by Jayne Platts
Well, I don't know if I can write this without tears but I will try. You see, my belvoed Indy had been kind of sick. We knew that before we took our vacation. But he seemed to be eating and drinking normally. My tro friends checked both my cats every other day while we were on vacation. Other than they thought the cats were drinking lots of water, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Upon our return from vacation, both my cats (Sydney - my 17 year old seal-point siamese and Indy, my 15 year old blue-point siamese) came out to greet us. But Indy only took a few steps, then collapsed and layed down lethargically. I knew he was very sick. I told my husband we had to take him to the vet immediately. Thankfully the vet could see him right away. I made sure my other cat, Sydney, didn't see me put him in the blanket and then in the basket. I knew then that he wouldn't be coming home. I just felt it. I think Indy sensed it too. It was the longest 10 minute car ride of my life. I cried the whole way. Upon our arrival at the vet, he immediately took us in a room. He examined Indy and then took him out to another room for blood draw and urine sample. We had to wait another 10 minutes for the blood test results. The next longest 10 minutes of my life. When he returned, I could see it in his eyes. My beloved Indy was very sick with diabetes, possible liver damage and kidney failure. My husband and I knew we had to send him to the Rainbow Bridge. So the vet left us alone for a time to say good-bye. Talk about difficult! We both cried, and Indy just looked at us and kept purring, despite his obvious pain and suffering. The vet came back in with the injection. I held my Indy close as he received the injection. Still purring for a brief time, the vet said his heart had stopped. I thought I would collapse. My husband almost did. The vet then left me alone with my baby. I told him to take care and that we loved him very much and what a good cat he had been. I told him we and Sydney (his older brother) would miss him very much but that someday we would all be together again. We will be getting his ashes back after creamation so I feel like he will always be with us. At least in spirit. The hardest thing was telling my other cat, Sydney that his partner of 24 hours a day for the last 15 years would not be coming back. I could see it in his eyes, he already knew. We cried together and Sydney just purred non-stop. I think Indy went to the Rainbow Bridge first, not only because he knew he was sick (even though he was the younger of the two), but he knew that I needed Sydney, my first baby, to help take away the pain of losing him. What a trooper. I just hope Sydney is able to cope with the loss of Indy. After 15 years, 24 hours a day of being together I pray Sydney doesn't have a broken heart. He lookes around for Indy, crying sometimes, not able to find him. So I console him and he consoles me. Its a very difficult time. I can't eat or sleep. I'm sure it gets better with time, but how long will it take. Its only been two days and I feel lost. We also have a 6 year old dog, a Vizsla named Beau. I don't think he knows what is going on, maybe that is for the better. But it helps having him around, too. In closing, is there someone out there who could remind me every Monday, (until I get used to it) to light a candle for my beloved, Indy? My e-mail address is pianoplr@earthlink.net. PLEASE SOMEONE REMIND ME NOT TO FORGET THE CANDLE. I pray every day for all animals that have went before and all animals who are sick or suffering or facing surgery. I pray for the acceptance of my Indy at the Rainbow Bridge and know that someday, somehow, we will all be together again. Thank you all for listening and if you need to talk, I am available by e-mail and would just love to hear from any one of you who read this web page. I love you, Indy, I always will. Sydney misses you and I know that Beau does too. Take care, make some new friends and look down upon us once in a while. We will be looking up at you always. Love, "your mom" and very sad owner owner, Jayne.