Making the hard decisions...

So, at the end of Friday's blog entry I mentioned that I thought Saturday would prove to be a difficult day. Boy was I right. Tony and I ended up having to take our kitty Stranger in to the vet to be put to sleep. :-( He was such a sweet kitty, I'm really going to miss him.

This was probably the hardest decision I've had to make. He and I used to lay on the couch together and watch TV. I would put my arm around him and through his arms and I would scratch on his chest and chin. He would purr and purr and purr, louder than a motor boat.

This was so sudden for us, two days after his diagnosis we were taking him back in to be euthanized. That is what was so sad for us. But, we did get to bring him home for a few days so that we could love on him for a little longer and say goodbye in our own way. The reason we had to take him in was because he wasn't eating or drinking and he would not come out from under the bed. I didn't want him to starve to death slowly, how painful and horrible would that be... So, I had to make the difficult decision to just take him in and take away his pain the best way I knew how. I will always have those last moments with him at the vet. The animals are given 2 shots during this procedure, one is basically a great margarita sedative and it sort of makes them go to sleep and relax. The next is an overdose of anesthesia and that stops their breathing. I stayed for the first shot, but had to leave before they gave him the second shot. I knew when the first shot took affect because he quit purring and just started to breathe nice and easy. Cats not only purr when they are content/happy, they also purr when they are nearing the end of their life or if scared or in pain. I was petting Stranger as he was on the table and he just purred and purred. I know a lot of it was because he was probably in a lot of pain and very scared at this point, but he did stretch out his neck a few times for me to scratch under his chin, so I know he did like me petting him. I talked with him for a long time Thursday and Friday nights and even fell asleep with him on the floor a few times. I told him some of the best memories I have of him and talked to him about how we will miss him. I talked, cried and prayed for strenth a lot.

Today while working from home I opened the door on a special delivery addressed to us. Our Veterinarian's office sent us a house plant with their condolences. I thought that was one of the nicest gestures, we were definitely not expecting that at all. If any of you are looking for a good vet, Northern Oaks Bird and Animal Hospital. Dr. Byrd is great.

Thank you very much to all of our family and friends for all of your love, support and well wishes over the last couple of days. It means a lot to us to have you in our lives.

I've got to go, just writing the paragraphs above made me cry, I hadn't cried today, I guess I was due.

Much love,
Lisa

Hi/Lo Thursday

This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts and get your link on their site.


I thought I would try this this week, maybe it will help with the pain I'm feeling today.


My HIGH for this week has got to be Kendall and how well she is finally picking up baby sign language; this is so helpful since she is still little and doesn't talk yet. That and all of the dancing she does every day. I think she must get her rhythm from her mama. :D

My LOW for this week is obvious for those of you who know me and have spoken with me today. My kitty of 9 years, Stranger, has been diagnosed with Liver cancer. It has metastisized so much that in his X-Rays you couldn't even tell where his organs are. The doctor and I were surprised by the fact that he hasn't had any issues until now. Apparently, this can just grow and grow inside of you for a long time without really doing anything else until one day it grows big enough to push on a major organ and really cause some damage. At this point it looks like it is pushing on his stomach which is why he suddenly does not want to eat and has been losing weight this week. I'm really going to miss laying on the couch with him to watch TV and listening to his LOUD motor boat purring as I stroke the fur on his chest and under his chin. The doctor says he probably won't live much longer but gave him a steroid shot to hopefully shrink the tumor and bring down some of the inflammation caused by the cancer and give us a little bit longer to shower love, affection and as much "kitty junk food" on him as he wants. I'm seeing chicken in his future, that is if he decides he wants to eat. Which he may if this steroid shot works. If it doesn't, we should know by tomorrow evening or Saturday morning and we will have to take him in and show him mercy from any pain that would doubtlessly be in his future. I've asked Stranger to tell me when he is ready to go, he is a mature 14 or 15 year old cat who I rescued when I moved back to my hometown from my college town, so I'm sure he will give me a sign.

Please pray for me that I have the strength to take him in to be released from pain when the time is right and before it gets too bad for him.

Please pray for him that he doesn't feel too much pain. At this point he doesn't really seem bothered by it except for the not eating part and being lethargic and having lost a little weight. But, if I pet him his motor boat still goes.

I love you Stranger (My Strangie)

This picture was taken just a few weeks ago. Isn't he a beautiful kitty? It's sad that even though he seemed fine here, the cancer was throughout his body.

Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

Lisa

Abby Riggs - Please Pray For Her

Hi Guys - I have something important to write about today. I was on Facebook reading through my friends statuses and saw that one of my friends was "Praying For Abby". Her status included a link to a blog. This blog chronicles the story of a little girl named Abby, she has Leukemia. She's going through chemotherapy right now and is just about to enter possibly THE most dangerous and painful phase yet. I've read the blog in its entirety and have seen the postings which mention the horrible pain she has already gone through. I would just ask that any of you who visit our blog please take a moment to visit Abby's blog and in that moment while the blog is loading, say a little prayer for her. Her family has many specific prayer requests, some for good pain control, some for Abby to have energy and some for them to have the energy to get through the day. These are very trying times for them, but their faith is keeping them strong. They know that even if she does not get well here on Earth, she WILL be well in Heaven.

So, before bed tonight, say a little prayer for a sweet little girl that you most likely don't know.

Also, if you have specific prayer requests, Abby's father has a prayer network on the site. See below:

We participate in "Pray for Me... Pray for Others" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to add your prayer request.

Thank you and have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Lisa