A special gift

Wow....what a story to tell.
I was contacted by this sweet woman, Laura, via Etsy asking about having her dog Elliott sculpted. She told me the story of him and it just broke my heart. They had been looking for a dog for awhile and found one they really liked, but it didn't work out. Then Elliott come up for adoption. They went to see him with no intentions of bringing him home...but they fell in love and he did go home with them. Plus, it was like it was meant to be to find out his birthday was the same as Laura's! She talked about how great of a dog he was and how much he had touched her, especially since she was totally a cat person. Then right before his 5th birthday...they found a mass under his pelvis...it was adenocarcinoma...a type of cancer. He's been through three chemotherapy drugs and a surgery, but he continued to get worse. The side-effects from the chemo have caused internal bleeding requiring multiple transfusions, vomiting and a complete loss of appetite. Then her last sentence spoke volumes and just broke my heart....."We're running out of options and I'm afraid we're going to lose him soon. " I knew I wanted to do something for her....I just had to. She was dealing with him being so sick that she decided to put off the sculpture....but I wanted to do something. So I decided to make her a key chain of Elliott. That way...in case something happened before she could order a sculpt....she would have something. It wasn't much and didn't take me long to do....but I think it turned out well.


I shipped it away to her hoping that it would get there before anything was to happen, as things sounded very grim. It arrived in Bellingham, WA and this is what she had to say about it....

"I have the keychain you sent hanging from the rearview mirror in my car so I can keep an eye on Ell wherever I go. I smile whenever I look at it. I can't thank you enough."

This is why I love what I do. This is what I was made to do. Even if it is something so simple or something completely complex....if I can bring just a smile to someone's day from something that I have made....then I am happy. I can't change the world or stop wars....but I can help those in need....with a bit of creativity.

**UPDATE**8/3/11
GREAT NEWS!!Elliott is doing MUCH better! Laura said the docs were calling him the miracle dog. They have changed his drugs to where he isn't having the bad side effects AND it seems to be working! The tumor has shrunk so much that they can't even feel it on him any more! He has gained back his appetite and weight and is even out running and taking hikes with Laura! I am sooooo thrilled to hear this! And I know she is just as thrilled....obviously! :-) Keep up the good work Elliott! We are thinking of you!
Also, Laura did order two sculptures of Elliott, so be sure to check the post about them. The post is aptly named "Elliott"