ƒ? Goodbye, Daisy. ƒ?

Many of you over the years have heard about our Daisy Kitty...

In 2011, my daughter begged us to bring this "poor cat" home from her EX-friends house because this poor cat was very neglected and unloved. Daisy also had birth defects that inhibited her to do things that normal cats do. We were not interested in another cat, but my daughter promised to love and take care of her, and it would be HER cat. I told her if she gets good grades, then she could bring her home. Of course, she got straight "A"s that term, and so Daisy, at the age of 5, came to live with us. Somehow, Daisy became attached to Wendell more than my daughter, but she loved all of us very much. When my daughter moved to Arkansas in 2013, Daisy became our permanent kitty. With her birth defects and other issues, she also became a costly kitty! But she was worth every penny.

In 2014, I started to notice a growth in her eye. Turns out it was an eye melanoma that needed surgery. But, in order to get her surgery, we had to take her to a kitty cardiologist AND a kitty eye specialist out at the Vet College at OSU to clear her for surgery due to her birth defects. They were not sure she'd even survive a surgery! They also warned us that with this kind of cancer, pieces can break off and start cancers other places. Anyhow, she survived her surgery and came through with flying colors. She had to adjust to being a one-eyed pirate kitty, but she did fine after a few weeks of bumping into walls. 😛

With all of Daisy's oddities, the OSU Vet College asked us if/when Daisys time comes, would we consider donating her body to them so the pre-vet kids could learn from her? We both said absolutely. Then I forgot all about that until....

Late last year, Daisy started to limp more. We didn't think much of it as she has so many defects that it was just a part of her aging, etc... When she couldn't hop on the chair to sit with her poppa, I told Wendell we need to take her to the vets to see whats going on. We took her in and they said she sprained her leg, and sent us home with pain meds and said to wait 6 weeks to see if it gets better. If it doesn't, then bring her back in and we'll go from there. She got a little better, but then 2 months later, the limp came back and with a vengeance. Wendell took her back in and got the diagnosis: Bone cancer, spreading everywhere and then some. The vet said it was probably a piece of cancer from the eye that got loose and re-established it self. Wendell was a total wreck...he had to take our doggy in a few years back and now his poor baby girl was also going to have the same fate.They sent Wendell home with pain meds and told him to have us spend as much time as we could with her, because it would be limited. They estimated about 2-3 days. Well, Daisy wasn't having that! She somehow got a little better. But, after a month of stability, she started to decline. She could barely walk, so I took care of her. I carried her everywhere I could so she could walk as little as possible. I helped her and held her when she had to go to the bathroom. She was still eating and drinking like a pig and she sure enjoyed the pampering she was getting, so I figured I'll just do this until she lets me know she is not wanting this anymore.

I made a vet appointment on Thursday morning to take her in to go to kitty cat Heaven, but when I took out the cat carrier, I could see the fear in her eyes and so I cancelled the appointment. I figured OK, she is still eating, drinking, purring, peeing, pooping, and she isn't in pain so...we'll see what the weekend holds. I then carted her around with me, plopped her on the couch, and spoiled her rotten with her treats. She purred for hours and hours, with one paw on me, and one paw on her treat bag. Silly feline.

This weekend, she started to not want to eat all of her food, or drink too much. The only thing she really wanted was her bag of treats. Then on Sunday, she couldn't walk anymore; the bones in her legs turned to jelly and paralyzed her. I had been at the hospital for the past three nights taking care of a dying patient; but I knew Sunday night before I left for work, that when I came home, it was going to be "time". I got off around 4:30 am. and called our local emergency vet. They said to bring her right in, that they'd take care of her and me.

As hard as this was going to be for me, (It was my first time witnessing an actual euthanasia) I was not going to wake Wendell and have him go through this yet again. He was already crushed and even though he kept saying he'd "take her in", I know it was breaking his heart; he was thinking of when he had to take our doggy in, and when he took Daisy in 6 weeks ago and got that diagnosis. I wanted to save him the pain and agony, and I did.

I came home, and got out my purple clothes hamper/basket and put her blankies in it. Then I scooped her up and put her in the hamper. She wasn't scared at all...she liked being able to see through the slats. I somehow think she knew that it was "time" as well...because she just purred and let me put her in there without a fight. I let her sister Ellie sniff her and say her goodbyes, and then I loaded her up into the truck and off we went, me bawling the entire way, with one hand on her head, and one hand on the wheel. I think that 10 minute drive was one of the hardest drives I have ever had to make in my life, both back and forth. When we got to the vets, they were waiting for us. They came out and helped me carry her in as I was shaking and sobbing like a big baby.
For some reason, they did not charge me the normal "exam fees", and just charged me the minimum to "do the deed." I thought that was very kind and compassionate of them as they could have raked me and my visa card over the coals at that moment if they wanted to!!

There was no one at the vets so it was very quiet and peaceful. No barking dogs, no meowing cats. Daisy was not scared at all...I was glad for that.
They took us into a little room and I did paperwork, they weighed her, and then I spent a little time with her singing her song to her before they came back in.

They let me go with them to the back where they shaved her leg and stuck an IV in. Daisy didn't even flinch when they shaved her and stuck that needle in. She just was glad momma was holding her. Then they wrapped her up in my red blankie and handed her to me and she rested her head on my chest as I carried her back to the little room. They asked if I wanted more time and I said "No, please let's do this before I lose it all together." The vet then came in with two syringes. One had the "Pink Stuff" in it. She explained what was going to happen, and asked if I was ready. I nodded, and with Daisy in my arms, her head resting on my chest, the Vet put the first needle in, then the "pink stuff" and in the blink of an eye, in less than a minute, Daisy Kitty died in my arms, pain free, with love surrounding her. I cried and cried...and just held her for a little bit as I said goodbye. Then they came back in and took her back to take her IV out and put her in a little box so I could transport her home and into our freezer until we take her to OSU. They loaded her up for me and I drove home, and cried all the way. :sob:

Here I am, a person who takes care of dying human beings as her life's work, and I can't even hold it together when I had to put my cat down. *Sigh*

I got home and Wendell was still asleep. Phew... I waited until he woke up, and then went and sat beside him and told him "I did it." And started bawling. He said he would have went with me, etc... but I explained to him that I wasn't going to put him through that. He had a look of love and sadness on his face. I think he was relieved, though. He was able to go to work and function. Me...I climbed in bed, my Ellie came and climbed in next to me, and I cried myself to sleep. After I got up, I planted some Daisies in memory of Daisy. And I took the night off!!! It will be a few days before I can function somewhat normally again.

And so there you have it...I feel a little better now typing all that out. ƒ?§

Take care and hug your pets and humans both...

~Angel :innocent: