CONQUEST BOXERS

"KATIE"

Ch. Rosend's Brown Eyed Girl

December 30, 2000 ~ August 30, 2003

    Our Hearts are Full of Loving Memories

 and Happy Thoughts  

When we Think of Our Very Special "Kay-Kay Lynn"

I'm standing on a hillside, in a field of blowing wheat, and the spirit of a boxer is lying at my feet.  Her tale put my heart at ease and my fears did fade away:  "For I live amongst god's creatures now in the heavens of your mind.  So please don't grieve for me as now I'm with my kind.  My collar is a rainbow's hue, my leash a shooting star.  My boundary the milky way where I sparkle from afar.  There are no pens or kennels here and I am not confined.  But free to roam god's heaven among'st my boxer kind.  The trees are full of liver treats and tennis balls abound, and milkbones line the walkways just waiting to be found.  We all are winners in this place, we have no faults you see.  And when god passed out the trophys, he gave the biggest one to me.  At night I sleep in angels wings her arms protecting me, and moonbeams dance about us as the stars shine down on thee.  So when your life on earth is spent and you stand at heaven's gate, have no fear of loneliness for here for you I'll wait. (sent to us by Wendy Morawski on behalf of Katie - author unknown)

Mourn my death if you must, but only for a little while -- I want you to remember me.  But not as a family member that makes you shed tears -- when my name comes to mind.  Remember me as laughter and sunshine and all that is wonderful in this life -- because that is how I will remember you" (author unknown).

Love, hugs and kisses,

Katie

It was with an unimaginably heavy heart that we had to escort Katie to the Rainbow Bridge on August 30, 2003.  In March, 2003, while in the final stages of planning what was supposed to be her first breeding, Katie was diagnosed with immune mediated or paraneoplastic chronic inflammatory myopathy/polymyositis.  We were devastated to learn that the prognosis was grave and that in a recent study, in 200 of the dogs studied, 16% were young Boxers.  For many of the dogs, within 12 months of the diagnosis of the disease, a lymphoma was identified with invasion into muscle.  The disease is not thought to be genetic.  Katie's littermates have shown no signs of the disease, nor has the disease shown up in any of the breedings in Katie's pedigree.

Although losing lots of muscle mass, the worst impact of the disease to Katie was to her esophagus, causing difficulty for her to swallow food or even water.  High dosages of Prednisone maintained Katie's health and well-being and eased the swallowing difficulty until shortly before she was helped to the Rainbow Bridge.  Katie became very ill and was unable to keep any food or water down.  Apparently, this was due to the long term effects of the steroid therapy, and despite a valiant effort by Katie and her wonderful veterinarians to fight through the latest severe complication of the disease, it was clear that her quality of life could not be sustained.

Mickey, Molly and Marcus said their good-byes and the rest of our family was by her side to hold her, give her our love, say one last good-bye and comfort her so she was very calm and peaceful on her trip to the Rainbow Bridge.

We all miss Katie terribly, and we invite you to join us in reliving Katie's memory by "clicking" on the Memories of Katie bar at the top of this page.

My sweet, sweet Katie....my precious "Kay-Kay Lynn":

God allowed us to take care of you for all too short a time.  In my minds eye, you were ours even before we brought you home at 8 weeks old.  I followed your growth progress each and every week by checking the weekly photos that Lynda put up on her website of you and your littermates.   While you had 2 other beautiful sisters and a very handsome brother to choose from, I picked you out from the first day your were born.   And with each and every passing week, I fell more and more in love with you....I just knew you were meant to be a part of our family!!  Even now, in retrospect, knowing all you had to go through in your all too short life, and the heart breaking devastation we've faced with losing you so young, I would not have changed my "pick"!!!!   We were meant to be together, if even for this short time!!

Your dad says I spoiled you rotten, but you were a good kind of spoiled and I wouldn't have had it any other way!   You still knew the rules, just didn't always follow them, because you were sure they were meant for the other dogs...NOT  KATIE!!!  For instance, the rule of no dogs in the living room.  Surely that was not a rule we meant for Katie to obey!   We'd laugh though because you were trying to be so sneaky and would run into the entryway from the living room when you heard anyone coming down the stairs.   But, Katie, you know better than I do that the one that spoiled you the most was, in fact, your dad!!!   He'd do anything for you!  He even let you crowd him off his side of the bed.  In fact, he really misses you not taking up all the room on his side of the bed.  There is now a big empty spot on his side of the bed, as well as a big empty spot in his heart.  Katie, you will never be forgotten!!

