On 4/29/07 we purchased a puppy from a breeder, not a pet store, not online
- we knew better. She was the second little bully addition to our family,
she would play an important role as daughter to us and brother to our other
bully, Lemmy.

Upon arriving home, she developed cherry eye within a matter of hours. I
called the breeder who said he would take care of it and to bring her to his
doctor in 2 days for surgery. Her surgery went well and her eye looked
great! 2 days later she developed a rattle in her chest. I took her to our
vet and she was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and put on
medication with strict orders to come back in 10 days or if it worsens. 7
days later she was back at the vet sounding worse, and was diagnosed with
pneumonia. This time she was on more meds, stronger meds for 4 wks. After 6
wks with this infection, we were sent to a respiratory specialist at the
best vet hospital in town. They did a tracheal wash that came back with 2
different bacteria, which we fought with more meds. 2 days after her wash,
she was hospitalized for the first time. She was struggling to breathe. 3
days later she was home - just as lovey and as crazy as ever. This would
continue for the next 10 months.

In December of 2007 during one of her hospitalizations, the doctors did
another tracheal wash which this time yielded 4 bacteria.  At this time they
also took a biopsy of her lung to test if it was an issue with her lung
tissue. 6 weeks later her biopsy results were back. It came back that she
had Ciliary Dyskinesia...what did this mean? I was sat down by her two
doctors and was told that the little hairs in her lungs were not acting as
they should. Her cilia were unable to clear the mucus from her lungs, in
essence only a portion of the cilia that lined her lungs were working. I was
told that some dogs adapt well to it and others continually have problems -
especially puppies whose immune systems are not strong enough to deal with
the extra work load. Bertha was now on 2 meds from her regular vet, she was
receiving weekly acupuncture and taking several vitamins and herbal
remedies.

Once she had stayed healthy longer than 12wks without a hospital stay the
doctors wanted to spay her and clip her soft pallet to make her breathing
easier. At 13 wks of health, she went in for surgery on 5/29/08. She came
out of surgery with flying colors and even came home on Friday, 5/30/08. She
was home for about 6 hours before she started having trouble breathing, we
rushed her back to the hospital immediately. We visited her Saturday night
and she was looking much better, giving us her paw and giving kisses. We
told her we would see her on Sunday and that if all was well she could come
home on Monday. We were in constant contact with the hospital and her
doctors on her progress. Sunday at 4pm we got a call that she had taken a
turn for the worse, we rushed to the hospital to see her. Her pneumonia was
back with a vengeance. The only choice we had was to put her on a
ventilator. Before getting the ventilator set up, she passed - with us by
her side. It was devastating. We all fought so hard for her, she fought so
hard for her and it was just too much for her little body. We are so heart
broken, but wouldn't take a day of it back. She was in one word,
extraordinary.

She was the most amazing little girl in the entire world. She was loving,
caring, protective, funny, goofy and passionate. She will never be forgotten
and she will always live on in our hearts.

Sweet B, we love you more than you'll ever know.