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IN MEMORIAM
Likamkie “Red”
15 april 2000 – 19 maart 2006
‘Vreugde en verdriet hebben we gedeeld
Met vreugde hebben we gespeeld
Het verdriet gevoeld en
Samen weg gekroeldWaarheen je ook zal gaan
onze liefde blijft eeuwig bestaan’
Vaarwel, lieve Red. Rust zacht. Wij houden van jou.
(Gedicht door Maria Egas voor de SHCN)
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What we had never thought, has actually happened. This afternoon we lost our sweet cat, Red. She was just 5 years old. She was a healthy cat, very persistent but loving. She always washed our fingers or licked our face. If we tried to push her away, she would insist to stay and keep washing. We thought that she would live to be 20 or at least 15. But… apparently that was not ‘the plan’….
Friday night when we came home, we noticed that she was very absent and quiet. Then we noticed that she was incredibly thin. This we had not noticed before, and it was very unfortunate. I hugged her, tried to play with her, she didn’t react as cheerful as usual. She approached me very slowly and I noticed that she was slightly limping.
Saturday morning we called the vet and made an appointment to go in the afternoon. Before we brought her to the vet, I gave the cats can food. Red still had her appetite, but she was clearly lost her fighting over the mood fierceness. The fact that she still had appetite, made me feel better. But the vet’s diagnose said that her kidneys were failing. We asked for a bloodtest right away. It did confirm the vet’s diagnose. The machine couldn’t even determine how high the value is anymore, because it already passed the maximum value set for the machine. We made a decision to leave Red with the vet for two days. The vet thought that she would get better. They usually do.
Sunday morning, today, we got a called from the vet’s assistant. She needed help from us, because she had to clean Red’s cage. Red was not really cooperating and fiercely hissing at her. Nor laughed when he heard this. I felt happy too. We thought, yay, she’s back and is showing who is the boss. The assistant said that we needed to be there at one o’ clock. I couldn’t wait till I could see Red again. But when we got there, the news that the vet gave us was not the news that I wanted to hear at all. She warned us before we saw Red to mentally prepare ourself. Red’s condition has worsened in the last 30 minutes to one hour before hour arrival. She got a very high fever and seemed to be in a dying state.
Finally, we saw her in her cage. Her body was twitching every few second. I guess, it was the fever. The vet explained again that at that state there was no turning back. I kept calling her name, but she didn’t respond. Her eyes were open, but they didn’t respond. The vet left us alone to let us think and make a decision. The decision came, but it was a tough one. We have decided to put her to sleep. When the vet came back, we told her about it and she offered to take off the IV needle and put Red on a towel so that we could hold her and sit down wit her. We were alone again and we took turn in holding her. I called her name again, did the ‘tick tick’ motion with my fingers which I usually did when she did something naughty and knew that something was off limit. Her tail gave some response. Her eyes blinked several time. I was so happy. I thought I would get her back and could take back our decision. But a few minutes later, she went back to that twitching mode and blank eyed again. We couldn’t stop our tears. We were already crying when the vet was there. We were still crying when the vet was back. We just did not care. The vet finally came with a syringe filled with blue green fluid. She assured me that the fluid also contains enough dose of narcotic beside the main ingredient. It just take a few seconds for it to work, she said. I believed that, I watched enough vet series on Animal Planet so it was nothing new. But now it happened to my own pet that I needed that reassurance. She offered if we would like to give the injection. We both refused. So she did it by puncturing the IV tube with the needle and injected the fluid. We said goodbye to Red again. I was silently praying that she would go to a cat heaven if there is one. Or the rainbow bridge.
Tomorrow, the SHCN will pick up her body from the vet and cremate it privately, separate from other pets. Then they will put Red’s ashes in an urn and deliver it back to the vet, where we can pick it up. We will keep the urn and give Red a final resting place, in our house near our heart.
I’m so sorry about your Red. We do love our kittys so much. We have a 15-year-old, a 12 year-old, and a 2 year-old kitten. You drawing of Red is wonderful.