You grew into a beautiful little girl; your conformation was stunning and you moved around the show ring with such grace!  Despite a bi-lateral rear leg injury and months of physical therapy, you did us all proud by making a wonderful comeback and ultimately winning that much deserved "Champion" title!   It was not until a few months after you became CH. Rosend's Brown Eyed Girl, and we were thinking about breeding you, that we learned you had this terrible muscle disease.   I think you would have been a wonderful mom as you so readily demonstrated while going through two false pregnancies and "adopting" your favorite toys as your "babies"!   Maybe that is why God needed you so soon...so that you can help nurture any newborn boxer puppies that have to go directly to the Rainbow Bridge?!

Sadly, in spite of all the many specialists we had taken you to, none were able to offer a cure for this horrid muscle disease that you were so unfortunate to come down with.  We were ultimately advised that we were not going to win this "war" for you, but you so valiantly fought and won so many of the small "battles" though.  I've never felt so helpless in not being able to do anything for you, except give you steriods to minimize the speed at which your disease would progress.  You were always so brave and took everything, all the doctor appointments, tests, etc., in stride.  All of the vets would comment about how good you were in letting them test, poke and prod you...Katie, you were utterly amazing!    I still don't know much about this disease you had, Katie.  I know they are still studying it and I will do all that I can to learn more about this disease, so that your untimely death will not have been in vain!

Your grandma Lynda and your Auntie Dotti also miss you very much!   I know you remember them being there for me to talk to and cry with when things were getting bad as your disease was progressing.   I don't know how we would have gotten through this without their love and moral support.   Katie, you have touched so many lives in a positive way and there have been so many wonderful people that have taken the time to remember you.   Through you we have developed many special boxer people friendships.

I promised you that we would not ever let you suffer when it was deemed that your quality of life was no longer present.  When we went through the last series of complications with you, your actions and especially your eyes told us it was time to let you go.  As much as I didn't want to let you go, I knew it was not a time for me to be selfish in keeping you with us.   I miss you each and every day!  I know you are in a better place, away from feeling poorly, but I still miss you so!  I do feel grateful for the last four quality months we had together, while the steriods were working for you.  It enabled us to continue our daily walks and your mischieviousness and playfulness continued as you always kept us laughing and entertained!  My sweet "Katie Lynn", precious"Kay-Kay Lynn" wonderful memories and happy thoughts of you will always live in my heart.  For now, play, and be healthy and happy.  Sweet dreams and night-night my beautiful little "Kay-Kay Lynn".

Love, Mom... and of course, Dad too!

Katie fulfilled the high expectations that we held for this bitch as a puppy.

By ten months of age, Katie had garnered seven points. In each of her wins, she took Best of Winners.

Included in her awards to that time were a couple of BOS wins, including one over a highly considered bitch Special.

In January 2003, Katie took a four point major to finish her championship.  At the same time, she took BW and another BOS over two very highly considered bitch "Specials"

Katie had to interrupt her career to rehabilitate a stubborn strained groin muscle.  We thank Dr. Troy and her staff from Walnut Creek, especially Chris, her physical therapist, for their tireless efforts in restoring Katie to her pre-injury condition. 

Other breeders and owners never ceased to favorably comment about Katie's movement. She had a style and grace in her movement belying her strength and power.

Rosend's Boxers
We thank Lynda Yon of Rosend Boxers for believing in our ability to provide Katie with a wonderful and loving home.

Lynda's expertise on the breed is unparalleled. We look to Lynda for guidance, and over the last two years, she has become not only our mentor, but more importantly, our friend.

Two of Katie's littermates, Rosend's Sophisticated Lady ("Sophie") and Rosend's Right On The Money ("Cash") have recently finished, and now carry the coveted title of CHAMPION!  Katie was proud of them both.  You may view both of these beautiful Boxers by accessing the Rosend's Boxers web site at the hyper-link below.
Be sure to visit Lynda & Jerry at their web site

Visit Rosend's Boxers

James and Wendy Bettis handled Katie through her first ten points, including her first major. We thank them for their contributions to Katie's early successes.

We were very fortunate to retain the services of both Gary Steele and his daughter Kimberlie. Gary was kind enough to handle Katie until scheduling conflicts were resolved with Kimberlie. Once free of prior commitments, Kimberlie displayed her soft touch and caring persona while expertly guiding Katie to her championship.

We again thank Kimberlie and Gary for sharing our belief in Katie's qualities and keeping the faith during the long rehabilitation of her injured muscle.