Melissa & Tarragon
Member Since 2011
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/7-24-tarragon-is-at-the-rainbow-bridge.181165/
Thank you all for your love and prayers. We are all devastated but know the lil T is happy and healthy once again and free. I wanted to give a tribute to our sweet boy so this may be long.
We had gotten a kitty in 1997 that was suppose to be our 6 year old son's. He had always wanted a kitty and knew that he would name her Turnup. "Where is the cat, oh she will turn up." You have to love a 6 year old's sense of humor. However, Turnup had other plans and bonded with my husband instead. She was queen and your typical cat personality so there was no persuading her any different. When Mason was 9, he asked if he could go pick out a kitty to be his. We went to the vet and there were a lot of kitties. Mason picked the smallest saddest looking kitty. We asked if he was sure and he was adamant. He wanted to name him Tarragon because that was his favorite spice at the time, so we took Tarragon home at 5 weeks old.
Tarragon's mother had been found in an alley behind the vet. She had given birth to a litter in a puddle and they all died. She was severely dehydrated so they brought her in and rehydrated her. A day later she gave birth to one more kitty, our sweet Tarragon. She died days later and the vet techs nursed this small kitty for 5 weeks.
We brought Tarragon home and Turnup stepped right in and acted as his mother for the rest of her life. Tarragon and Mason were inseparable. As an only child, Tarragon was his best friend, playmate, and confidant. They spent every night in the den together and T would let me know no girls were allowed when I would go check on them by squaking at me. We got a new puppy when T was 3 and that started a whole new adventure for all of us. Charlie and Tarragon became fast friends and that continued to the end. Tarragon was diagnosed with asthma when he was 5. The vet would give him a shot every 2 months or so, when T had trouble breathing and he would be good to go. This was before the internet and we didn't realize the damage this was doing until it was too late.
Mason left for college and Tarragon became ill. At first we thought it was just depression. Weight loss, peeing in inappropriate areas, etc. You all know the symptoms. We finally changed vets and when he was 10 figured out that the little guy had diabetes. In March 2010, we started insulin and joined FDMB. Through all the ups and downs, DKA, IBD diagnosis, asthma inhalers, prednisolone, HCM, Tarragon was always a sweet boy with only love to give everyone around him. Never a hiss, struggle, or scratch from him.
Tarragon lived to be 16, only 3 weeks shy of his 17th birthday. Asthmatic for 12 years, diabetic for 7. He never complained and only wanted to be held and cuddled, following us and Charlie where ever we were. When Charlie had 2 knee surgeries, Tarragon didn't leave his side and would lick Charlie's stitches, snuggled up against him. When Turnup became ill 2 1/1 years ago suddenly, Tarragon laid beside her on the bed for 2 days while we were trying to nurse her. When she passed, T stepped in to try to help us heal. If anyone was sick, lil T was there to try and make it better or at least let them know he was there. Tarragon was the sweetest purest soul I have ever known. We all know what it takes to care for a special needs kitty and never regret any of it. I learned more from Tarragon about compassion, patience, dedication, and love than I have from anyone.
Tricia said it perfectly when she said that it will take time to heal the Tarragon size hole in our hearts. That is a perfect way to describe how Brian, Mason, Charlie and I all feel. He was only 11 pounds but was bigger than life for all of us.
We love you lil T and are glad you are happy, healthy, and with your sister once again.
Thank you all for your love and prayers. We are all devastated but know the lil T is happy and healthy once again and free. I wanted to give a tribute to our sweet boy so this may be long.
We had gotten a kitty in 1997 that was suppose to be our 6 year old son's. He had always wanted a kitty and knew that he would name her Turnup. "Where is the cat, oh she will turn up." You have to love a 6 year old's sense of humor. However, Turnup had other plans and bonded with my husband instead. She was queen and your typical cat personality so there was no persuading her any different. When Mason was 9, he asked if he could go pick out a kitty to be his. We went to the vet and there were a lot of kitties. Mason picked the smallest saddest looking kitty. We asked if he was sure and he was adamant. He wanted to name him Tarragon because that was his favorite spice at the time, so we took Tarragon home at 5 weeks old.
Tarragon's mother had been found in an alley behind the vet. She had given birth to a litter in a puddle and they all died. She was severely dehydrated so they brought her in and rehydrated her. A day later she gave birth to one more kitty, our sweet Tarragon. She died days later and the vet techs nursed this small kitty for 5 weeks.
We brought Tarragon home and Turnup stepped right in and acted as his mother for the rest of her life. Tarragon and Mason were inseparable. As an only child, Tarragon was his best friend, playmate, and confidant. They spent every night in the den together and T would let me know no girls were allowed when I would go check on them by squaking at me. We got a new puppy when T was 3 and that started a whole new adventure for all of us. Charlie and Tarragon became fast friends and that continued to the end. Tarragon was diagnosed with asthma when he was 5. The vet would give him a shot every 2 months or so, when T had trouble breathing and he would be good to go. This was before the internet and we didn't realize the damage this was doing until it was too late.
Mason left for college and Tarragon became ill. At first we thought it was just depression. Weight loss, peeing in inappropriate areas, etc. You all know the symptoms. We finally changed vets and when he was 10 figured out that the little guy had diabetes. In March 2010, we started insulin and joined FDMB. Through all the ups and downs, DKA, IBD diagnosis, asthma inhalers, prednisolone, HCM, Tarragon was always a sweet boy with only love to give everyone around him. Never a hiss, struggle, or scratch from him.
Tarragon lived to be 16, only 3 weeks shy of his 17th birthday. Asthmatic for 12 years, diabetic for 7. He never complained and only wanted to be held and cuddled, following us and Charlie where ever we were. When Charlie had 2 knee surgeries, Tarragon didn't leave his side and would lick Charlie's stitches, snuggled up against him. When Turnup became ill 2 1/1 years ago suddenly, Tarragon laid beside her on the bed for 2 days while we were trying to nurse her. When she passed, T stepped in to try to help us heal. If anyone was sick, lil T was there to try and make it better or at least let them know he was there. Tarragon was the sweetest purest soul I have ever known. We all know what it takes to care for a special needs kitty and never regret any of it. I learned more from Tarragon about compassion, patience, dedication, and love than I have from anyone.
Tricia said it perfectly when she said that it will take time to heal the Tarragon size hole in our hearts. That is a perfect way to describe how Brian, Mason, Charlie and I all feel. He was only 11 pounds but was bigger than life for all of us.
We love you lil T and are glad you are happy, healthy, and with your sister once again.
I am sure he is looking down at you from the Bridge and will be sending you a sign soon, to do what he can to help you in this time of sadness. It was his nature.
I didn't know Tarragon's whole story, but I remember how happy he always was when Mason came home and how much they loved each other. What a dear, sweet kitty, which matches perfectly with the image I have always had of him in my mind. There are no words to take away the pain you are all feeling, but I hope the knowledge that we all share it with you will somehow help
