’t give me any crap about puppy mills, breeders vs. rescues, etc. Goldendoodles were fairly new where I lived and that was the puppy I wanted.

Maile was a love right from the start. Smart beyond imagination. Within the first day of having her live with us I taught her ten tricks. She remembered them until she died. She was loyal and loving and had the sweetest soul. She followed me from room too room. Her personality was funny and thoughtful and most of all Maile thought she was a human. We have countless stories of her Lassie-like rescues of Tosh Steve’s sister’s dog who fell down the hill and got caught in the brambles, or was stymied by a weed, and then she alerted and directed Malia and Brie to the little one who was in wading pool in the backyard. She knew how to tell time, although it may have been her stomach but either way she told us when it was 5:00pm and time for dinner. She rang the bell on the door to say she wanted outside and since Koa never got the hang of it, she rang it for him too.

When Maile got sick her big eyes said it all. “I don’t know what is happening to me, but I trust you.” And at the end, “I have to go but I love you with my whole heart.”

People always want to know how old she was and then dismiss her death as if she had passed her expiration date. She was a young ten year-old. Even when she was sick she swam in the ocean and bounded around the house with Koa. In fact, she ran out to the front deck to bark at a dog in the middle of dinner. Then, she came right back to my side and begged for people food. A few minutes later she laid down on the rug by me. I thought she was acting strangely because her norm was to beg until we cleared the table. I offered her some pie crust and she didn’t even move her head. I told my husband, “Oh no. Something’s wrong.” We sat with her on the floor and petted her and talked to her. Her eyes were open but she was not very responsive. A few times she tried to lift her head. Then, she put it on my leg.

After a short stint on the floor, I called the vet hospital and we agreed to just watch her. We could take her in at any time but it was clear on the other side of the island and Maile wasn’t in any obvious pain or distress. We watched a tv show with her on her bed near us. She slept. Then we went to bed. Two times we heard her trying to get up and crumble to the floor. It was heartbreaking. We realized afterwards those were her valiant attempts to get herself to the door to go outside to relieve herself. That tells me her brain was still functioning and she was determined not to mess in the house. She had never done so.

We got up with her and I kissed her and told her it was okay to go. Steve got dressed and I went to the car to ready it for the drive to the vet hospital. We were going to have them give her ‘the shot.’ In my heart I didn’t think she would make the trip. Our little Maile girl died before Steve got her to the car. We drove her to the hospital crying the whole way. The young woman who received us was so kind and caring. We opted for cremation. All the way home we cried. She was missed as soon as she took her last breath.

I have never loved a pet as much as I did her. I will never again. It’s the irony of grief. The greater the love the deeper the loss and the more painful my life is without her. Dogs or humans grief is grief. It is what it is. So, love while you can and as much as you can. Treat each other with kindness. Appreciate your loved ones. And above all do not mistreat humans or animals.

Be well,
Shirley

Blog, Grief, Life and Living

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Reviews & Testimonials

Books are often described as good, exciting, motivational, or inspirational. Rarely do you find one that is truly life transforming. ‘Over the Rainbow Bridge’ is just such a book. It is absolutely miraculous the impact the story of this little nine your old child had on my perception of life, death, and God. My life has been inspired and enhanced by Cory’s story. If you are depressed for any reason, you will have a change of heart and mind after reading how Cory dealt with every day life in the short time he was here on earth. I can hardl… Read more
Carrie D. Hewitt, Newly Encouraged Mother of Four
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Although I haven’t experienced too much loss, this short, to-the-point book gave me a wealth of very important information on how to help others cope with grief, and how to know what to expect when it happens to me. I learned about things to say and not to say to those grieving, and how important it is to let yourself go through the process when you experience loss. The author knows what she is talking about, as she has experienced extensive loss herself. Concise and helpful tips!
P. Pacelli, Sammamish, WA (after reading Six-Word Lessons on Coping with Grief)
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Over the Rainbow Bridge is an intelligent and emotional book that exhibits an unforgettable life and death of a child wise beyond his young years. You don’t have to be grieving to get Cory’s life lessons.
Karen Minton, MA, CAN, Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, Maine
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This book on coping is such a gift. It’s a quick, concise read that any busy, grief stricken person can benefit from. Knowing that the writer has experienced grief is powerful, she has walked down the lonely, painful journey herself. Thank you for this book as we grieve the loss of my beautiful mother-in-law!
Joanie Raaum (after reading Six-Word Lessons on Coping with Grief)
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I just have to tell you that your book has become a part of me.  I have milked it by only reading it when I was alone and quiet.  I feel I know little Cory now.  It has been a privilege getting to know his sweet spirit.  Thank you so much for sharing a small part of him with me.  I would love to see the video that was made.  Bless your heart for the pure love and strength that you instilled in your sweet baby.  Cory is a true gift to all who get to share his story.
Pamala Butler Iacovitti, Wichita Falls, Texas (after reading Over the Rainbow Bridge)
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Having dealt with the loss of my son, I can totally relate to this book. While reading it, I found myself reflecting back to the “stupid” things that people said to me when I was in the throes of so much pain that I couldn’t see past the very next second. I am comforted by Shirley’s words which are down to earth and easily understood. This book WILL help you if you let it. It is a quick read and is one of the things that I like most about it. Grief is a lifelong journey that changes over time so take care of your heart and read this book. It is… Read more
April Braykovich (Kirkland, WA) (after reading Six-Word Lessons on Coping with Grief)
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Shirley, I can’t tell you how much your book touched my life. Your son was an amazing boy-such an upbeat, inspiring, beautiful little boy… although I cried, I also celebrated the person he was. And your writing made me feel like I was a part of your life with your son, instead of just reading about it. Images came to mind. Like when you had to walk that long distance to the hospital with your son in your arms after your car broke down. There were so many others… and the laughs I had with the ghosts!  The feelings I experienced while reading –I … Read more
Lisa Salvati, TV News Reporter, New York (after reading Over the Rainbow Bridge)
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Anyone going through the grieving process would benefit from this quick read. Six-Word Lessons on Coping with Grief is filled with keen insight and wisdom from the author who lost her own son, and through her own grieving process decided to become a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. In her quest to help others, Enebrad shows tremendous courage and transparency in dealing with her own grief to help others going through the grieving process. Beautifully done.
Lonnie Pacelli "The Project Management Advisor", Bellevue, WA
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Cory was my favorite patient ever and he taught me more than I could ever teach him. His lessons about Summerland (the afterlife) were profound and his drawings of what he saw ‘Over the Rainbow Bridge’ helped thousands of people get in touch with their long-buried emotions.
Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Famed researcher & author of 16 books ‘On Death and Dying’
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Over the Rainbow Bridge is an intelligent and emotional book that exhibits an unforgettable life and death of a child wise beyond his young years. You don’t have to be grieving to get Cory’s life lessons.
Karen Minton, MA, CAN, Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, Maine
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