For Simone (& Reggie)
New Member
Simone
May 18, 1996 – January 16, 2010
To Rebecca and all the supporting and generous members at FDMB.
I had to surrender Simone’s life Saturday morning to an aggressive tumor on her leg (discovered in October). Commingled with the joint, it could not be removed and since she was only at about half of normal body weight from the progression of what I supposed her IBD, we didn’t think it good to put her through any more with an amputation. We tried to help her body with Depro-Medrol injections the last few months, but it didn’t cure anything though I think it might have made her a bit stronger. We made her more comfortable in the last weeks of her journey with oral Buprenex.
Simone departed this life so sweetly and peacefully on my lap, contentedly wagging the end of her tail, that I admire her that much more. And could have asked for nothing more. I feel we had so much extra time together over these past almost four years. She just never gave up, even trotting to her breakfast that last morning and chowing down. Perhaps grief hasn’t set in – I don’t know – but I just feel so so happy, so deeply grateful to have known her sweet self. It sounds corny, but I still feel her with me, inside. I hope I can honor the privilege of having formed this bond with her by maintaining that feeling.
Simone became so trusting of me and my intentions towards her. That’s a pretty nice feeling to be left with. I clearly remember the night she came home after a week in the hospital in July 2006 and I woke to find her curled up on my forearm. I was so touched by her choosing to find comfort with me. When it was time to test her blood and give her a shot, I would sit cross legged on the kitchen floor and she would climb right into my lap and allow me to prick her ear for blood and then inject her. She was so patient, and forbearing of these twice daily procedures. It’s a mystery really. She even gave up diabetes last May so we could have a life together that was a little more relaxed. I sometimes asked her to leave if she was in pain because I couldn’t make that choice, but she stayed. And ultimately let me make the choice, all the while acting like it was okay for me to take this long. And then she gives me the gift of leaving so gently. She just was a real, real sweetheart and having known her means the world to me. It means having known the world in a way that is beautiful and in a way that can never be taken from me.
Thank you for sharing this experience with me. I can never repay the endless support and education and advice that was provided to me directly and indirectly through this board. Bless all of you and your loving creatures.
May 18, 1996 – January 16, 2010
To Rebecca and all the supporting and generous members at FDMB.
I had to surrender Simone’s life Saturday morning to an aggressive tumor on her leg (discovered in October). Commingled with the joint, it could not be removed and since she was only at about half of normal body weight from the progression of what I supposed her IBD, we didn’t think it good to put her through any more with an amputation. We tried to help her body with Depro-Medrol injections the last few months, but it didn’t cure anything though I think it might have made her a bit stronger. We made her more comfortable in the last weeks of her journey with oral Buprenex.
Simone departed this life so sweetly and peacefully on my lap, contentedly wagging the end of her tail, that I admire her that much more. And could have asked for nothing more. I feel we had so much extra time together over these past almost four years. She just never gave up, even trotting to her breakfast that last morning and chowing down. Perhaps grief hasn’t set in – I don’t know – but I just feel so so happy, so deeply grateful to have known her sweet self. It sounds corny, but I still feel her with me, inside. I hope I can honor the privilege of having formed this bond with her by maintaining that feeling.
Simone became so trusting of me and my intentions towards her. That’s a pretty nice feeling to be left with. I clearly remember the night she came home after a week in the hospital in July 2006 and I woke to find her curled up on my forearm. I was so touched by her choosing to find comfort with me. When it was time to test her blood and give her a shot, I would sit cross legged on the kitchen floor and she would climb right into my lap and allow me to prick her ear for blood and then inject her. She was so patient, and forbearing of these twice daily procedures. It’s a mystery really. She even gave up diabetes last May so we could have a life together that was a little more relaxed. I sometimes asked her to leave if she was in pain because I couldn’t make that choice, but she stayed. And ultimately let me make the choice, all the while acting like it was okay for me to take this long. And then she gives me the gift of leaving so gently. She just was a real, real sweetheart and having known her means the world to me. It means having known the world in a way that is beautiful and in a way that can never be taken from me.
Thank you for sharing this experience with me. I can never repay the endless support and education and advice that was provided to me directly and indirectly through this board. Bless all of you and your loving creatures.
I was downright angry at times, I know, especially as I struggled for months to get her under 300. I think I was so worried that the sacrifices I had made wouldn’t be worth it. I am so glad to see that you still have Lucy whom you have been treating for a long time. I know you share the same precious bond. Jess, of course I remember you (!) who stood by me and talked to me after I admitted Simone. I remember that moment and little Simone there in the cage learning to walk with her catheter while she looked around for her mommy. And Carolynn and Patti, you and Fletcher and Merlin (GA) are extremely dear to my heart.
