My Harley is gone...
in [Pet-Loss]
|
Prev: Sophie's Gone
Next: Sophie's Gone
From: Kellie Patzer on 5 Jan 2010 13:10 Late Sunday night January 3, 2010 I had to rush Harley to the emergency hospital. We have been battling what Vets tell me is IBD for the past 3 months. I have rushed her to the emergency hospital 3 months ago when Harley first went down with severe diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration, etc. She stayed with them for days as they brought her back to sustainable health. The last 3 months has been grueling trying to get her on her feet, keep her eating... I went to emergency this Sunday under the same impression... they'd keep her for days, work on her and I'd bring her home. But I knew this was different. She collapsed on me in a way that said death was on the way. I'm a fighter though. I never give up. So I scooped her in her carry box and rushed to emergency. The vet was sober and honest... She had lost too much weight. She was jaundiced -- liver failed. The vet was not optimistic she would even make it if we attempted and she also talked to me honestly about how Harley's quality of life has been the past 3 months. I had to sit there and face this heart wrenching reality and make the decision. Even as they brought her to me so I could have a bit of time... the young man informed me he didn't think I had a lot of time. I could see her fear and pain... I told him to get the vet now... she has suffered enough. I held her half in my arms... her head and one pay on my arm. I told her how much I love her. How I am so sorry. How I just don't want her to hurt anymore. The vet administered the injection... I just keeped telling her how much I loved her as her eyes glazed over and she became still. I am so devastated. I never fully realized what a big presence she had in my life. Harley was always by my side or at me feet. Always. She would spend time looking in my eyes -- sometimes sitting on my chest just looking in my eyes. She talked to me with her meows and chirps. I'm missing the most how Harley greeted me every morning when I woke. She was always sitting there looking at me. I miss how with my morning coffee she was always right at my side. It kills me to reach there for her and know she will never be there again. I miss how while I was in bed she would have to kneed my shoulder, chest and neck. Matter of fact I am realizing that Sunday morning she not only greeted me but forced her way to my arm and kneeded and kneeded so forcefully and so long. It actually was hurting. I dealt with it and let her do what she wanted. Know I wonder what this was? I think she knew. I think she was also afraid. But I know she was also was thinking of me. She loved me so much. She showed me in so many ways. God I am just ripped apart right now! My chest hurts so bad and my lungs ache. Nakita... my other cat is pacing the apartment today. Sometimes howling. Looking everywhere. I am trying to love her. Pet her. Hold her. Distract her but its so painful to watch her. Nakita is 12 years old. She has never been the only cat. She has always had a sissy. Now I am agonizing over what to do? Should I attempt to get her a companion? How long should I wait and let her grieve / get over Harley? I work full time and go to school. There are times I will see her only in the morning then late at night. Its killing me to think she will now be all alone here. I am so not ready for all this! I am so damn sad.
From: Robert A. Fink, M. D. on 6 Jan 2010 20:34 On Tue, 5 Jan 2010 10:10:44 -0800 (PST), Kellie Patzer <kelliepatzer(a)gmail.com> wrote: >Nakita is 12 years old. She has never been the only cat. She has >always had a sissy. Now I am agonizing over what to do? Should I >attempt to get her a companion? How long should I wait and let her >grieve / get over Harley? I work full time and go to school. There are >times I will see her only in the morning then late at night. Its >killing me to think she will now be all alone here. > >I am so not ready for all this! I am so damn sad. Ordinarily, I would recommend that you wait at least a few months before getting another cat; but, in this case, I would consider getting Nakita a companion sooner. Go to a shelter and pick out a young adult cat (probably not a kitten) and get Nakita a companion. Best, Bob Robert A. Fink, M. D. Neurological Surgery 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA 510-849-2555 ********************************** NOTE: The material above is not "medical advice". Medical advice can only be given after an in-person contact between doctor and patient. **********************************
From: Linda on 6 Jan 2010 21:02 On Jan 5, 1:10 pm, Kellie Patzer <kelliepat...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Late Sunday night January 3, 2010 I had to rush Harley to the > emergency hospital. We have been battling what Vets tell me is IBD for > the past 3 months. > > I have rushed her to the emergency hospital 3 months ago when Harley > first went down with severe diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration, etc. > She stayed with them for days as they brought her back to sustainable > health. > > The last 3 months has been grueling trying to get her on her feet, > keep her eating... > > I went to emergency this Sunday under the same impression... they'd > keep her for days, work on her and I'd bring her home. But I knew this > was different. She collapsed on me in a way that said death was on the > way. I'm a fighter though. I never give up. So I scooped her in her > carry box and rushed to emergency. > > The vet was sober