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Friday, January 11, 2013

In Loving Memory of Reggie (June 2001 - January 2013)

Hi, my blog is normally for my paper crafting projects, but today is a special day and I have a very heavy heart.  Today I'm honoring my sweet little girl, Reggie, who went home to Heaven.  Yes, I do believe animals go to Heaven and we'll all be reunited one day.
This is the last picture I took of her this morning before our trip to the vet.  She was a very special kitty and a survivor of sorts.  She was born during June of 2001 during Tropical Storm Alison here in Houston, better known to us Houstonians as The Great Flood!  Unless you saw pictures, you would not believe how much water covered our city.  It was incredible.  She was an orphan found by a scrap metal dealer in a large bin by herself.  She was only about 4 days old.  He took her to a friend of his and of mine who was a cat rescuer.  I had already gotten 2 other cats from her (Paisley and Chancey) a year earlier.  My girlfriend fed her and nursed her until it was time for Reggie to find a forever home.  Who could resist?  I know I couldn't and scooped her right up and brought her home.  For me and my other kitty family, she was a sweetheart.  She was a little spitfire though when it came to others, but she managed to tolerate visitors.

Her illness came as a complete shock and surprise to me.  I came home from work on Monday evening and she was having some stomach issues.  I would have taken her right to the vet on Tuesday but my car was also in distress.  I noticed steam coming up from under the hood on my way home from work on Monday, so I knew that I needed to take care of that first thing on Tuesday.  I couldn't go anywhere else except to the car dealership.  So Tuesday morning I was able to take her to the vet and was told she had a lot of fluid in her abdomen and that her blood pressure was very low.  In fact, so low, that it was very difficult for him to get blood out of her to send off for analysis along with some of the fluid taken from her abdomen.  We had to wait until today to get the results back and unfortunately, it was not good news.  She had cancer, probably in her liver and/or intestines.  There was nothing to be done for her - no treatment, no cure.  I won't go into the other issues she had been having since Wednesday, but I knew that she was in distress and that the best thing for her was to have her euthanized.  She needed relief from what she was going through.  I got the news while I was at work and went home and sat with her for awhile petting her and talking to her so she'd know how much she was loved.  She purred and drooled (long hair cats seem to do this).  It was with a very heavy heart that I took her back to the vet to perform the procedure.  I did stay with her until the very end so she knew that that someone was there and cared for her.  Her body will be cremated and her ashes sent to me.  My little pet cemetery in my back yard is getting full. 

It was very weird though and I swear this is true.  As I was driving home and was approaching my house and about to turn into the driveway, I distinctly and clearly heard a cat's meow.  I didn't have one in my car and there were none out on the street and besides, I had the windows up.  I know that it was Reggie telling me it was okay and she was fine.  She'll be in my heart always. 

Rest in peace my beautiful girl.

24 comments:

  1. Oh gosh I am so sorry to hear about your pet cat...I really do feel for you.xxx

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  2. Big hugs Maggie. She was very beautiful!

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  3. Hugs to you Maggie...our pets become such an important part of our lives & it is so difficult to lose them. My heart goes out to you.
    Hugs, Renee

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your sweet words.

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  4. Our pets sure leave disproportionately large holes in our hearts when they leave us.
    Hugs
    Maxine

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  5. Oh Maggie, I am so very sorry to learn about this outcome. I was afraid of this, since our darling Kat had the same sounding symptoms, but did not want to say anything to you.
    It's so good that you were able to be with her on her exit, I am sure that it calmed her and her meow was a thank you! You are certainly right, heaven would not be right for us without our beloved animal companions. Peace be with you.

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  6. Maggie, this is such a touching post and sweet tribute to your special fur-baby Reggie. My heart breaks for you. Your gift of love to Reggie was sacrificial and heartbreaking.

    I am sure you were a joy to Reggie as she was to you. Hugs!!!

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  7. I am so very sorry Maggie! Reggie was such a pretty cat & she was lucky to have you as her owner/friend. Sending lots of {{Hugs}} to you Sweetie...take care!!!

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  8. This is such a touching and heartfelt post Maggie... it made me cry as I read it because I know the pain and sadness you are feeling. I do have to say and hope you take comfort in this but... if you had to be a cat, you wanted to be Maggie's cat! I always said that about our Roo... he had the best life ever and I was never sure he knew he was a dog.
    I love your last paragraph about hearing the meow... I believe you did and yes, Reggie was telling you goodbye and that it was ok.

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  9. I am so sorry for your loss- especially how sudden and unexpected. What a heartfelt and touching blog post.

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  10. Aww Maggie I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how much Reggie meant to you.

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  12. I am sorry to hear of your loss of Reggie. My cat Emily was so special to me. She helped me so much the year after my hubby died. Brought me so much comfort. A year to the day of his passing she got sick and had to join him. I think she knew I needed her and stayed with me longer. A great friend gave me a picture book that I keep on my coffee table called "Cat Heaven" by Cynthia Rylant and it is truly beautiful. All the best to you.

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  13. Maggie, I am sorry for your loss! She sounds like she was a wonderful girl.

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  14. sitting here with tears, not even wanting to think of my two having something go wrong. If she told you she is ok, you have to listen to her.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I always had to listen to everything she said. ;)

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  15. Oh Maggie, your post has touched my heart and the tears are just flowing ... for the pure love you had for Reggie and for your loss. I know that your love for her was strong and beautiful. It's never easy to lose a pet - we have several dogs that have gone to heaven that undoubtably waited with open paws to receive Reggie to romp and play and have all the catnip she can imagine. x0x0

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  16. Maggie I am so sorry to hear about this. I am thinking of you. My pets are my children, so I can totally empathize with you, :(

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  17. Oh Maggie, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss! She is beautiful and I can tell you were very close! You'll always have those special memories with you. I agree with you that she is now in heaven at peace and you will reunited one day! Big Hugs to you! :)

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  18. Oh, my dear Maggie, I'm so sorry to read this post. Your sweet Reggie was a lucky kitty to have you in her life and I know you feel the same about her. It's such a sad thing when we lose them. You did the right thing to relieve her of her pain and distress and I know she's living a happy eternal life now.

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comments. I was blessed by having her in my life.

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  19. I am so sorry for your loss. This post is a wonderful tribute to your beloved Reggie.

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  20. Ph what a beautiful story... Maggie, any of us that know you in real life or even cyber land know you truly love your cats and care for them so wonderful... I am sorry you had to say good bye, and hope the days and other kitties help you to know she is alright now ...

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  21. So sorry to hear about Reggie. I always loved her face. She had a true Egyptian Queen look about her. She knows she was loved and she brought you joy. That's an awesome combination. Hugs!

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