Another Good Bye

Another good bye has come has come and gone. Saying good bye is never easy and knowing when it is time is even more difficult! As many of my friends and family know George has been a sickly cat. Over that last year George has been fighting pancreatis and most recently he was diagnosed with kidney failure. I know kidney failure has no cure, but I had no clue how quickly it would take my sweet cat from me. George is a one of a kind cat, as one friend put it, "Even if you don't like cats, you would like George." He enjoyed being the center of attention and would always meet you at the door when you arrived home from a long day at work. George was sick the first day I saw him at the SSPCA. I notified someone at the front desk and he was moved to the sick bay at the shelter. I visited him regularly for a few days and then I told the SSPCA if you can get George well, he can come home with me. 2 weeks later, a 2 year old flame point Siamese, who was once upon a stray, named George moved into my home and Gemini got a younger brother she never asked for. :)! Shortly after coming home I had George's teeth cleaned and it was all down hill from here. He developed an infection from having his teeth cleaned. The first surgery was to drain an abscess that had formed in his mouth. Ultimately the infection settled in his brain and after many appointments and a cat scan - George was blessed with his very own nuro surgeon. He then had surgery to have a large mass removed from inside his head. The mass was not cancerous, just fluid filled. A resident at the pet hospital used George's case for her case study at school. The diagnoses, procedure and outcome was not usual. This was all very traumatic and costly and I thought I would lose him a few times. George always pulled through and was a fighter. In between there were many appointments for colds, ear infections and eye infections, but George always remained a love bug. You knew when he was sick or not feeling well because he would hide and not want to be around you. However, very rarely did he ever stop purring.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011, I took George to the vet because he was not acting like himself and had lost some weight. He stayed over night to get IV fluids and have blood work done. I learned on Wednesday that George's kidney values were out of control and he has experiencing kidney failure. I let the vet know I was interested in hospice care for George and was told he would likely have weeks, if not months. George came home Thursday night around 10pm with a bag full of medicines to assist him with pain, nausea and fluids to administer to him daily. However, George was not George he was a shell of his former self, he was not purring, he lost his balance often and could not jump on the bed or off of the bed without falling over. I knew George was struggling and not very happy with not being able to control his little body. I knew in my heart the end was near. On Friday when I returned home from work, I knew it was time. I made George's last vet appt. We meet with the Vet who had been caring for George all week. George had not been purring, but as I rubbed his fur and waited for the vet to come in with that last fatal shot, he began to purr. I questioned my decision to let him go and then I realized George was letting my know it was okay to let him go this time, he was ready to move on to a world of peace and pain free living! However, I must admit those last few minutes as I held him and the vet came into the room I was overwhlemed with emotion. George purred on his way out of this world and I will always hold his purr near my heart. George you will be missed and I love you little buddy!!!!