I’m so sorry about your kitty. I lost my kitty last August to kidney failure. I still miss her everyday. Your painting of Red is lovely.
what a beautiful memoriam and picture…I’m crying now…I’ve got to go pet my dogs…we had a huge cancer tumor removed from my 13 yr old dog last year, which was supposed to get her “another year probably” and we’re happy that she’s going strong. Your note brought back all my fears from last year when we got the news. I hope you find comfort in your other cats (and they with you).
oh Eefje I am crying for you and your Red, you have created a beautiful journal page in memorial.
I’m really sorry, Eefje…we are so fond of them, aren’t we?
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Pets do get under your skin.
My goodness Evy. This is spectacular and so incredibly moving. I will take your advice and begin to try to sketch my animals. I am not good at fur but I could focus on their heads and eyes. Thank you for this piece.
Evy, I’m so sorry to hear about poor Red, and that you and Nor had to make such a difficult decision. Your memorial page for her is beautiful.
I am so sorry for you. We have a red tabby too, his name is Wesley, and he is just 2 yrs old, I can’t imagine losing a cat at 5. You did the right thing. I hope you will be ready to adopt another shortly. It will help fill the loss.
Evy, I am so sorry to hear about your kitty. They are never with us long enough. This poem, “The Rainbow Bridge” is one that many people find comfort in:
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
OH MY — I am so so very sorry … your writing and your sketch are beautiful mementos to your Red …
Evy I am so sorry to hear of your loss of Red. I know how precious your cats are to you. May you all meet joyfully one day at the Rainbow Bridge.
How sad for you. When I first saw your sketch of Red, I thought it was our kitty, Rowan. He’s an orange tabby and he is in total charge of the house. We lost a dog a few years ago, very tragically . . . she was on a leash and fell off a the steps leading up the our side door on the deck. We’d never considered she would fall through and hang herself like she did.
You have my deepest sympathy. I lost my sweet Kibby just a month ago with the exact same problem. Your Red even looks a little like him. It is hard to say goodbye when we lose a member of our family unexpectedly. I’m so sorry.
I read this last night just after you posted and it brought back the weekend when I lost my oldest and we went from vet visit to ‘going to sleep’ in under 48 hours as well. And I couldn’t write anything because I remember only too well how it felt. You have my every sympathy. And it’s never too early to start sketching them – mine are here http://www.pastelsandpencils.com/cats.html
Dear Evy, I can not imagine how you feel right now I only know I would feel so sad,lost and lonely to lose my Lily, and knowing this I send my heartfelt condolences to you and Nor, time will heal.
Your drawing is a truly beautiful keepsake of Red.
Dear Evy, I’m so sorry. I’ve had an idea how much you love your cats from reading your blog over the past year. Take care, my friend.
I’m so sorry to hear about Red. He was definitely a loved member of your family. I know I will be equally as sad when I lose my dog one day.
I am very sorry to hear about Red. Yet, please try not to worry too much.
So sad but what a wonderfull memoriam.
Thank you very very much for your support. Your words have comforted me in this sad situation. Red was not only a cat or pet, but also a friend and family. On top of that she was my first cat. So the experience is particularly emotional. The crematorium has notified us that Red was cremated today. We will have the urn and her ashes soon. I am looking forward to have her back in our home.
Again, thank you.
Oh Evy,
This is so sad. I am in tears here. I know how impossible that decision is and I am so sorry for you. Please take care of yourself.
So sorry to hear about Red, Evy. Loved catching up on all your artwork.
Your story of Red made me cry I lost my Smokey almost 5 years ago to kidney failure and I still miss her, I have a new Calico and she is a love but I still miss my old friend Smokey– lived to be 19 1/2years old and until the last 6 mos of her life she still acted like a kitten and was very playful and cuddly with me but very wary of others. One day I will draw Smokey and it will be so lifelike but I am not ready yet.