Our Golden Is Gone

Hi there! I am new to this website but it looks like a healthy way to cope with the unbelievable grief felt when such a beloved companion passes on. Oscar was a beautiful Golden Retriever who we only had for 2 1/2 years but in that time he gave us the world. So much love and companionship, laughs and tears. We spent a lot of Oscar's life at the cabin, swimming, fetching sticks, chasing squirrels and going for long walks. He was nothing but wonderful and he was definitely my strength and best friend.

This summer, I decided that I would work at a fishing camp to make money for school. I had Oscar up to the camp for a week in July and we had a blast! Those are my last memories of him. I looked forward all summer to reuniting with him on October 2nd. Unfortunately, last week, Oscar was showing signs of being sick. He frothed at the mouth and was limping. The vet gave him antibiotics, thinking it was a bacteria. It looked like he was getting better! Unfortunately, on Saturday while my parents were on their way from our cabin to the camp to pick me up, Oscar suddenly started vomiting blood and there was a huge puncture like wound in his chest where blood was pouring. My parents panicked so they stopped in the nearest city by our cabin and had to make the sudden and courageous decision to end his short life. He had contracted blastomycosis from the soil which is a fungus that is often very fatal but relatively rarely contracted. He had a fever of 106 and was dyeing. The vet said that that we should definitely put him down. There is treatment for blastomycosis but in Oscar's situation it would have been a miracle to work as his thyroid burst out of his chest (that's why he had that puncture like wound). My parents bravely told him over and over how much they loved him and both hold him so tightly as he passed away. See, Oscar has been through a lot. This last winter, in our backyard field, there was a snowmobieler who thought it would be funny to veer into our beautiful light, Oscar. He suffered major damage to his right hind leg, breaking every bone in his leg. We went through many surgeries and lots of love love and more love. He recovered to be very healthy and happy but never fully regained use of his leg. Anyways, when Oscar was in the vets this last weekend, he peacefully died and right afterwards, the vet said "Okay Sweetie, now you are running on four legs".
I was so sad when I found out. I felt like I had lost the most important thing to me in the world. I hate that he had to suffer so much. But he KNEW how much we loved him. He was the central focus and love of our family. It is so hard. I feel like I can not do anything but cry or just sit there and feel completely empty. My parents loved this dog also like he was their own child and that's how they describe the pain they are going through - the loss of a child. My dad always says that Oscar is the nicest person he's ever known.
I am so desperate for advice on how to move on and cope with the fact that I have lost my best friend. I am haunted by the fact that I never got to see him after camp was over. He and I both were really looking forward to that. I find that most people do not understand why I feel such acute sadness and grief. Many people other than my family are not being sensitive to my loss. How do I find comfort when my comfort used to be Oscar? Thank-you for listening.
Angela