Maggie Mae 1998-2005

Maggie, Miss Mags, Maggie Mae, Magsers Mae, Maggielee Mae, Munchkin Mae, Magatha, Fat Cat, Lardo, Rhino Rump, Pig Belly (guess which ones are from Lorne). No matter what we called her there was no mistaking what a wonderful cat she was. We found out yesterday afternoon that the tumor was malignant and that she had Lymphosarcoma and her prognosis was guarded to poor with poor being the worst news, like Stage IV in humans. Dr. Welch said that she wouldn't recommend chemo and Prednisone would only sustain her life for 45-60 days at best. She wasn't keeping any food down and had already lost three pounds. I know it's TMI, but we got to bring her home Thursday night and she vomited up some of her stomach lining overnight. I had to bring her back because of the vomiting and they put her back on IV fluids and five medications. She was also becoming anemic.

We decided to take her before it got even worse so we had her put to sleep yesterday evening. It was without a doubt one of the hardest things I have ever done and will ever do. I got to hold her for over an hour before it was done so I got to say goodbye. This was not a rash decision by any means. I had been thinking about it all week, ever since Monday when she told me to prepare for the worst. All I kept thinking was that it is no way to live, wondering each and every day if this was going to be the day that she would die. Dr. Welch said that chances were we would have to make this decision before she would die on her own anyway, so at this point I felt like it would be delaying the inevitable. We're having her cremated and I will be able to go and get her ashes early next week.

I strongly believe that people, and animals for that matter, come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Maggie came into my life for a reason. Lorne got her for me so that I wouldn't be lonely, but I will never be lonely again because God has blessed me with the most precious baby boy and he is the center of my life. I am still really hurting, but holding him is healing in itself. His smile can brighten even the darkest of days. Maybe one day he'll want a kitty of his own and then we'll have another reason to give a small part of our hearts to another bundle of fur.