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| Glenwood June 16, 2013 |
It was a perfect storm: her long history of infections, the stress of me being away for ten days (I returned July 6 to find her immobilized; we went straight to the ER), and - based on doctors' conjectures - possibly a brain tumor. While she had about 24 hours of solid improvement once home from the hospital on July 8, she weakened again rapidly.
Yesterday we visited Dr. Ryan at One Love, and I came home armed with our last treatment plan to help her rebound. When I opened her carrier, she was so weak that I couldn't bear to continue to try. I told her over and over it was OK to let go. I stroked her and held her front paws, and she pressed them against my hands until she had no more strength. She was gone within an hour.
[It's several hours later, and I just realized Glenwood said good-bye to me. In her carrier, there was a moment where I knew she was gone. She was completely limp. But then her ears twitched and her eyes opened and she lifted her head and looked right at me, and stayed with me a few seconds, kneading her paws into my hands. I held her head, and then she was really gone.]
[It's several hours later, and I just realized Glenwood said good-bye to me. In her carrier, there was a moment where I knew she was gone. She was completely limp. But then her ears twitched and her eyes opened and she lifted her head and looked right at me, and stayed with me a few seconds, kneading her paws into my hands. I held her head, and then she was really gone.]
This is the last entry to this blog. It is Glenwood's story, even as it intertwined with Timmy's and Grace's - and, energetically, Riley's. Grace is only slightly registering the absence, but they had not lived together very long and had been separated in recent weeks to keep Glenwood as calm as possible.
As I drove home from One Love this morning, I passed the house where I found her almost four years ago - four months old, one pound, close to death. Her will to live was extraordinary. I never saved a life before, but with Dr. Ryan, I saved hers. My heartfelt thanks to each of you who helped and cheered Glenwood on. I loved her like crazy and always will.
I will be avoiding that block on Glenwood Road for awhile - and I hope tossing Q-Tips for Grace for a long time to come.
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| Her Fluffy Self, Missed |
P.S. I just reread a post about Glenwood's first trip to the vet in 2009, and saw that Riley died July 10. Since my grief for Riley is what had me find Glenwood, it seems curious that Glenwood would die one day after the fourth anniversary of Riley's death.
P.P.S. My dear friend (and now sister-in-law!) Sherri was intimately involved from the second I brought Glenwood home, not to mention bestowed her middle name. Today she wrote: "I have SUCH clear memories of her from the very beginning when you called me from the front door..and watching this crusty, stinky, hairy toed little cat blossom into the sweet, lovable terrorist she became..yeah, I understand. You saved her life and gave her a great one, however short." Thanks, Sherri, for all of it.
P.P.P.S. My department chair wrote such a kind note that it must be shared: "Oh, Liz ~ This was a creature with a survivor’s spirit: determined, single-minded, selective of her source for affection, fragile. You both ‘found’ each other at a time when both were in need. I’m glad you were able to release Glenwood so she was not required to fight back yet one more time. Peace to this dear girl – and to you. Keep a big supply of Q-tips! (and tissues ---)"
P.P.S. My dear friend (and now sister-in-law!) Sherri was intimately involved from the second I brought Glenwood home, not to mention bestowed her middle name. Today she wrote: "I have SUCH clear memories of her from the very beginning when you called me from the front door..and watching this crusty, stinky, hairy toed little cat blossom into the sweet, lovable terrorist she became..yeah, I understand. You saved her life and gave her a great one, however short." Thanks, Sherri, for all of it.
P.P.P.S. My department chair wrote such a kind note that it must be shared: "Oh, Liz ~ This was a creature with a survivor’s spirit: determined, single-minded, selective of her source for affection, fragile. You both ‘found’ each other at a time when both were in need. I’m glad you were able to release Glenwood so she was not required to fight back yet one more time. Peace to this dear girl – and to you. Keep a big supply of Q-tips! (and tissues ---)"
