GA 8/18 Max gained his wings

Rebecca & Max (GA)

Member Since 2020
:rb_icon:cat_wings>o
We decided it was the right thing to help Max cross over the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon (8/18/2021).
He would have reached one year in remission on September 12th, but it wasn’t meant to be. He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease last October, and it was silent. Friday, the 13th he had blood in his urine. A four hour stint in the ER showed his BUN at 114.5 and CREA at 8.5. They would not touch him unless I paid the minimum of the 48 hour care quote of $3800 (top was $5600). My husband is still unemployed (it will be a year this Saturday), and I am still paying on his coyote attack from last October and our dog’s IVDD event from last September. We brought him to our vet for fluids and we found out he had a UTI as well. Culture told them which antibiotic to use. They sent us home with sub q fluids. More blood in his urine early this morning, finding out he’d lost three pounds, and him not being able to keep food or water down had us back at our vet this morning. CREA was up to 13. I hemmed and hawed and reached out to the FDMB Facebook group and my CKD Facebook group and got some advice we could have tried…but lack of funds and no idea of it would be enough meant we had to make the worst decision ever. Max has always been a fighter and my vet believed he just didn’t know how NOT to fight. His body wasn’t showing what his kidney values were. We told him he’d fought the good fight and it was okay to rest now. I haven’t stopped crying all day long, and although I KNOW in my head I did all that I could do with the funds and the information we had, it still kills my heart that I couldn’t try more.

Once again I wanted to thank all of you for being with me on last’s year’s while ride! @Bron and Sheba (GA) , @tiffmaxee, @Chris & China (GA) , and a few more I’m forgetting (I’m so sorry!) thank you for being there for me then. Any advice on how to cope now would be welcomed.:( :arghh:
 
I'm so sorry to hear it was Max's time to leave you. No matter how long we have them, it's never long enough.

You made the most loving, most difficult decision any of us has to make....to break your own heart to save the one you love from pain and suffering. It's the last gift we have to give them.

I wish I knew of some way to make it easier but I do know that as time goes by, you will start to remember things that will make you smile instead of cry.

Fly free sweet Max and land softly. Send your mama a sign that you're happy and healthy and waiting for the day when you'll be together again forever. cat_wings>o
 
:rb_icon:cat_wings>o
We decided it was the right thing to help Max cross over the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon (8/18/2021).

I don't know you, but I am so very sorry for your loss. I am keeping you and Max in my thoughts and prayers tonite.
Hugs ❤
He would have reached one year in remission on September 12th, but it wasn’t meant to be. He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease last October, and it was silent. Friday, the 13th he had blood in his urine. A four hour stint in the ER showed his BUN at 114.5 and CREA at 8.5. They would not touch him unless I paid the minimum of the 48 hour care quote of $3800 (top was $5600). My husband is still unemployed (it will be a year this Saturday), and I am still paying on his coyote attack from last October and our dog’s IVDD event from last September. We brought him to our vet for fluids and we found out he had a UTI as well. Culture told them which antibiotic to use. They sent us home with sub q fluids. More blood in his urine early this morning, finding out he’d lost three pounds, and him not being able to keep food or water down had us back at our vet this morning. CREA was up to 13. I hemmed and hawed and reached out to the FDMB Facebook group and my CKD Facebook group and got some advice we could have tried…but lack of funds and no idea of it would be enough meant we had to make the worst decision ever. Max has always been a fighter and my vet believed he just didn’t know how NOT to fight. His body wasn’t showing what his kidney values were. We told him he’d fought the good fight and it was okay to rest now. I haven’t stopped crying all day long, and although I KNOW in my head I did all that I could do with the funds and the information we had, it still kills my heart that I couldn’t try more.

