How we got our Kennel Name "Vista Dei"

So many times people do not know how to pronounce our Kennel Name or ask what it means, so I thought I would tell you the story behind the name.
Vista Dei is pronounced as Vista "D" (not "day")
I had always been interested in showing dogs, infact when I was in 5th grade I traded all my week's lunch money for a show catalog! I never had the time or resources to actually pursue the dream until after the death of my soul mate, Donald, and wanted a kennel name that some how honored him. I tossed around "Triple D" naa sounded too much like a ranch! And I thought about using the word "Dawn" in the name, but I figured I would cry too much.. Finally one day, I saw a picture of a long tree lined lane, very similar to the road leading to our house, but in this picture at the end of the tree lined lane was a meadow where Shelties were playing. The word "Vista" means a vision as one might see looking down a lane, so that was the perfect beginning. Then I chose the word or prefix "Dei" as in God or the Deity since Don was now with God, and it was similar to his initial "D". So our kennel name Vista Dei actually means "Vision of God". I like to think that God and Don sit together somedays and watch all of us out in the yard playing. All the dogs born and kept here, as well as some that came to us young, have names that begin with the letter "D" to compliment the kennel name, and to also keep my numbers down, as there are only so many names that start with "D"!!!

Don's memorial page

October 10, 1958 - June 15, 1997

I can't imagine my life without you in it...

For more than 15 years Don was (and still is) the absolute love of my life. I still can't believe he is gone from this earth, his strength still propells my life. Funny how 15 years can seem like a blink of an eye and an eternity all wrapped into one! This is Don and his Mom (isn't he just so CUTE in this picture? It is my very favorite picture of him!) ... he would have gotten quite a kick having his picture put on the net!! He loved the internet and anything to do with computers.

For almost half of his life Don lived with a disease called Polycythemia Vera, a serious disorder of the blood and bone marrow. It caused his blood to thicken to the point that his heart could not pump it and he had a near fatal heart attack at the age of 25. The next 13 years he fought a TRUELY couragous battle, not only to stay alive, but to LIVE. And he suceeded in doing that in the most remarkable manner. I think everyone whose life he touched was changed forever in a positive way, just from getting to know him. He lived life the way he wanted to, savoring every moment and pursuing his endless quest for knowlege right up until the moment of his death and then beyond... I know that he viewed the whole experience of death as just one more great adventure and the beginning of a whole new realm of existance just waiting to be explored! Don wanted his fight with this disease to help others. He had ask that his body be used for research, but that was not possible. I hope by creating this page and providing the links to Polycythemia information and reserch sites that his wish to help others with the disease will be granted. If just one person finds help though these links, or is inspired to keep on fighting for a cure to this rare disease, it will all have been worth it. Even if that doesn't happen, be assured that the world is a better place because Don was in it, even if it was for too brief a time.

An explanation of Polycythemia Vera with alot of related link pages
MPD Research and Support
  • HOME