and honest... She had lost too much weight. She was > jaundiced -- liver failed. The vet was not optimistic she would even > make it if we attempted and she also talked to me honestly about how > Harley's quality of life has been the past 3 months. > > I had to sit there and face this heart wrenching reality and make the > decision. Even as they brought her to me so I could have a bit of > time... the young man informed me he didn't think I had a lot of time. > I could see her fear and pain... I told him to get the vet now... she > has suffered enough. > > I held her half in my arms... her head and one pay on my arm. I told > her how much I love her. How I am so sorry. How I just don't want her > to hurt anymore. The vet administered the injection... I just keeped > telling her how much I loved her as her eyes glazed over and she > became still. > > I am so devastated. I never fully realized what a big presence she had > in my life. Harley was always by my side or at me feet. Always. She > would spend time looking in my eyes -- sometimes sitting on my chest > just looking in my eyes. She talked to me with her meows and chirps. > > I'm missing the most how Harley greeted me every morning when I woke. > She was always sitting there looking at me. I miss how with my morning > coffee she was always right at my side. It kills me to reach there for > her and know she will never be there again. > > I miss how while I was in bed she would have to kneed my shoulder, > chest and neck. Matter of fact I am realizing that Sunday morning she > not only greeted me but forced her way to my arm and kneeded and > kneeded so forcefully and so long. It actually was hurting. I dealt > with it and let her do what she wanted. Know I wonder what this was? I > think she knew. I think she was also afraid. But I know she was also > was thinking of me. She loved me so much. She showed me in so many > ways. > > God I am just ripped apart right now! My chest hurts so bad and my > lungs ache. > > Nakita... my other cat is pacing the apartment today. Sometimes > howling. Looking everywhere. I am trying to love her. Pet her. Hold > her. Distract her but its so painful to watch her. > > Nakita is 12 years old. She has never been the only cat. She has > always had a sissy. Now I am agonizing over what to do? Should I > attempt to get her a companion? How long should I wait and let her > grieve / get over Harley? I work full time and go to school. There are > times I will see her only in the morning then late at night. Its > killing me to think she will now be all alone here. > > I am so not ready for all this! I am so damn sad. I am so sorry for your loss. I do know how heartbreaking it is too lose someone you love so much. I'm glad you were with her at the end, I'm sure she took comfort from you being there. Please love Nakita lots and don't let her get depressed. I think you should consider a playmate/companion for her. If you do get another cat just introduce them slowly and expect a few growls at first.
From: Wayne Boatwright on 11 Jan 2010 04:21 On Tue 05 Jan 2010 11:10:44a, Kellie Patzer told us... <snip> > Nakita... my other cat is pacing the apartment today. Sometimes > howling. Looking everywhere. I am trying to love her. Pet her. Hold > her. Distract her but its so painful to watch her. > > Nakita is 12 years old. She has never been the only cat. She has > always had a sissy. Now I am agonizing over what to do? Should I > attempt to get her a companion? How long should I wait and let her > grieve / get over Harley? I work full time and go to school. There are > times I will see her only in the morning then late at night. Its > killing me to think she will now be all alone here. We had 5 cats, Millie (17), Bailey (10), Peanut and PeeWee (twins, 5), and Popie (4). A while back we lost Bailey prematurely at age 10. He was my very devoted and only tabby. I am still grieving. The other cats looked for him for weeks. Bailey had virtually raised the twins from their age of 3 months. I could see that they, in particular, were grieving for him. A few weeks ago we were in PetSmart which also houses a volunteer cat rescue group. We saw a beautiful 6 month old male tabby named Konnor and were very tempted to adopt him, but put it off at the time, as I wasn't sure I was ready. Last week we were back at PetSmart for shopping and saw that Konnor was still there. We inquired about him and learned that he had been caged with his brother for at least three months before being brought to PetSmart. His brother had been adopted and he was left alone. I couldn't bare leaving him there, so we adopted him. He is amazingly affectionate, likes the other cats and the other cats like him. Even Popie, who never liked any of the other cats, likes Konnor. It was a win- win situation. I now have another tabby in my life, but I'm still grieving for Bailey. Grief can last a very long time, but it's not a good excuse for not giving another cat a good home and the other cats another companion. I wish you the best and condolences for your loss. -- ~~ If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it. ~~ ~~ A mind is a terrible thing to lose. ~~ ********************************************************** Wayne Boatwright
From: Cheri on 14 Jan 2010 17:40
"Kellie Patzer" <kelliepatzer(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:5d32745f-2a15-47a1-baba- > I am so not ready for all this! I am so damn sad. I'm so very sorry for your loss, it is a major loss and the heartbreak lingers. Be good to yourself, recognize how much it hurts, and allow yourself to grieve. Cheri |