Candle Lighting - Canine Cancer

When Ceilidh was diagnosed with mast cell cancer, at the first appointment with the oncologist I was given a list of online resources. One of the resources was a Canine Cancer Yahoo group; I joined that group and found a lot of support from people who were going through or had gone through the same journey. Dogs fighting cancer were referred to as Canine Cancer Heros. When your dog transitioned to the Bridge, they were then called Canine Cancer Angels and  you were invited to another group Canine Cancer Angels. When you joined the Angels group, one of the members made banner for your dog, below is the one that was made for Ceilidh.

In the Angels group, I found out about Sierra's Annual Candle Lighting. The host had lost her dog Sierra to cancer and every year she hosted a candle lighting where a candle was lit to remember the dogs we'd lost and a second candle lit for those still fighting.  She also had a physical candle lighting at her place in Maine where all the dogs in the Angels group had a stake with their name.  I watched videos and asked other members who were able to physically attend to take pictures of Ceilidh's candle.

I've done my own candle lightings sometimes in my small gardens and sometimes indoors, even once when I was down in New Brunswick visiting my father. Sadly and inevitably, my candle lighting has grown over the years.

Candle Lighting 2019

Candle Lighting 2025

So too, has Sierra's Candle Lighting in Maine grown in size.  There were over 2000 stakes to remember the dogs we have loved and lost to cancer at this year's candle lighting.  This year is the last candle lighting in Maine as the host is moving, some 23 years after holding the first candle lighting for her dog Sierra. I have remembered my Ceilidh at that candle lighting now for 15 years. I had always hoped to actually attend but now that is not to be. 

Video of the 2025 Candle Lighting in Maine

The host of the candle lighting will be moving but hopes that we will continue to have the candle lighting virtually; lighting one candle for those fighting cancer and another for all those we've lost on the last Saturday in July. 

Video of the 2004 Candle Lighting

I haven't lost all of my dogs to cancer but the candle lighting seems a good way to remember them all. It's more bittersweet than sad to do it now. They were all such good dogs and some didn't have the time they should have had.

My Candle Lighting video from 2021

"Though these candles burn to honour you, they burn for those you left behind."

Ordinary Heroes

You hear about them all the time. Bystanders who rush in to help in emergencies to rescue people caught in fire or trapped in car. You see appeals on the news for people to make living donations to save someone who is dying from liver or kidney failure and there always seems to be a stranger who comes forward to make that gift. But how often is that you actually know someone like that who gives so selflessly of themselves. Today I do! Today, my nephew underwent surgery to give a kidney to his father-in-law who was diagnosed with kidney failure last year.  There are probably so many ordinary heroes that we should give thanks to everyday but they walk amongst us without even thinking that they are heroes.

Today I say "Thank-you" to each and every ordinary hero. 

And remember, please be an organ donor.

Gryffon

This is Gryffon, my first bi-black Sheltie. He was a ball hound, just an absolute fanatic about them. He also loved water but didn't like to swim.  From the first time I saw him, he was mine.

But I lost Gryffon at just 7 and half years old. He had been treated for a gastrointestinal infection, bladder stones, ulcers but it turned out after exploratory surgery that he had an abdominal wall infection. He survived the surgery but not the post operation period.

Gryffon was very shy with people but of all my dogs, I always thought he was the one who would have protected me. After he passed, this song There's a Hero by Billy Gilman became Gryffon's song.

There's a Hero

I'm sure Gryffon was hero, even if he didn't show that to most people.