The morning after I wrote my last post
I came downstairs to find Stretch just laying on the kitchen floor.
Nora saw him and ran to chase him but he didn't get up.
Nora just looked at him and then at me.
That morning I took him into work with me and had extensive blood work run on him.
And radio-graphs
and had a fecal done and an urinalysis.
Then a sonogram.
I had him on a food that he liked and which helped him form firmer stools.
That's always been his problem.
IBS.
That's why I have him.
HERE is the post that I wrote when he came home with me.
But lately he didn't like his special food
So I had tried some others.
In the meantime he was really dropping weight.
When I weighed him at work, his weight had plummeted to 6.10 lbs.
The Dr. thought maybe with a couple of medications
and different food and a shot of Vitamin B12.
Maybe that would help.
She consulted with the other vets
and no one could find anything conclusive.
So, it was either IBS or Lymphoma. (Cancer)
I kept him at the clinic, where I could closely monitor him
and his eating and his stool, etc.
Last Saturday he weighed 6.4
Yesterday, Monday he weighed 5.11.
Today he was wobbly and fell.
He was drooling and I knew it was just a matter of time.
I wasn't going to make him wait.
So I had the vet release him to Heaven.
This has been a bad few weeks.
In June alone, FOUR of my long time boarding dogs have passed.
One of them was a dog that I felt so close to, that I felt like he was my own.
I went into the exam room to say good-bye and his owners and I just balled our eyes out.
Another boarder, as the husband was carrying him into the clinic, the wife ran to my boarding door.
She was in tears and motioned me to come with them.
Yep....
I have a few more really sad things I could share that happened last week,
but I won't.
No use in depressing all of you too.
Some good news though!
Mikey is getting a home.
The son of the owner was going to put him down.
(I'm leaving out a lot of details)
but I had him sign Mikey over to the clinic and a home has been found.
(No, not me.)
And my friend's little schnauzer Louie, his Go Fund Me page has gotten a lot of donations!
Yep, that's good news.
Sigh... anyway.
With all the tragedy in the world
some might think me silly to get so upset about all of this
but I can't help it.
I just need to work on myself some more.
So, my break continues,
I just felt that I needed to share Stretch's passing.
xoxoxo
Sigh... anyway.
With all the tragedy in the world
some might think me silly to get so upset about all of this
but I can't help it.
I just need to work on myself some more.
So, my break continues,
I just felt that I needed to share Stretch's passing.
xoxoxo
18 comments:
Dearest Cindi,
I am so, so sorry to read about sweet Stretch. Your heart is aching, and he will be sorely missed.
I find it difficult to write without the tears welling up here, but please know that when you take your darling furbabes into your life they spend the rest of their time in comfort, security and joy.
That is because of you.
Your heart breaks many times over, but it is bigger than many, no most, people I know.
Your babes know that.
For however short or long the time they spend with you, it will be the very best of times in their life.
You can't give anyone a bigger gift than that. Truly.
You're not "silly to get so upset". Don't ever think that.
You are who you are for a reason. Remember that.
You might question your emotions when you see others not so attached, but that should NEVER make you question who you are.
Accept that you are an honestly good person, with the very best of intentions to help and heal those who can't speak for themselves.
And, with that empathy comes the gamut of emotions you must experience.
You can't shut that off, nor would you want to.
For the love you feel, fills your whole being. You need them as much as they need you.
That's a beautiful thing.
You must take all the time you need for a break... we will still be here, whenever you are ready to return. You know that ♥
xxxxxxx
I'm so very sorry Cindi. I don't know how you do what you do, but thank goodness for people like you.
Stretch was beautiful!
I do hope things get easier for you. You deserve more joy and good things in your life. I'm pulling for you!!
xxx
Thank you for letting us know. I'm so sorry.
He was a beautiful cat Cindi and I'm so sorry for your loss! It is so hard to lose a member of your family.
Vicki,
Thank you for all those kind words.
That means so much to me.
Last night when I got home, I held Harry, my cat that I've had for 16 years.
Longer than any pet I've ever had. I can't bear the thought.
And then Ghost, 12 years with me and follows me room to room and lays next to me every night as I sleep.
I couldn't help crying again, scared at losing them.
And so many others.
