Dear Christine, I am so sorry to hear that it was Romeo's time to leave you. Thank you for sharing Romeo's story with us - it is so inspiring.
Sleep soft, dear Romeo... You are in my thoughts & prayers. Kat (Mew Jersey) On Mon, 10 Nov 2008, Chris wrote: > Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:37:28 -0500 > From: Chris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: [Felvtalk] Romeo is gone.... > > It is with a very heavy heart that I tell you that I lost my Romeo today to > lymphoma. I write not out of grief but to encourage all the newbies who > wonder whether they can hang on with a FELV positive, whether they know > enough to take care of them, whether they should mix, etc. And the > resounding answer is YES YES YES. My Romeo was a throw away stray that I > first met 7+ years ago when I helped someone out feeding a little colony > near me. He was already an adult (3-4 years old) who would come running > across the field when I?d whistle and meow the whole way so I wouldn?t miss > him. He would get underfoot, get bullied by the other cats, bury > everybody?s food, and just rub up against my leg for some loving. I knew > someone had been unkind to him cause if I raised my hand, he?d scamper away, > just out of reach, cowering. > > > > Fast forward two years and we had one of the coldest NY winters we?ve had in > a long time. One weekend, we were expecting zero degree temps and a major > snowstorm. Romeo was the last of the colony and I knew I had to bring him > in. I even had an adoptive home ready?but he turned out to be positive and > they couldn?t handle it. Soooooo, he stayed in my room for a few weeks, > watching my every move, figuring out the TV and the vacuum cleaner weren?t > that bad. Slowly, he started coming out of his crate at night when he > thought I was asleep. Little baby steps?first the food dish got moved next > to his crate. Then the litter box in the bathroom. And slowly, he?d come > out during the day. I knew we won the battle when I peeked out over my > monitor to spot him on my bed. You could see it in his face?this is > niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice and from that point on, he was totally > comfortable being in and around we humans. Funny thing is that he never > really wanted to get out?he rarely sat at the window?the couch and the bed > were always much more comfortable for him! > > > > Over these last 4 ? years, Romeo turned into the most loving cat you?d ever > want to meet. Only thing I could never do was pick him up or restrain him > in any way---he was just too scared. But he?d jump up on me, lie on my > chest as I was trying to get to sleep, follow me around like a puppy dog and > otherwise just kept thanking all the humans he met for being safe and warm > and loved. My other cats were a bit leary of him and Tucson never did take > much of a liking to him?all jealousy, I?m sure. But Romeo persevered and > the two of them had come to terms with each other... > > > > His final illness took him quickly. He?d never been real sick before?had > some gum and teeth problems a couple of times, but that was it. Going to > the vet was a major trauma for him so I?d always worked with my wonderful > vet to keep those visits to a bare minimum. But today was one of those days > that I knew he had to get to the vet asap. He?d been feeling poorly during > the week and over the weekend, he started breathing very hard?like he > couldn?t catch his breath. He?d been on antibiotics for what I thought was > another gum problem but when we got to the vet, I knew it was a whole lot > more. My vet sent me immediately to our local specialty hospital and they > confirmed the lymphoma. He had a large mass in his chest, his lungs had > filled up with fluid, and I knew that emotionally and physically, he could > never withstand an aggressive course of treatment that in all likelihood > would only give him a short extension of his life. So, I made that decision > we all dread after I looked in his eyes and knew he was telling me it was > time. I stroked him to the end and told him I loved him. > > > > And do I regret taking him in?ABSOLUTELY NOT. He gave me so many wonderful > memories and he will always be in my heart. And did he regret coming > inside?ABSOLUTELY NOT?he had almost 5 years of a wonderful life and I know > that had he stayed out, he would have died a miserable death from the cold > and hunger or an infection and he would have been alone. We can?t save them > forever?but we can give them some wonderful time and we can all learn so > very much about life from these little guys. > > > > Christiane Biagi > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >
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