For the Love of Buddy
by Suzanne Lambkin.........................................
FOR THE LOVE OF BUDDY:
Remembering a day in 1992, when a co-worker casually asked my son Shawn, if he knew of someone who could help rescue 3 starving kittens, now orphaned. Shawn called me to let me know the urgent seriouseness in the timing of their survival. Reluctantly, I agreed to have the girl kitten on condition, that, I find her a good home. Only six months before we had lost 17 year old cat Buzzer, we couldn't bear to loose another.
What was I thinking? There were two helpless boy kittens as well. When we arrived home, Shawn and his girlfriend, now wife,Laura, met us cradling a tiny furball, tenderly in one hand. Then, as I dared to glance downward, a second one was slowly waddling toward me, with deep blue eyes, only 3 weeks old. It was apparent by their distended tummies and tiny limbs, they were suffering with severe malnutrition. We scrambled to retrieve bottles and formula. Sadly the next day, was too late to ask for the third needy kitten. I cannot believe I asked for only one, as they had to be rescued together. A painful, regrettable decision on my part.
Everyone who entered our home, worked shifts to feed, every two hours, cuddle and keep them warm. We were not prepared for them to capture our hearts as they did, nor for their tremendous courage and unwavering bond toward us. They were aptly named, Buddy Ringo, and Kelly Starr. Obviously, Buddy, our little bonus was here for a reason, as we were yet to find out.
My husband, Don, who had previously suffered a stroke, after an accident in which his pelvis was severely injured, lapsed into a coma, six years later. The prognosis came with a small margin of survival or hope. When he did come around, one week later, after the life support was lifted, he was dazed, confused and found he lost most of his memory. We posted pictures in his hospital room of his prized truck, house, kids, anything that could remotely jar his memory. Lets not forget all of the photos, front and center of two beloved pets, Buddy and Kelly.
Don would not respond to any verbal or visual stimuli, except when a curious nurse asked him, who the beautiful cats were in the picture propped prominently beside him. Without hesitation, he laughed and responded indignantly, Buddy and Kelly as if she should have known better. His response was to say the least, very odd to us, since we were all now lost, and strangers to him. Myself son Shawn and daughter Tonya could not enter the realm of closeness now shared by Buddy and Kelly. Also considering, Shawn and Tonya had to make sure Don was restrained by a magnetic belt. Buddy and Kelly seemed to be Don's only focus, or source of past, Don could relate to.
Dons' long road to recovery was traumatic enough, although the cats seems to sense something terribly wrong. Everytime I checked in on Don, asleep at home, one cat was always curled in a ball, burrowing into his chest, with the other purring contentedly at his feet. They didn't leave his side for a very long six months, until they felt Don could maneouver on his own. It was, as if a time warp ended, as they knowingly resumed their regular routine. Buddy and Kelly were on prednisone for most of their frail lives. When Buddy was six, we felt we could do no more for him. After a sever attack, in which he had internal bleeding. We had a choice to put him to sleep, or continue a long therapy with drugs and plenty of T.L.C. We know he pulled through because he was so spoiled but little did we know how much we needed him.
We responded to his every wish and command, including soft pillows to lay on, and water placed within his reach. We were careful to make sure he did not suffer in anyway.
By the middle of August, 2003, Buddy was eleven, I was in constant daily contact with our very caring Veterinarian and all the staff, who I could feel suffered with me. Buddy was hospitalized and had so many tests, we had decided maoney wasn't the object to save our dear Buddy. After one devastating trip to the Vets., my brother Glenn met me in the parking area of Dr. Clarks, to comfort me, since he heard we would have to make one last decision for "the love of Buddy". On Aug. 22, 2003, when Don got to work, an eerie sensation overcame him. In his mind, Don pictured Buddy on his work bench, with Buddy struggling to give Don a goodby kiss on the nose. Don collapsed in tears. It was as if Buddy made peace to comfort Don, one last time to let him go. Needless to say, Don raced right home. I drove quickly to the vets, and although my teaars were stinging, I caught sight of Buddy as he tapped his tired paw, ever so gently on Don's very moist cheek. The vet compassionately supported us and euthanized Buddy with us caressing him peacefully. The vet arranged to have Buddy's ashes returned to us, only we didn't quite know where to put them. We felt after all the love that Buddy had given us, we needed to cherish his memory in a loving way.
One night a few solemn months after Buddy passed on, my brother Glenn, who owns a woodworking shop, called to say, "I have something for you". To our surprise, Glen hand crafted a pet memorial keepsake for Buddy. Lovingly made from solid oak, with a section for his picture and a compartment fro his ashes and a drawer for his collar and tags. A wonderful gesture to help ease our pain.
In 2010 we relived our unconsolable loss again. Don was hospitalized again. This time I had to pick him up and take him with me to have our precious Kelly put to sleep, she was almost 17 at the time. It does not make it easier when you have more than one, but having one left gave us hope. Kelly was the last one, and we have endured the emptiness in our hearts with our loss of two of the most precious cats that we have had the priviledge to be blessed with, not owning them, but being allowed to be in their caregivers. We have learned to embrace the memories, and somehow the old saying: It is better to have loved and lost than not to have loved at all, now makes sense, when we think of our darling pets, Buddy and Kelly.
Now at the start of 2013, Don is 67 and part time at a nursing home, and we are blessed with watching friends pets, and giving them the same love and devotion that was given to our own.
Thank you "Rainbow Bridge" for keeping the memories alive and also, remember in your heart - -love can build a bridge - even with the hereafter.
This story has been remembered with so much love, never to be forgotten.
Suzanne Lambkin
97 Devonglen Drive
Kitchener, Ontario
N2E 1Z7.
Comments would be appreciated by the author, Suzanne Lambkin
 
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