Jimmy Barnes reveals heartbreaking loss
Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes is known for being as tough as nails but has let down his walls in his new book Killing Time.
He has shared a moving personal account after he lost his beloved dogs within months of each other, which is something that Barnes says is heartbreaking.
"It’s the first time in two days that I’ve been able to face the world for more than ten minutes. It’s the saddest time of my life, and everything hurts," he writes in Killing Time.
"You see, two days ago I helped my darling little schnauzer, Oliver, leave this world. My best mate, Oliver was nearly sixteen years old and he was suffering.
"I had been through this eight months earlier with his brother, Snoop Dog, and it had nearly killed me then too. The only thing that had kept me going was that Oliver was still there and needed me."
Barnes recounts just how loyal the dogs have been for the last 16 years.
"We all loved the boys and they became irreplaceable members of the Barnes family. They went everywhere with us. They came on tour and travelled in the car. The boys even came to rehab with me, and if they hadn’t I don’t think I would have made it through," he said.
Barnes even recalled when the dogs stood by his side as he recovered from open-heart surgery.
"When I had open-heart surgery, Oliver sat on my bed with me the whole time I was recovering. He knew I was in pain and he was guarding me."
Barnes made sure to repay the favour as his dog Snoopy suffered from brain cancer and tried everything to keep him safe.
“Well, he can have chemo,” I spluttered. “It works for humans. It’s got to work for him.” Later, I cried and held on to Jane as we lay in bed.
Snoopy fought on for weeks, but he got steadily worse.
He wasn’t eating and he became slower by the day. Finally, Karina, our vet, said, “Jimmy, it’s time. If you wait too long, he will start having fits and it will be too much for him or you to take.”
Tragedy for the Barnes family struck again after the family went away on holidays after Snoopy had passed and Oliver was sick from multiple organ failure.
‘There’s not a lot we can do except keep him comfortable,” Karina continued. ‘I think all his organs are shutting down, poor little guy.”
I didn’t want to hear that. “Surely we can do something. He’s looking better already,” I said desperately.
“Let’s keep him comfortable and on the drip until we decide. You don’t have to rush anything,” Karina advised.
Barnes and his family took shifts to make sure Oliver was safe, and he hung on for three days.
I sat at the foot of the bed and held Oliver’s face close to mine. He never took his eyes off me. “I’m here, son. Don’t worry, I will never leave you.” My nose was touching his and we stared into each other’s eyes.
“I’m going to administer the last shot now, Jimmy. Don’t worry, he won’t feel any pain. He’ll just close his eyes and drift off.’ Karina moved towards the drip.
“I’m here, my darling boy,” I said. “I’m here.”
He never even blinked. He just kept looking at me. I held his face and looked straight back into his eyes. They never closed.
KILLING TIME BY JIMMY BARNES, PUBLISHED BY HARPERCOLLINS AUSTRALIA, ON SALE FROM OCT 7. PRE-ORDER NOW AT BOOKTOPIA.