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Friday, April 5, 2013

What Can We Do While They're Sick?

Is there any worse feeling than being next to someone you love who is sick and not being able to make them feel better? And when I say someone I mean human or animal.

Two years ago, I adopted my tortoiseshell cat, Stella, from the Humane Society. Three months later she had a breast cancer scare and went through an emergency mastectomy. I was heartbroken. To have to take my cat to the vet, leave her there for several nights! [is that not the hardest thing to do?], and then pick her up with her eyes sunken in, her tummy shaved, and then watch her bump into everything with her cone on. I felt absolutely horrible for her.


We made it through that and then a cross-country move three months later, but didn't realize how hard things were about to become. Stella and my parents' cat, Missy, [but really she was my cat too] were there for me every night when I came home from the hospital the week that my mom died. Another time that I had to sit and watch helplessly.

Eight months later, I sat beside Missy as she tried desperately to hang on to life but her lungs and old age just couldn't do it anymore and we lost her too.


But through those losses, as horrible as they were to go through and still are today -- I've had my Stella girl by my side. Late last night, Stella started not feeling well. At all. She was up on her perch above the refrigerator and I climbed up to get her down and she collapsed into my lap and snuggled up.

I decided it was time to close up shop and for the two of us to go to bed. I carried her in my room, got under the covers, and motioned for her to come over. She is really a dog, I'm sure of it. Instead of coming over to snuggle against the other pillow, Stella wedged herself between the edge of the bed and my shoulder. Where she would be closest to me. She laid her little head on my hand.

It sounds like it's back to the vet we go. A place I hate just as much as the hospital. Keep my sweet girl in your prayers this weekend and send some happy thoughts our way.

Sometimes all you can do is be there to comfort a loved one. No matter how hard it is to admit, you can't take the sickness away. Just be there. By their side. Whether they're human or animal, it makes a difference to them.

15 comments:

Sarah said...

Oh, I hope everything is okay with your sweet baby! They are the best companions. My beloved Princess is 13 and almost 2 years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mammary tumor removed. It is so hard to watch them in pain when they can't communicate. Two years later, she is doing well but I am always watching her. I know the feeling well and I'm praying for both of you! xo

Carolyn said...

Oh no! Here's hoping that whatever is wrong with Stella isn't too serious! I'll be thinking about you two!

Katrin said...

I am so sorry to hear about this! I hope Stella will feel better soon! I am thinking of you! I know how you must feel, my pets are my family members and when they feel bad then I feel bad too!

Whitney Tomlin said...

I hope everything is okay with your sweet girl! I have three dogs, and I feel the same way about all of them. They are my babies! Xoe, my oldest, I rescued from a bad home when she was only a couple weeks old. Soon after she got very sick and had to spend some nights in the hospital and it broke my heart. I went to visit her every single day!

Ash said...

oh noooo... pets are so hard when they are sick /: sending some love your warm.. and a few warm kitty purrs (:

Jenn said...

I hope that she is alright! I know how scary and overwhelming it can be. You feel totally helpless and you WANT to do something, anything to make it better. That's how I felt when Cooper started having seizures. It's scary. I'll keep you and your kitty in my prayers!

Jacqueline said...

Omg, I'm such a sap. As I'm reading this I have tears in my eyes. A sick kitty just pulls at my heartstrings. Sending prayers to you and Stella. Hopefully it's nothing too serious!

Jenn @ West Sac Honey said...

I hope she will be okay thinking of you!

Jess said...

Oh no! Thinking of you and Stella. I really hope she will be OK.

PS That's too sweet that she slept with her head on your hand :)

Jess

K_stets said...

You know I'm a cat person too!!! Stella is in my prayers!!! Hope she feels better quickly!

Unknown said...

ugh, I hate to hear this! I am hoping that everything goes well and there is no bad news. I'll be thinking about y'all!

Allison said...

This post made me tear up...I love my pets so much and had a scare last year with my sweet kitty that made me a hot mess. I'll definitely be praying!

Chelsea said...

I hope everything is ok with Stella!! I hate it when animals get sick, always makes me want to cry, they are so innocent, and in my opinion don't deserve it since they do so much for us. I'll keep her in my prayers!

Laura said...

Hope Stella gets to feeling better! Praying for you and that sweet kitty face!

Holly said...

Awww poor Stella!! I hope she's OK and feeling better! I hate when my pets are sick. I feel so helpless and just want to comfort them any way I can. It's amazing how much these animals can mean to us and how much we can love them :)