First I want to thank all of you for such a profound outpouring of love and support for both me and Fannie. Without it, this horribly devastating time would be even more difficult that it already is. You are proof-positive that there is hope for humanity.
Yesterday, Fannie had an appointment late in the day, but I spoke to her vet in the morning, and after describing Fannie's symptoms she said to bring her in immediately. I jumped out of bed, got dressed, and loaded my very sick and frail little baby into the coziest kitty carrier and drove her a couple of blocks to out veterinary clinic. Within an hour of receiving fluids, and flushing the excessive enzymes from her blood stream, the doctor called to tell me that she is at the very end of her end-stage renal failure. After a full day at the clinic we brought her home so that she could spend her last day, or two at the most, in her own home before having to do the most heartbreaking thing.
The idea of having to put her to sleep so that she won't suffer is gutting me in a way that is so hard to describe. She just got up and stumbled as she was trying to walk across out bedroom, and she made a rather plaintive meow. I think that her journey on earth may come to an end today, rather than tomorrow because she seems to be in discomfort.
I will keep you posted, but please continue to send your love and support. We really need it right now.
Thank you for being such wonderful people– you have no idea the extent to which your expressions of support have helped. I am going to go and whisper in her ear how much I love her and how much she has meant to me for the last 16 years. xoxox, Helen
I will keep you posted, but please continue to send your love and support. We really need it right now. 
I am so sorry about you cat; that is very sad. I hope every moment spent at home with those who love her will ease her transition.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I hope that you are right, but I do think that you are. She seems to have comfort in being at home right now. I guess that's all that I can hope for given what is to come. :-(
DeleteOh Helen, I am so so sorry to hear that... I have lost one of my own in my life (the others were sick kittens that I scooped up, took to the vet, and didn't make it) and it was a horrible time. I hope the suffering ends here for Fannie and you will remember the great time you spent together. Sending you all my love.
ReplyDeleteHi Sunny, Thank you for sending your love and support– it is very meaningful to me! Her suffering will end today– in what is one of the most difficult decisions to make as a kitty parent. Send your love and good thoughts to my baby on her last day. :-(
DeleteThinking of you today.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cindy!
DeleteMy sweets,
ReplyDeleteI'm heartbroken. I too lost my baby, love of my life, as you know, and the suffering is indescribable but you will cherish the gift of her presence in your life; a feline goddess was by your side and gave you her love.
Sending you love and strength
xxxxxxx
I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know that you know firsthand how significant and heart-wrenching this type of loss is. Thank you for sending me love and strength– I need them now more than ever. Thank you for caring! xoxoxox
DeleteAs gut wrenching as it is, there comes a point where it is time for our kitties to rest. I'm monitoring mine like a hawk for reduced quality of life as I can't bear to have her suffer. Horrible that you had to go through cancer w 2 cats at same time before. Ironically when my other cat was injured for a time they thought he also had cancer, and the vets were really attentive while I sat there in shock. I bet your cat is just as sweet as she looks and boy is she lucky to have such a wonderful human to have spent her life with. I will be thinking of all of you as you and she prepare for her to cross over.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Kirsten. I am so sorry that you are in monitoring mode, I feel for you. That is precisely where I was just a couple of days, and then all of a sudden things took a serious turn literally overnight. I'm still trying to grasp this, but it is what prompted us to act quickly so that she wouldn't suffer for a protracted amount of time.
DeleteYour cats are lucky to have you! Thank you for your very kind words, they give me comfort.
I'm very sorry. Lots of love goes out to you all.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Iris! This means a lot to me!
DeleteI'm so sorry about this. We had something similar with our last dog and brought him home for a day so we could say our goodbyes and give him kisses galore. It's so hard to let go but it's the only humane thing to do. She'll always be with you since she has a permanent place in your heart.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Marcia! I'm glad that you brought your dog home for a night– it definitely offers the perfect way to shower our babies with love before they go. You are right, Fannie will always live in my heart, but letting go is always heartbreaking.
DeleteI am so sorry to read your sad news... It is always so hard to let them go. I can tell you are a wonderful pet parent and I am sure Fannie cherished her time with you as much as you did. Love and light to you, Fannie and your other kitties.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emma! Your kind words are very comforting in this very difficult time of loss!
DeleteHelen, my heart goes out to you and dear Fannie. It is a blessing that, in these final hours, she is surrounded by those who most love her. I'm sending you big hugs and Nikita's little paws to wipe away the tears. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Boo Boo and Nikita! Your words are soothing and comforting!
DeleteAll my love to you and Fannie. I don't think there's anything I can say to make it better; this is the hardest part of being a kitty-parent. Please take care.
ReplyDeleteHi Aria, Your words do, in fact, make me feel better– I thank you for that. There is little that offers me comfort, but the care and love that I am feeling from so many people is definitely helping me process my loss. You are so right, this is absolutely the hardest part of being a kitty parent, and one is never ready for it! I will try, thank you! <3
DeleteOh my goodness, so sad for you, her and your family. I truly understand how difficult this decision is. Just this past March I had to make it with my 16 year old Isabella who had end-stage renal failure too. I finally just had to do it because I didn't want her to be miserable. Even though I know I showed mercy, I still get sad about it. I'm sincerely sorry you're going through this and am sending big hugs.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie,
DeleteThank you so much for your sensitive and kind words. I am so sorry that you have recently suffered the loss of your 16 year old Isabella to end-stage renal failure as well. The feelings that you express mirror my own, but you are so right that you finally just have to do it so as not to cause them undo suffering. Thank you for the big hugs, I am sending many your way as well! :-)
You are in my thoughts. I have a 20-year-old cat that I will have to make those decisions someday soon and I'm not looking forward to it
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha Stewart. I certainly hope that you are faced with this for a long time, and that your kitty is able to carry on happily and in good health later, rather than sooner!
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