Pam, I am so very sorry to hear about Rissa-Tai. Although I've been on the list for a few years, I seldom post any more and have very little time to even follow what's going on, but I saw all the messages concerning Rissa-Tai and just knew something horrible had happened. She was an inspiration to us all and I just can't tell you how sorry I am. I read your e-mail and cried and cried. My little Majika's not doing very well either and I'm afraid I'm going to lose her and just the thought makes me crazy w/grief. I so wish someone would find a cure for this horrible devastating disease. Try to take comfort in knowing that you and Chuck did everything you could for her and she was very very lucky to have you. Again, I am so sorry. Thinking of you, Sherry
>From: "Erica Easley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: Rissa-Tai >Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 11:10:05 -0600 > > just read your letter about Rissa-tai and I want to tell you how sorry >Iam for your loss. I just went through the same thing with my Chester a >week ago and am feeling alot of pain myself. And now the big fight for the >lives of my other 4 cats is in the future and very uncertain.I think you >did the right thing and should never look back. Hopefully you will feel >better very soon and always remember Rissa and that she isnt suffering >anymore.Erica (the new girl on the block) > ----- Original Message ----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 2:23 AM > Subject: Rissa-Tai > > > First of all, I would like to thank all of you who sent so many >well-wishes and prayers for our baby. I apologize for not naming you >individually, I've just been trying to hang in there. > This email to you all is the hardest one I've ever had to write. I did >not want to have to write this, not ever, I know none of us ever does. >Rissa-Tai is now at the bridge. She fought valiantly and hard, for four >and a half years when she was first diagnosed -- and she was very sick at >the time, and her poor little body just couldn't any more. > We took her to the vet tonight, realizing that things were very bad. >She was all skin and bones. For the first time since she got sick, we had >been syringing liquefied food into her for the past couple of days. She >wouldn't eat on her own, no matter how she was encouraged -- and she would >always at least lick at it before. She was still drinking water and >peeing, but no poop, and I don't even think she was sleeping. Her eyes >lost the spark, which they never had before. Our vet (who is wonderful) >took one look at her and said "Oh Rissa." She also mentioned that >Rissa-Tai wasn't breathing right, and when she listened to her, grew even >more concerned. Rissa-Tai, who always fought somewhat (even when her pcv >was down to 9%) didn't. She let her pick her up without protest. She >x-rayed her to see if she could see anything, and found that her lungs were >hyper-extending. Also that her liver, kidney and spleen were enl! arged. >She couldn't see anything on the x-ray with the intestines, but that didn't >necessarily mean anything. She even took a second x-ray to try to pinpoint >the problem, and still couldn't see anything. We discussed what this could >possibly be. She was concerned about kidney and liver failure, and >lymphoma, which could be in her stomach or esophagus, or more. She offered >to do an aspirate of her liver, so we could know what. I had noticed over >the last few days that she seemed to be just existing. And when she >purred, which was rare, she sounded like every purr hurt, and that it was >an effort. Chuck and I discussed what would the options be to know, and >how much time it would buy her at this point, and would she be comfortable, >quality of life, etc. (When my dad was ill right before he died in >February, I wondered the same thing. My biggest question was could he have >one more good day? And the answer t! hen, was that I didn't think so) When >I asked myself that same question, the answer was again no. (I can't even >write this without crying). We made the decision that it was time. Chuck >and Dalya said good-bye to her, and I stayed. Dr. Bolser had to deal with >a cat that came in the clinic in diabetic shock (we were treating Rissa >with insulin for diabetes for the last year, so thank goodness we hadn't >had to deal with shock like that too, and I felt that if they could save >that cat, good) so I stayed with Rissa-Tai, petted her and told her I loved >her, and that soon she would be able to play with her Willie Worm with all >the energy she had as a kitten. When Dr. Bolser was finally able to come >in, she spoke to Rissa-Tai and told her what a good girl she was, and that >she wasn't going to have to fight any more. When Rissa complained when she >tried to touch her paw, she immediately said let's gas her so she won't be >stressed. I went with! them, she let her stay in her carrier to gas her, >and then pulled her out. I was able to pet her and talk to her the whole >time she was injected, and she went quickly and peacefully (if you are ever >in this position and the cat is stressed, INSIST on doing it this way, even >though she wasn't aware, she didn't have to suffer even more). Dr. Bolser >spoke to her the whole time, told her it was OK, that she had fought so >hard and she was so proud of her. Dr. Bolser was crying the whole time >too. They let me take her back into the room and be with her for a while, >and I got to pet her and tell her how much I loved her again, and that I >was so proud of her. > I miss her so much, it's only been a little over four hours. We keep >looking for her, the other cats are too, and they usually know when she is >coming back from the vet's. They are both complaining and acting >differently. > Making the choice to put a pet to sleep is a blessing and hell at the >same time. I am trying so hard to not second guess the decision made, >there's no point in it, but it's so hard to wonder if there was anything >else we could do. I think the question of asking if they can have one more >good day is a good one to ask, and that's what made the decision for me. >Dr. Bolser had offered to hit her with everything available, but that would >have meant daily injections, lots of steroids, and there would have been >little, if any improvement. It would have brought more time, but her >quality of life would probably not have been good. > Anyway, I love her and will miss her terribly. She is the only one of >our three cats we got as a kitten. In that way, she was our baby more so >than the other two (not that we love them any less). Thank you to >everyone, for your patience, kindness, understanding, support and advice >over the years. This list has been the greatest source of support for us. >Thank you Jim. > Pam & Chuck _________________________________________________________________ Join the world�s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com
