Thanks and Moving On

Thanks to everyone for their comforting words about Gilda. She hadn't been herself for probably the last six months, so I feel good about the decision. At first they thought she was just dehydrated Friday night, so then they put her on IV fluids overnight in the hospital. Then she perked up and tried to eat and immediately vomited. After some debate about how safe it was to put a cat of this age under general anesthesia, we decided to have them do so and use a scope to see if she had a blockage. Then they found a massive tumor in her esophagus which had recently grown (as she was eating before - they say these types of cancers in cats are very aggressive and can grow in a matter of hours.) We decided it was kindest just to give her the injection while she was still sleeping and not wake her up to see her awake again just for our sakes. We are having her cremated (alone - that was another slightly macabre option, to have her cremated with other pets) and will be getting a paw print sculpture along with the ashes sometime in a week.

So now I'm done. After crying for two days, I am ready to move on.

Yesterday I made something new in the pressure cooker - bratwurst. First we (now Jim is getting into this wonder machine!) browned the bratwurst in the pressure cooker in a little bit of olive oil and a bunch of chopped celery and onions. Next we put in two bottles of beer and some "boiler onions" cut into fourths, plus some petite Yukon Gold potatoes (about five) and set the cooker for high pressure for six minutes, but then we let the pressure release naturally to lock in the flavors more. Everything was SO.GOOD. The only thing I would do differently is to put bigger onion pieces in there because they mostly dissolved while cooking. Jim mashed up the potatoes for himself, and I made a sandwich with my bratwurst with a few onions and some horseradish mustard. Quick, easy, and cheap. Not to mention delicious! Jim is loving all this stuff.

Comments

[Debby]

Robin,

I just saw your post on FB about this and want to tell you how truly sorry I am about Gilda. I know you both loved her so very much, and it is so hard to lose a kitty after spending so much of your lives together. The empty spaces can sometimes seem overwhelming. I choose to believe she's in cat heaven with my Rainy and Charlie, and they'll be watching over us, enjoying their pain-free, healthy bodies. ((hugs)) to you and Jim.

[Katinka]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet kitty.

[Rosie]

Robin, I am just catching up on your blog. Having lost pets and yes as recent as last year (after 18 years as well), I empathize. Hugs and kisses to you and your hubby.

[sylphette]

Thank you for sharing your story. Gilda looks like such a sweetheart. Losing beloved cats is the worst. :(

[Michelle B]

Still thinking of you. We just went through a similar situation with Abby..she got sick right after we got back from vacation (shew as given Rimdayl for a sore elbow-she was only 7) and went downhill very quickly. Those decisions are just so hard to make even when you know it's the right one.

[Margreet]

Maybe you will find comfort in what I read once: "I did not let you go because I did not love you,I let you go because I loved you too much to let you suffer". Letting go is a great act of love and kindness. She must have found the rainbowbridge by now. A hug from me towards you.