Farewell, my faithful friend

Wednesday was like any other ordinary day here. I pulled into the driveway that afternoon and saw my old girl laying on the trailer... sunning herself, just as she was doing here in this picture. And just like any other day, she rose to her legs... happy to see us. But this time something was different. I'd noticed that she had stumbled a bit to her left, and then I'd noticed her droopy jaw and what seemed like an inability to close her mouth all the way. I immediately drove her to the vet who was able to confirm in no time at all that she had an oral tumor. She explained that these tumors come on fast, at any age, and that there would be very little they could do to prevent or slow her death... they could only make her comfortable. They gave her two weeks and explained that she would soon stop eating what little she has been able to eat (she was very thin). It was super hard, especially with all three of my children by my side, to make the decision, but I ultimately decided to have her euthanized. We love her so much. I've had her since I was 15 years old. She'd given us 20 years, and it just seemed so selfish to bring her home where the quality of her life was to be compromised, and where we'd all be waiting for the other shoe to drop. It doesn't make it any easier though, and I can't imagine there will ever be a day when I don't expect to see her or hear her (she was very vocal). The kids are having a hard time with it, especially Samuel who adored her. He gave her the most attention everyday... seeking her out, building her fort-like houses, sneaking her into bed with him. We were going to bring her home for burial, but Mikaela was quite vocal at the last minute in saying that she wanted Boonzie to be here with us, in our home. I felt, with those words, like someone had just wrapped a nice warm quilt around my cold body. It made sense, and felt really good. Two years ago, someone I refer to as my surrogate grandfather died. It was the first time I had lost someone really close to me, someone I still think about everyday and whose presence I miss the most. He LOVED cats so much, but suffered severe eczema so couldn't have one of his own. That said, he'd walk to my home and and/or to my parents home several days each week to visit the kitties. It was not all that unusual to come home to what we thought was our empty house and find Ralph sitting quietly in the livingroom with Boonzie snuggled on his lap, enjoying a chunk of love from our dear friend Ralph. To Ralph, this bit of kitty love was worth the few hours of discomfort he'd experience after, as a result of the eczema. So today, I imagine that she is with Ralph, and that the two of them are at peace and with much happiness together.

Comments

[Clarissa]

I am so sorry for your loss :( {{big hugs}} to you and your family as you mourn the loss of your friend and companion. I know she was an important part of your family and will be greatly missed.