A Birthday, A Goodbye, and a Forever Love
🌈 A Birthday, A Goodbye, and a Forever Love
By Angel, Founder of AMC Rise and Thrive
July 17th is a hard day.
A bittersweet day.
A day wrapped in both gratitude and grief.
A day of celebration—and remembrance.
On this day, I celebrate the birthday of one of the most
important people in my life—my dad. He’s now in his 70s, and each year, I thank
God that he’s still here with me. He is one of my greatest blessings. We’ve
walked through so much together, and even though I may not always have the
words to express it, I love him deeply. I cherish our bond. His wisdom,
presence, and quiet strength are anchors in my life.
But July 17th also holds another memory. One that tears open
my heart and reminds me that love and loss often walk hand in hand.
The Day Everything Changed
In 2017, I had to say goodbye to my fur baby—Leo Pechillo—a
red nose Pitbull who was so much more than a pet. He was my companion, my
comfort, my protector… my emotional support in four-legged form. He was home.
Leo wasn’t doing well. Something in my spirit knew it. I took
him to the vet hoping for a plan, maybe new medication, a treatment—hope.
But what I got was a diagnosis I didn’t want to hear: liver disease.
As a younger dog, Leo had autoimmune issues. Medications
helped him then, but over the years, they had slowly damaged his liver. His
body was tired. I remember the vet asking me what I wanted to do. I was in
disbelief. I said, “He’s coming home.” I couldn’t fathom letting go. I wasn’t
ready. I needed more time. I was convinced there had to be something I could
do.
I spent over $400 trying to make him comfortable—pills,
supplements, whatever might help. But the truth settled in quickly and
painfully: without a functioning liver, the medications went straight to his
brain. I watched helplessly as Leo wandered the house confused, unable to even
drink water.
And that’s when the harshest truth hit me:
I was keeping him alive for me, not for him.
Letting Go with Love
The hardest decision I’ve ever made was to let Leo go
peacefully. I called around until I found a place that would not only allow him
to pass with dignity—but would return his ashes to me. I needed that
connection. I needed something tangible to hold onto. I couldn’t let him go
completely.
Because he wasn’t just my dog.
He was my baby.
He slept in my bed every night.
He was there for every tear, every heartbreak, every dark night when no one
else knew how deep my pain was—but he did.
Leo understood me in a way only animals can. He was intuitive,
responsive, and always present. His presence calmed my storms in ways I still
can’t explain. We had an older dog too—our sweet girl Valentine—but it never
occurred to me that Leo would go first.
That loss shook me to my core. And even now, it still does.
Eight Years Later
This year marks eight years since Leo crossed over. And
while time softens the edges of grief, some anniversaries hit harder than
others.
This year, the pain resurfaced like it happened yesterday.
That final moment—watching the light leave his eyes—still replays in my mind.
And no, I’m not writing this for sympathy or attention. I’m writing it because
I miss him. Because grief doesn’t expire.
If you’ve ever loved and lost a pet, then you know what I
mean.
They are more than animals.
They are our family.
Our silent healers.
Our protectors.
Our shadows.
And they never live long enough.
💔 Grief is
the price of love. And I’d pay it again to have even one more moment with him.
Leo’s ashes still sit on my dresser. I speak to him sometimes.
I still feel him. When I close my eyes at night, I remember his warmth. His
head resting on my lap. The way he’d look at me like he knew my soul.
That kind of love never leaves—it just changes form.
A Word to Pet Parents
If you’re lucky enough to still have your fur baby with
you—love them.
Give them the extra treat. Let them take up too much space in
your bed. Pet them even when you’re tired. Look into their eyes and see
them.
Because one day, you’ll wish for just one more moment.
And if you’ve already said goodbye to your beloved animal
companion—hold onto that connection. The love doesn’t die. It transforms. It
becomes spirit. It becomes presence. It shows up in quiet ways. A scent. A
sound. A memory. A moment when you swear you felt them near.
Please, treat your animals with care. Discipline is part of
training—but cruelty is never okay. These beings love with purity, forgive
quickly, and offer healing we don’t always recognize until it’s gone.
They are divine gifts.
🕊️ Word
from the Word
“The righteous care for the needs of their
animals…”
— Proverbs 12:10 (NIV)
Scripture reminds us: to love is to care. And the care we give
to animals is a reflection of the care we hold in our hearts. If God notices
the sparrow, He notices your fur baby, too.
🌟
Affirmation of the Day
“I honor the love I’ve shared, even when it hurts.
Grief is sacred—it means the bond was real. Love like that never dies.”
Breathe it in. Let it bring comfort. Let it remind you: you
were lucky to love that deeply.
🎵 Why I
Chose This Song
“True Colors” (Film Version) – Anna Kendrick &
Justin Timberlake
🎧 Listen
Here
The morning after we said goodbye to Leo, I had no desire to
move. All I wanted to do was stay in bed and cry. But life keeps going. I had
to get up and make breakfast for my son. So, I dragged myself out of bed and
asked Alexa to shuffle my playlist while I went through the motions.
And this was the song that played first.
The lyrics stopped me in my tracks. I broke down. I felt like
Leo was sending me a message—it’s okay to be sad, but don’t let the sadness
consume you. It was like his spirit was still comforting me, telling me he
was near. Reminding me that love like ours doesn’t end. It echoes.
That song is now a symbol of that morning… of the transition…
and of the forever love we still share.
In Closing
So today, I sit with the duality—joy for my dad, grief for my
Leo.
Because life is rarely black and white. It’s layers.
It’s roses and thorns.
It’s love and loss.
It’s a celebration wrapped in sorrow and the kind of heartbreak that only comes
from deep, soulful connection.
If you're in a season of grief, know you're not alone. And if
you're holding onto a love that lingers in spirit, know that love is still
alive in you.
With tears, truth, and tenderness,
Angel
Founder of AMC Rise and Thrive
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#ForeverLove #PetLossHealing #GriefAndGrace #TrueColors
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