As you all know Toby has been ill for a long time. He has been a lot sicker than most of you realize because you only see him at reenactments and that is when he is at his best. He loves reenacting and his reenacting friends so much that when he is with them he feels better and acts as if he is not sick.
Toby has had a full and great life. He works with me training dogs every day and continued to come to work with me until Friday. He is well known and loved in the area where we live. This alone would have made his life a good one but Toby had something more important. That most important thing in Toby’s life was reenacting and he loved that above all other things. When he was sick all that was needed to make him well was a reenactment. Reenactors extended his life one year beyond what anyone expected.
Last February when his foot was amputated, that combined with several other health concerns led his veterinarians to tell me that he only had a short time to live. I took him to the Avresboro reenactment where we carried him in on a stretcher. The next day he was able to walk and continued to walk for another year. He attended many reenactments last year and each was like powerful medicine. He loved all of you and I thank you for giving me an additional year with him that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Last week he got blood clots in two of his legs and was not able to stand anymore. I realized that there was nothing further that could be done so, I kept him on strong pain medication until the weekend so he could die at a reenactment (Guilford Courthouse) where he was among his friends and was the most comfortable. That was the right decision. Ed Little, who is a physician, and who has helped me throughout this came along with Ann and I to help. Toby spent the day by the fire and it was obvious that he was happy. When everyone formed up for the battle he wanted to go and it was difficult to restrain him. Later when we carried him to the van he attempted to get back out and return to camp. He passed away on the drive home in his van where he spent much of his life. This whole thing was very difficult for me of course but it was easy for Toby. He died doing what he loved most and that makes it as easy for me as it could have been.
Reenactors have always accepted Toby as one of their own and he loved all of you. You made his life a good one and I have no words to express my gratitude.
