My wife and I had to put to sleep my best friend Cheli today (named after Chris Chelios of the Chicago Blackhawks). Our first dog, 2 years after we were married and bought our first house. Since that time we have moved to a larger home, rescued another Labrador (Buddy) 4 cats (Harry & David, Princess and Mac), built a barn and brought home our two horses (Donald and Hunter). Our lives got busier and more complex, but Cheli was always there, our first born (OK we have no kids and are a little obsessive).

Cheli developed cancer of the spleen 6 months ago, they told us he might have 1 month to live even if we had the cancer removed. We elected to have the surgery and he lived for 6 more months. He was happy and normal and it seemed as if he might have beaten the odds and had some sort of miracle. Last night he woke up disoriented and breathing heavily. Today we took him to our emergency vet who told us his belly was filled with blood.

He lived 11 years and 2 months and 10 days.

I will be toasting his life at the Splash Bar!

Todd Barrett
#5068-91
Elgin, IL