It has been one week since Jabba-bear crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
We are slowly adjusting to life without him. Beyonce deeply misses her companion. Now, she can be found curled up in a tight ball on Jabba-bear’s side of the couch, her head pressed gently against his favorite arm rest where he used to perch, gazing out the front door, paws dangling over the back of the couch.
Thank you for all of the love and support that you have sent our way over the past week. Thank you for sharing your touching stories with us; we were moved by the raw emotion in your words.
We felt that it was appropriate to honor Jabba-bear by sharing some of our favorite photos from the past 4 years. What follows is a small tribute to our sweet boy:
Jabba-bear at his birthplace (a farm in Yadkinville, NC) the second time we met him.
Jabba-bear’s first bath in his new homeJabba-bear being cradled by his aunt Joanne after his bath
Jabba-bear keeping his mom company as she studied for a Molecular Neuroscience exam. He was such a good boy!Jabba-bear liked to bite feet when he was a puppy (perhaps this was because his first “toy” was an old sandal that belonged to his mom).Jabba-bear sleeping in his first bed during the crate-training phase. Note: This bed lasted about 2 weeks before he completely destroyed it…Jabba-bear playing in his first snowJabba-bear sleeping peacefully on his couch, which he much preferred to the crate!When Jabba-bear first met his older sister, Xena, the Italian Greyhound, they were the same size. Xena, being older and wiser, was dominant to Jabba-bear. He quickly learned to play gently with her and was always good with small dogs.Jabba-bear’s graduation from puppy school. Many thanks to his fantastic trainer, Geralyn Kelly!Jabba-bear as a Teenager. In this photo, he was still developing what would eventually become his classic “goofy smile”.Licking his lips! Jabba-bear practicing the art of begging for more foodJabba-bear rocking his mom’s sunglasses. What a cool dog! This photo was taken during his rebellious phase….clearly.Jabba-bear demanding to drive his mom’s V8 mustang convertible. He hopped into the driver’s seat when she stepped out of the car to run a quick errand.Jabba and his dad at the Blue Ridge ParkwayJababa and his mom at the Blue Ridge ParkwayFather and son. Goofy smiles galore!Jabba in the backseat of his dad’s carJabba-bear sporting a gorgeous sweater that his maternal grandma bought him for ChristmasThis photo was taken shortly after Jabba-bear’s amputation (step 1 in his battle against osteosarcoma). As usual, he was all smiles!After the amputation, Jabba-bear still kept his mom company in her office as she studied.A couple of weeks after Jabba’s amputation, the incision site became infected, and we were forced to make him wear an E-collar. In this photo, yes-he may be wearing the “cone of shame”, but have you ever seen such a ridiculously happy dog???It was a big deal when Jabba-bear re-learned how to jump on the couch (post-amputation).Eventually we put Jabba-bear in a T-shirt because he broke 2 “cones” (he was clumsy like his mom). In this photo, Jabba excitedly rushes to the door when he sees his maternal grandpawrents’ car out front.Jabba-bear asleep on the floor at his maternal grandpawrents’ house in Florida. He developed temporary vitiligo as a side-effect of the chemotherapy (notice his pink lips and nose).Jabba-bear in August 2011Jabba-bear after the Cure Search walk. You can see how he has adapted his sitting posture after the amputation.Happy Jabba-bear on his couch
Jabba-bear playing with his friend Mufasa while Beyonce sleeps in the backgroundIn this photo, Jabba-bear takes “studying with his mom” to a whole new level! He stole the book from her to learn more about the sense of touch.Jabba shows how much he loves neuroscience by devouring the jello brain mold his mom made for a school activity. Note: Jabba’s mom was not intending to feed this to him; she was showing it to her sister, and Jabba-bear jumped off the bed to chomp down on it.Jabba resting in a patch of sunlight in his backyard. He was finally able to enjoy the weather after his first major haircut!Jabba-bear and his “big” sister, Xena, looking out the front door windowJabba-bear on his perchAn “abstract” cartoon of Jabba-bear. Jabba’s dad drew this on a dry erase board in the kitchen when Jabba was a teenager. After Jabba’s amputation, we erased his back left leg.
