Cuddles Lost Her Battle This Morning....

[Joe Frazier]

After Returning home with us 3 weeks ago, Cuddles had started living a pretty normal life again. Gaining weight, looking more like her normal self, loving up to dad, being on every lap she got a chance to be on. Things were looking promising. We were hoping she would get to be here past the original month time she was set for, and get to stay home for two months or more, that the vet said might be possible. She quit eating a couple of days ago, so I tried changing flavors this morning, she did lap up some of the gravy, (Her last meal). We hadn't seen her drink any water in the last couple days. She threw up yesterday morning, and again this morning on the way to the vet.

I made Cuddles a promise 3 weeks ago when she came back home with me, I promised that I would not let her suffer, and I held true to that promise. She started taking baby steps with her back legs, almost dragging them. This morning she was yellow in color... I had already called the vet last night on the emergency line, and had a last minute appointment scheduled for this early morning. As the vet slipped in the IV, Cuddles starts purring, and rubbing against me, burying her head in my arm like she used to when she was scared. But this was not a scared bury. She was purring and brushing up against me the whole time. Cuddles knew I kept my promise not to let her suffer, and was thanking me, telling me and my wife her final goodbyes before the needle was inserted. When I asked her if she was ready, she rolled over on her side, IV arm up, and rested her head in my hand. She knew it was time and that she was loved. She was ready to go and wait for me at Rainbow Bridge.

As the needle was inserted, and the first bit of solution was inserted into her, her purr stopped, and she went limp, before even half the solution was inserted. She was so ready to go, she didn't fight the solution, she didn't even last through the whole push. I told the vet she was gone, and after flushing her IV, she confirmed it. Trying to be strong for Cuddles and only let tears roll down my face, but not full out cry, I released the cry and full tears as I am now writing this piece. This was her final journey that was made out of love, and she knew it. She's now laying peacefully somewhere in a green meadow this side of Rainbow Bridge, waiting for us to come collect her when we're ready. Her large green eyes watching that path for the day I come to scoop her up and carry her across Rainbow Bridge.

We love you Cuddles and always will. We wait for the day we can be with you again.