The Gift of Tashi by Susan Lennertz

The moment I saw Tashi (Tibetan for “God be with you”) my heart burst open with joy and recognition. When this precious golden retriever puppy was placed in my arms, I knew this was a special angel whom I’d known before. A week later I suffered a stroke due to an undiagnosed genetic condition. During months of uncertain recovery, taking care of our new puppy Tashi gave my life purpose. In time I was able to go back to work.

I knew Tashi had a gift for healing, so we trained together to become certified pet therapy partners. Tashi performed miracles with seriously ill children every time we visited Doernbecher’s. One night, we came upon a three-year old boy who hadn’t moved voluntarily in two weeks. He lay covered up in bed, surrounded by his grief-stricken family. As Tashi approached, the boy slowly rolled over, then sat up, enraptured by the exuberant golden visitor. His family burst into tears of joy.

Tashi continued to heal and open hearts wherever he went. One of his favorite places was the farmer’s market. Food! People! Children would line up to pet sweet Tashi and our other golden angel, Rasa. Grandparents would lean over, and as Tashi held them lovingly in his beautiful brown eyes, they’d confide in him memories from their youth.

Tashi was vibrant and strong, and he loved to run. So we were shocked one morning, at age eight, when he collapsed. We rushed him to the vet, thinking he’d eaten something toxic, and by midnight he was in emergency surgery having tumors removed from his liver. The diagnosis was hemangiosarcoma, a blood cancer called the “silent killer.” Over the next two months we prayed daily, did everything possible medically, but we knew he was being called to the angels. Two weeks before he died, we asked a gifted animal communicator if Tashi had anything to tell us. Tashi’s message:

You must always have love to share,
You must always have love to care,
You must always have love to spare.
You must always have love for everything and everyone,
Because that’s what makes you happy.

As Tashi’s condition steadily declined, we kept in close contact with a veterinarian to assist his passing. On a beautiful Sunday in May, we knew it was time. Thirty minutes before the vet arrived, Tashi died peacefully in my husband’s arms.

Tashi has taught me huge lessons about love and immortality. He inspires me to love “everything and everyone” every day when I say his prayer. The gift of his glorious love will glow in my heart forever.