Names that I dare not speak.
I know that YOU know exactly how I feel.
Thank you for being there.
XOXOXOXOXO
Doreen,
Yes, Stretch was a beauty!
So handsome.
Thank you for everything you said.
XOXOXO
And thank you for being in my corner.
Jean,
Thank you.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Laura,
Thank you for commenting and leaving such kind words.
I only had him in my life for 2 1/2 years but he definitely had a place in my heart.
He's the one that would "scream" and MEOW so loudly when I got cheese or meat out of the refrigerator. Last night it seemed so strange not to have him there demanding a piece of my supper.
Thanks again.
XOXOXO
I'm so sorry to hear about Stretch's passing away and all the other furry animals in such a short time....I know, it is your work, but nevertheless I can understand you need a blogging break. Sometimes it is too much.
It's difficult to explain in English all what I feel, but I agree entirely with the beautiful words of Vicki.
Stay strong!
Janneke
My heart goes out to you Cindi. You've had a lot handed to you lately. Stretch looks so much like my Binks and Binks had the same issues in the end so I know how awful that was for you. Take all the time you need and just know I am thinking about you.
And life goes on... when I was going through a divorce far from home back in the early 70's my dear quiet stepfather wrote me a short note (he was Japanese decent, born in the USA of immigrant parents) and it said "...you have to have a little rain in your life to appreciate the sunshine." I'm hoping the sun comes out for you and stays for a long, long while.
Janneke,
Thank you.
Yes, it's just the combination of it all, I suppose.
And I need to get my head on straight because there's bound to be more...
just hopefully no one soon.
and Vicki is a very wise woman and I take her words to heart.
I just need to focus on other things for a bit.
I know that you understand, truly, thank you very much!
XOXOXOXO
Jen,
Oh yes, he did look like your Binks.
xoxoxo
Yes, it's never easy.
Some people I work with don't understand, given the fact that I have so many pets.
But those are the people that I don't care about.
My real friends, understand and several of them are grieving for him too.
So, thank you for your kind words.
XOXO
Sharon,
Your step-father sounded like he was a very wise man.
I agree about the rain and how it makes us appreciate the sunshine.
In fact I think I've had a lot of things in my earlier life that makes me appreciate what I do have know.
I often wonder if people who have always got everything they wanted or needed from day one really know how to appreciate anything?
Hmmm.
Yep.
I'm praying for some "sunshine" soon as I feel like I've been soaked to the skin.
But don't worry, it's just a bump in the road.
Nothing I can't handle.
I suppose I have to feel down to be able to feel the high's too.
Thanks so much.
XOXOXOXOXO
Cindi,
My deepest condolences. My first cat ever was a black cat and ever since I lost her I have never been without a black cat in my life. The one I have right now is my third and she looks just like Stretch. I don't know what it is about them -- they are always the sweetest and goofiest cats I come across at the shelter.
The reason you have so many animals is that the spirits of the ones you have lost have gone out to find you a new one that needs you. All of those animals currently living with you were sent to you because the ones who have passed on know there is no better person to send them to. They know they had it good living with such a kind caring soul who did everything in her power to make sure their lives were the best they could be. I really hate that they age so much faster than we do. But that also means that even if you only had him 2-3 years, that was a significant part of his life. So, you should be proud of the fact that you gave him a good life in those years. I'm sure he was very grateful for that.
And, as you can tell by all the comments here, your readers are grateful for people like you in the world.
Take care of yourself.
Grace
Oh Grace,
THANK YOU!
There was a time that I had Boo, Harry, Lucky, Raini, Gulliver , Kanga.
All of them black. that was before Stretch.
Now the only black cat I have is Harry (here at home) and Kanga (who is lives at the clinic for now).
There is something super special about black cats.
Although my white cat Ghost has been obsessed with me lately. I can't leave the room without him close behind.
He's pretty special too.
I love the idea of spirit animals sending me other animals that need help.
And thank you for pointing out that a few years to me is a big portion of life to my pet.
That's very comforting too.
Truly, Thank you.
XOXOXOXO
oh cindi,
i am so, so sorry about stretch. you were lucky to have found each other.
Leslie,
Thank you very much.
I will miss him.
:(
xoxo
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