One year ago today, at 2am on July 7, 2013, I held Tara's paw in my hand and whispered that it was okay to let go as she took her final breaths. That whole long July 4th weekend had been spent gently saying goodbye to the most beautiful, special, and brave little fur angel I have ever known. She was a once in a lifetime pet who changed my life in innumerable ways. I knew that this holiday weekend would be extremely difficult as I relived every single moment of one of the most painful times of my life.
Little did I know that another crisis was headed my way this year. On Friday afternoon my mom had a major heart attack. Doctors discovered immediately that she had blockage in 3 arteries. The artery that was in the worst shape and was causing the most problems was immediately opened up with 2 stents. The other 2 arteries are scheduled to be opened sometime today, and an echocardiogram will be performed to determine how much damage was done by the attack. Other than severe scoliosis, my mom has been perfectly healthy so this has been both shocking and terrifying. She is my best friend, the only person in my "real life" who loves cats as much as I do, so facing this major health crisis has really thrown me for a loop. (One amazing coincidence: Mom's roommate in the hospital has a Yorkiepoo named Truffles!)
What makes this even more unbelievable is that my father's first heart attack occurred 21 years ago...on July 4, 1993.
On top of everything else, Terpsie, the neighbor kitty that I featured on last week's Caturday Art post, was gently helped across the Rainbow Bridge early yesterday morning. It was almost to the hour the exact same moment that I lost Tara last year. Since I pet sit for Terpsie so often, I was asked to help bury her yesterday afternoon. It was an honor.
Does anyone question why I plan to wipe July 4th from my calendar in the future?
23 comments:
I'm so very sorry, Melissa. You and your mom are in my thoughts and prayers.
Such a special relationship you have...hold her close. XO
(((purrs)))
GG
So sorry - sending ya big hugs. And sending your mom POTP.
Oh my goodness! What a huge amount of awful. I am so sorry, and you absolutely should wipe July 4 off the calendar. I hope your mom recovers well and quickly and that Truffles is giving you plenty of extra kitty cuddles right now.
Yes it is a huge amount of awful (and I'm going to steal that phrase). I'm sorry you - and your mom - are having to struggle through this. Sincere sympathy from a virtual friend.
I'm so sorry, Melissa - I'll be keeping you and your mom in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh, Melissa, I'm so sorry. You have every right to want to wipe this holiday weekend off of the calendar! I'm thinking good thoughts for you and your Mom.
What a difficult time for you. We hope your mom will be okay. We send you and your family comforting purrs and gentle headbutts.
Things will get better. If everyone could love animals, as much as we do, the world would be a better place. Losses are terrible, but the life we spend with them worth every minute.
Best wishes to your Mom.
patucker54 at aol dot com
I am sorry for all the sadness. Sending healing prayers for your mom. And huge hugs for you.
Sue B
yikes....we vote next year you take this holiday off and go far far away. we are sending purrs to your mom and for all the losses....
As you know I shared my sentiments with you in a Facebook message, and I am still sending love and purrs. I don't blame you one bit for wanting to wipe out July 4! xoxo
I would love to win this book as it sounds really interesting, but oh goodness, what a time you've been having. So sorry to hear about your furry friends, and your Mom--well all I can say is that you and yours are definitely in my prayers. I know, as the mom, my daughter is my best friend too. She is going into a 10-12 hour surgery to reconstruct her breasts from stomach tissue after having her breasts removed from breast cancer about one and a half years ago. So I can completely
Got cut off. I can completely understand your angst. Just keep loving and hopefully life will look brighter soon!! Prayers and thought coming your way!! Ronnalord(at)msn(dot)com
I hope your mom's stents do the job. My thoughts are with you
Mommy has two stents, so she understands. But they are good things to have! (((hugs))) to you, and prayers for your mom to get better.
Miss Cuddlywumps and I send you and your mom our love and prayers. Yes, you should just skip July 4th from now on!
Sending healing thoughts to your Mom. I hope everything turns out okay.
I am so very sorry to hear about the health scare with your Mom and I hope you got better news today from the Doctors. I will keep her and you in my prayers. I too know so well the pain and sorrowful Journey you've been on since you lost Tara. Like you mentioned it is almost as though we had parallel experiences nearly at the same time. There are no easy paths, because Grief takes us on a Journey that is terrifying and tumultuous. We can only keep trying to walk towards the Light of Goodness. When I changed my perspective and realized that instead of walking further and further away from Abby, that I was walking towards her each day brings me one day closer to being with her again, it helped a small amount. I am so very sorry to hear about Terpsie. When I light my candles tonight I will remember.
I am so very sorry to hear about your mom's health scare. Hopefully, she will make a quick recovery and be as good as new! And, of course, I was saddened to hear about Terpsie's passing. What a precious little kitty! Her photo stole my heart! My prayers and thoughts (and tears!) to you too on this anniversary of Tara's passing. It doesn't get any easier, I'm afraid. I was just over reading Caren and Cody's blog. Caren just observed the anniversary of her soul-mate kitty Bobo's passing. Caren also reviewed a book/memoir by a gentleman who lost his soul-mate kitty in July too (Tiger). I lost my own dad on July 4th seven years ago. I say we just wipe the entire month of July off the map! Too many good-byes!
How terrible for you and your Mom. I’m sending healing purrz and comforting purrz for the memory of Tara. I hope your Mom is around for years to come.
I'm so sorry!
Belated Happy Calendar Cat Day to Angel Tara.
We know that we're very belated here - and we so apologize. We've been following it all on FB and want you to know we've kept you and your mom in our purrs & prayers. We'd hate 7/4 too if we were you!!!!
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