Friday, June 19, 2009

A Heavy Heart

Vinni

Today Vinni has gone to join his friends Monty and Blew, along with a host of many other loved kitties and hounds. This morning he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on the underside of his tongue, at the base of it. Impossible to see without sedation, as it took 3 of us just to hold his mouth open and examine him. Having been afraid of sedating him at his age, I saw no other choice than to finally give in as his heath was continuing to decline. Once he was sedated, it was determined that it was clearly cancer and not a good situation. It was at that point we decided we had to let him go so he would not have to endure any further pain. He and Monty were both 20 years of age last April. Quite the pair. I am numb with grief due to so many losses in the last 3 weeks and am at a loss for further words to express my sorrow. Run free at the bridge my beautiful fur babies….you are well loved and tucked safely away in my heart forever.

12 comments:

  1. I am so very sorrow for your losses. What more can I say? Just cherish their memories and take comfort in the fact that they all lead long and happy lives.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Don't Bug Me,
    Thank you for your kindness, indeed they did live long happy lives. I do take some comfort in that.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so sorry, Sistertex. It really doesn't seem fair for you to lose Vinny so soon after Blew .. your heart must be broken. *Hugs*

    That's the same cancer I had under my tongue. I guess I was lucky to catch it early - but I know cats don't do well with oral cancers anyway.

    Poor Vinny. You did the right thing, honey, though I know you'll miss him terribly. Sleep well Vinny! Handsome boy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you so much for your kind comments, Jay. You are so sweet. I didn't know you had this cancer under your tongue. Glad you caught it early as well! Vinni, Monty and Blew are the brightest stars in the sky tonight. Thanks again, Jay.

    ReplyDelete
  5. For all your losses - i have no words...so I borrowed some..

    As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
    I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.
    I saw a wonderous image then of a place that's trouble-free
    Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

    I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side
    Were meadows rich and beautiful--lush and green and wide!
    And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
    Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!
    My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
    And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do.

    I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright
    That this place is truly wondrful, then a bright Glow pierced the night.
    'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining bright and strong and bold
    And I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

    For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,
    We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.
    So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart
    If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

    Hugs to you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kate,
    Beautiful .... many tears. Thanks so much for the lovely, wonderful words filled with hope and love, and for the hugs. Hugs back to you as well. I always picture a place like that in my mind and surely hope someday I will walk among all my lovely 'furkids' once again seeing them all whole and healthy...hoping they are all so very happy to see me too.

    Have you seen the poem Rainbow Bridge?
    Thank you again Kate.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, I saw it when I was searching for something to say.

    I'm not usually lost for words..

    I remember when our Siamese boy had to be put to sleep (he'd been poisoned) and for weeks afterwards I swear I could hear him calling and feel his bumpy head round the back of my legs.... who knows?

    I'm dreadful... when I lose a pet I can't bear the space that they left and have to fill it very quickly. I've been fortunate - all my rescued furry friends have loved me from the start! And I am certain you find the same with yours....

    Keep smiling!

    ReplyDelete
  8. OH, I am so sorry to read this... as a cat owner myself, my heart aches when I hear stories of the loss of a furry family member. You were both so lucky to have had each other for 20 years!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kate,
    Thank you again. How terribly sad that someone would poison such a lovely boy. It is just horrific. :(
    Funny you should mention hearing him afterwards, just yesterday I had to stop doing something because I thought I heard one of my kitties 'yeowing', then it occurred to me, no kitties. This is the first time I have been kitty-less in 35 years. It has been hard to be sitting on the couch without having Monty come sit on my head and Vinni on my arms. I was one of their favorite perches.

    Monty we got at 6 months old from a shelter. Vinni was brought to my front door by a neighbor asking if I could give him a home. He was a stray that had started taking up residence in her yard. I couldn't imagine someone not feeling lost without him, so we tried to find his owner and no one turned up....our vet said he was three...and for the next 17 years he stayed here and never wanted to go outside again. Certainly I agree, it is a love at first sight that never fades.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Maureen,
    Thank you so much for the kind words. Twenty years is a long time, still it seems not long enough when it comes to our furry kids. I do feel very lucky to have had both of my kitties for so long. I totally agree with you.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, you poor thing. So many losses, and so close. I can only echo what others have said. Heartbreaking post.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi DragonStar,
    Thank you for visiting and for the kind comments. I really appreciate it.

    ReplyDelete

 

 

Blog Directory for Minnesota