Today, my son’s heart was broken for the third time in less than a year’s span. In May, his Grandma Rhonda died suddenly. In June, he lost a papa he thought he could count on forever (see earlier posts for details). Tomorrow, he will lose his best friend, his confidant, his companion in life – his cat Bear.
We will make the usually short but painfully long trip in the morning to say goodbye. Bear is at the vet right now, waiting to be put to sleep. He has kidney disease, and with his age (over 12 years), the deterioration of his kidneys and his extreme weight loss and dehydration, there’s really nothing we can do that will guarantee survival. He had lost weight quite quickly about a month or so ago, and Jeremy kept saying it was the new cat food he didn’t like. So, I finally gave in and bought different cat food, and he seemed to perk up a bit. His hair looked a little better, he started gaining weight back very slowly over the next week or so.
Last night, I noticed his upper lip was swollen and he had drainage under his bottom lip. I looked inside, and it looked like he had four absessed teeth. “That’s why he’s losing weight! He can’t eat!”, I told everyone. But a little bit later, I thought to myself “Four teeth at once? That seems pretty unlikely. I think there’s something else wrong.” Yep. Kidney disease. The absessed teeth were actually ulcers, due to high elevation of white blood cells. He looked horrible.
I watched in helplessness as Jonathan cried himself to sleep tonight. I also cried – obviously I will miss Bear terribly. But the real source of my tears was the pain I could feel in my gut as I stroked Jonathan’s head, lacking the words to make it all better. I know how it feels to lose a beloved pet, as all of you do too. It will cut to the quick for quite a while afterward. As Jonathan sleeps by himself for the first time in years, my heart hurts for him and the mother in me wishes for the magic cure for heartbreak and loss, disappointment and tears.
Seeing how this was a couple of days ago, Im assuming everything went as planned! Hang in there Jonathon, you will have a sense of maturity that some people don’t have well into adulthood! It’s always wierd for me to meet or talk to someone in their 30’s or 40’s who have NEVER dealt with death closely in anyway, and even though they are adults, they have no “death and dying” coping skills! I’ll be praying for you Jonathon! and I’ll be praying for you too dear Mom, (of Jonathon of course not mine!)
I AM A mother of two, wife of one and googler at heart. I enjoy piling laundry on the couch, papers on my desk and pineapple on my pizza. Cereal on the carpet is my favorite. I hate the wind and live where it blows all of the time. If asked, I would stand on top of the Empire State Building and sing praises to my God. I wish I knew how to play the guitar and the piano. I can rock out any sax, but seriously, what good does that do me?! My goal in life is to be able to afford a housekeeper. I love to read, and have finally gotten to a point in my life where I can enjoy it again. I like it when Elmo sings with Norah Jones. I love to take pictures, but I don't know how to use my camera. I am made fully righteous through the life and death and resurrection of Christ. I am always late because, according to my therapist, I don't value others' time. He's probably right, even though I would never admit to it. No, I don't have a therapist anymore. Yes, I should. Get off my back.
Seeing how this was a couple of days ago, Im assuming everything went as planned! Hang in there Jonathon, you will have a sense of maturity that some people don’t have well into adulthood! It’s always wierd for me to meet or talk to someone in their 30’s or 40’s who have NEVER dealt with death closely in anyway, and even though they are adults, they have no “death and dying” coping skills! I’ll be praying for you Jonathon! and I’ll be praying for you too dear Mom,
(of Jonathon of course not mine!)