Once again I wanted to thank all of you for being with me on last’s year’s while ride! @Bron and Sheba (GA) , @tiffmaxee, @Chris & China (GA) , and a few more I’m forgetting (I’m so sorry!) thank you for being there for me then. Any advice on how to cope now would be welcomed.:( :arghh:
 
(((Rebecca))) I am so sorry you had to make such a tough decision.:bighug::bighug::bighug: It may only have been a matter of time until his body could no longer fight the kidney disease. You helped him while he still had a good quality of life. Remember those good times. I found putting together my pictures and videos as a memorial really helped me. Most of all, be gentle on yourself this next while. Max had a great life with you. :rb_icon:
 
Oh Rebecca, I am so very sorry to hear this. You have been an amazing mom to Max and he had almost a year in remission.
It is never easy making the decision but it is the kindest thing to do and you must remember that. Max knew you loved him.
Sending you lots of hugs at this very difficult time:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
Fly free Max and land softly at the Rainbow Bridge :rb_icon:cat_wings>o
 
(((Rebecca & Family))) I'm so sorry to hear this. You all clearly loved Max so much - he is now playing (coyote-free!) at the rainbow bridge and I'm sure he's looking over you all cat_wings>o Many hugs and lots of peace. Fly high, Max.
 
Oh dear Rebecca I am so very very sorry for your loss. You did EVERYTHING YOU COULD, truly. And even with all the time and money in the world, it may not have made a hoot of difference. No matter all I tried with Cricket last year - very similar to Max - she couldn't bounce back, and I had to make a decision much like yours. It mattered so much that you were there with him to release him as he flew over that beautiful rainbow bridge, where he isn't in any more pain and can run free.

If it helps you at all - I lost Whisper last year too, and I wasn't with her and the time wasn't my choosing. I couldn't say goodbye. That has wrenched my heart out unlike anything with Cricket, and I hope KNOWING that you were there with him to love on him and tell him he could rest now - I hope that knowing brings you healing, and that his memory and all you went through together bring you so much comfort.
 
((Rebecca)) I am deeply sorry for your loss. You’ve been through so much with Max but you gave him the greatest gift you could to show your love.

I know nothing can comfort you at this time but, like Margaret, I’ve been there with a CKD kitty whose values were this bad. Usually, it does not turn around even with intensive care in the hospital and on IV fluids for days. That’s not what you would want for him anyway. As my vet said, with CKD cats, they often hit a tipping point and then that’s it.
 
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You have all my prayers for your healing. You did the right thing. CKD is the worst.
 

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(((Rebecca))) I am so sorry you had to make such a tough decision.:bighug::bighug::bighug: It may only have been a matter of time until his body could no longer fight the kidney disease. You helped him while he still had a good quality of life. Remember those good times. I found putting together my pictures and videos as a memorial really helped me. Most of all, be gentle on yourself this next while. Max had a great life with you. :rb_icon:
Thank you so much. You were one of the few I forgot to tag! My brain just would not cooperate last night.
 
My heart goes out to you Rebecca, Tyler's brother Perry had kidney disease also,
I had to let him go last Oct. I didn't want to see him suffer , I feel no matter how much you try and treat CKD it's just not enough. You Max was such a handsome boy and you did everything you could for him. I cried when I read about Max.
Please take care , Fly high sweet boy ♥♥:bighug::bighug::bighug:cat_wings>o
 
Oh dear Rebecca I am so very very sorry for your loss. You did EVERYTHING YOU COULD, truly. And even with all the time and money in the world, it may not have made a hoot of difference. No matter all I tried with Cricket last year - very similar to Max - she couldn't bounce back, and I had to make a decision much like yours. It mattered so much that you were there with him to release him as he flew over that beautiful rainbow bridge, where he isn't in any more pain and can run free.

If it helps you at all - I lost Whisper last year too, and I wasn't with her and the time wasn't my choosing. I couldn't say goodbye. That has wrenched my heart out unlike anything with Cricket, and I hope KNOWING that you were there with him to love on him and tell him he could rest now - I hope that knowing brings you healing, and that his memory and all you went through together bring you so much comfort.
I just wanted to write back and tell you that this has helped us all tremulously, and thank you for sharing. I’m so very sorry you weren’t there with Whisper. When things are out of our control/not our choosing, that’s an extra burden we carry. :bighug:
 
((((Rebecca))))
There are never the right words or enough words to help ease grief. Many of us here have kitties who will be there to befriend Max until. you are reunited. He is truly flying fee because you make the most selfless decision possible.
 
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