Yesterday on May 24, 2020 at 12:45 my companion, nurse and guardian Isabella took her last breath. Her condition had been deteriorating over the last week. She did not eat anything on Friday or Saturday and was lethargic and obviously in discomfort. I took her to the vet on Sunday morning and after an exam and blood work it was clear that her kidneys had essentially failed. With no possibility of a cure and and an expectation that even if an extreme treatment was tried she would still be in discomfort, even if it worked and would not afford her much time.

I had prepared for this decision and as much as it hurts to not have her in my life anymore, I could not be that selfish. I am certain that she was ready to go. On Sunday morning she managed to come downstairs to my bedroom before I awoke and spent time looking out the patio window.  She had not been downstairs on her own for several days before.

I was with her at the end, holding her as they administered the sedative and stopped her heart. We had 30 minutes prior to that where I got to say good bye to the best girl, best kitty and best companion. I released her from our mutual support agreement and let her go. I know that she would have done everything she could to comfort me as she always had, but it would not have been fair to keep her suffering. She simply fell asleep and when her heart stopped beating there was no reaction.

My house is empty and no longer feels like a home. She was my favorite thing and the truest of companions. I will be making a memorial page linked to my home page soon, but I need no memorial to remember her. She was a major part of my life for the last 17 years and her love and care has been significant in my cancer treatment. It will be harder without her, but her love will stay with me always.