Our thoughts are with Marilyn and Darrell at this sad time.
It is with profound
sadness and very heavy hearts that Marilyn and I inform you that one of
our wonderful therapy dogs has succumbed to cancer. “Gunnery Sergeant” Liesl
was diagnosed with Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC) on March 8, and
passed away quietly on Friday, May 21. She fought like a good Marine
through eight treatments with this insidious killer while, with the
vet’s encouragement, still making her therapy visits on time and
without complaint.
Liesl, with her twin sister Grete, served the community as therapy dogs for 12.5 years, almost 11 of which were in the Fidos For Freedom Therapy Dog Program. During that time, Liesl
earned many awards and touched innumerable lives. She spent well over
1,000 hours visiting patients at hospitals and residents at nursing
homes, mentoring children participating in the Dogs Educating and
Assisting Readers (DEAR) program at local libraries, and attending
numerous pet therapy information booths and education events. Her
“crowning achievement” may well have been participation in the National
Naval Medical Center (NNMC) Therapy Dog Program, where she worked with
countless Wounded Warriors and their families. The Marines “promoted” Liesl,
along with Grete, to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps …
a position at which she excelled. Modifying a Ronald Reagan quote:
“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a
difference”… Liesl did not have that problem. Her legacy is vastly greater than that of many people who occupy this earth.
Liesl
now has a new duty assignment. She is stationed at the Gates of Heaven
to assist all of the Marines who guard them. Grete will carry on
hopefully for years to come.
Semper Fi, Liesl … you were a magnificent therapy team partner who gave all of us much more than we could ever return! Bear
