Her dog helped Suzanne Wich after the slaying of her fiancé in Andover, now she needs help to help him
May 18—The months following the killing of Jason Marchand in Andover on July 3, 2015, were, for his fiancée Suzanne Wich, some of the darkest days of her life.
Marchand, 38, was fatally shot by fellow Andover resident Michael Fortin, then 21, outside Marchand's home at Andover Lake where the father of two young boys was celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with family and neighbors.
To this day Wich finds it difficult to celebrate the Fourth of July or hear fireworks. Still, Wich made it through that dark time — a jury later convicted Fortin of manslaughter and he's serving 32 years behind bars — and she learned to enjoy life again, thanks to her dog Justice, a 6-year-old beagle-pitbull mix she adopted six months after Marchand's death.
Now, Wich's life is being upended again as Justice is suffering from a painful medical condition and Wich is struggling to pay the resulting veterinary bills while recovering from the lingering affects of a bout with COVID-19.
For Wich, who lives in Middletown, Justice came into her life at a time when she struggled to find the will to get out of bed after Marchand's death.
One day a friend suggested she look into getting a pet, which eventually led Wich to visit a humane society where she found Justice.
Less than two years old at the time, Justice had been in four or five different homes, and was a bit rambunctious, Wich said.
He wasn't exactly what she was looking for, but there was something about him that Wich was drawn to. Wich said she realized Justice might not have been the dog she wanted, but he was the one she needed.
HOW TO DONATE
WHAT: To help with Justice's veterinary bills, visit the online GoFundMe page at
www.gofundme.com/f/justice-medical-bills-and-treatment
GOAL: To raise $8,000.
"He seemed to be in as much pain and in need of love as I was," Wich said.
She took Justice home for a two-week trial period to test things out, and they've been together ever since. He became her emotional support dog.
His presence affected her immediately, forcing her to get out of bed and outside to take him for walks.
At a deeper level, Justice made her realize that "as much pain as life was dealing me, that there was more, he could make me smile," she said.
During her darkest and saddest moments, having Justice nearby gave Wich a feeling of comfort, peace, and calmness that another human couldn't always provide.
With Justice, "I didn't have to talk. I didn't have to say anything," she said.
Since his adoption Justice has brought meaning back to Wich's life and showed her how to be happy again.
Last week, however, Justice suddenly started yelping in pain while lying on the couch. He could only limp and was shaking a lot, Wich said.
She brought him to a veterinarian, where he spent three days. It was determined that Justice had suffered a herniated disk in his spine.
Along with pain medication, Justice has to refrain from running, jumping or climbing stairs and has to spend most of the time resting quietly. The hope is that the herniated disk will heal after four weeks of rest, but if it doesn't, surgery will be necessary.
Wich said she has already spent more than $4,000 on veterinarian bills that will only get higher if surgery is required.
This all comes after a case of COVID-19 in February that has left her with lingering health problems. Wich said she is what's called a COVID "long-hauler" or someone who continues to feel some effects of the virus even after getting over it.
Wich suffers from asthma, and it's gotten much worse since she contracted the coronavirus. The lingering shortness of breath and fatigue have caused her to only work part time remotely at her insurance industry job Because of the mounting bills for Justice, Wich plans to try going back to work full time June 1.
An online GoFundMe page has been set up to help Wich with Justice's veterinary bills. As of today it has raised $1,025 of its $8,000 goal. Anyone who would like to help can visit the page at
www.gofundme.com/f/justice-medical-bills-and-treatment
For breaking news and happenings in North Central Connecticut, follow Matthew Knox on Twitter: @MatthewPKnoxJI, and Facebook: Matthew P. Knox JI.
