Saturday, June 4, 2011

A Sad Day

I don't even know how to start writing this.  So I suppose that I'll just come out and say it and then fill in the details.  Romeo died this evening.

It completely came out of the blue.  The veterinarian called us this morning to say that the urinary blockage had been cleared, and that he was going to remain there on fluids until he was able to urinate on his own.  They made it sound like we'd be going to pick him up either late tonight or early tomorrow morning.  Everything sounded great at that point - I mean, sure, he'd been hospitalized, which is never great, but the doctors knew exactly what to do with him.  It's not like it's unusual for neutered male cats to get urinary blockages.  We were even told that the blockage had been cleared out very early on, that we were lucky to catch it so early.

Which is why it was such a shock to receive a call this afternoon to say that they had to take him off of the fluids, because there was fluid build-up around his heart, and that he was on oxygen (in an oxygenated cage.)  The vets said that this did occasionally happen when a cat was on IV fluids, and that dosing them with Lasix usually did the trick.

Half an hour later, we got a second phone call.  Romeo was completely unable to breathe on his own, and they were intubating him and clearing his lungs out ASAP.  They said that the next step was to put him on a respirator, because he simply wasn't breathing enough on his own.

At this point, we had had enough of sitting at the house waiting for these terrifying updates, so jumped in the car and drove over to the clinic so that we could be there to make whatever decisions needed to be made.

To make a long story short, they spent another hour trying to stabilize him.  They did their very best, and were very competent and professional about it, and kind to us, but it wasn't enough to bring him back.  He never completely woke up from the sedatives that he was on.  When they came back to tell us that despite the assistance with breathing, the tons of lasix and other drugs that had been pumped into him, that he was failing.  The doctor said that there was really nothing else that we could do for him at this point, besides putting him on a respirator - and even then, his chances of survival were not good.  So we made the painful, but I think inevitable, decision to euthanize him.  He never woke up from his sedatives, so he went quietly, and without fear or pain.

They think that he probably had an underlying heart condition that just hadn't started manifesting in any obvious ways yet.  The fluids weren't the cause, but were what revealed it.  If the fluids had been the cause, he should have rebounded after getting lasix pumped into him.  (In another post, someday when my heart does not feel so bruised, I may rail against the fates for giving us not one, but TWO cats with heart problems.)

I held myself together fairly well while I had to, but now that it's all over, I'm sitting here at my desk trembly and tearful, and I feel so bereft.  I find myself glancing off and on over to the window ledge where he'd be sleeping, if this was a normal night, and am somewhat startled when I don't see him gazing back at me with his knowing eyes.

Romeo was with us for almost exactly one year... one year and one week, exactly today.   I didn't write about his "Gotcha Day" over Memorial Day weekend, because we were busy with family, but I'd planned on writing it this weekend now that things have settled down.  His time with us was filled with its ups and downs; everyone that reads this blog probably remembers that he never quite fit in with the other cats here... in fact, they were complete and utter little bitches to him.  But through trial and error (and I'll admit, a small amount of grumbling) we found a way to let him carve his own niche; and I do think that he was happy for the most part.

Romeo was a cat that was happiest when he was surrounded by the humans that loved him.  Preferrably, to have us both petting him and talking to him and giving him attention at the same time.  He would purr and purr, rubbing his face first on me, then on Jeff, then back to me, repeat.  He was a lover.  He had his days when he seemed sad, and it always upset me to see this.  I have wondered if he was remembering and missing his first family, or maybe he was sad that the other cats weren't friendly to him.  But the days when he was happy, and  in all honesty, that was most days, he was a bright spirit, and was always glad to see us.

RIP, Romeo.  I'm torn between feeling like we did everything that we could for you,  and wishing that we could have done more.

22 comments:

  1. Oh My! How awful and unexpected, you have my deepest sympathies. Somehow we expect our pets to grow old and let us adjust to their ultimate passing. My prayers and thoughts are with you; RIP handsome Romeo.

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  2. So sad. I am so sorry to hear about Romeo's passing. The suddenness seems so awful. It is clear you loved him well and did all you could to give him the best chance at a wonderful life.

    My prayers and purrs are with you.

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  3. Heartbreaking news...I am so sorry!

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  4. I'm so sorry to hear about Romeo! Just know in your heart that you did everything you could to help him, and that you gave him a happy kitty life in the time he was with you.

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  5. I am so sorry for your loss. Run free Romeo.

    Your pal,Pip

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  6. I am so sorry to hear about your loss.

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  7. We are so sad to hear that Romeo ran off to the Bridge.
    He will be so missed.
    We's sending you lots of purrs and soft headbumpies, cause you really need them right now.
    I's making a tribute on the Cat Blogosphere in him's memory.
    Love & Purrs,
    KC

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  8. We are so very sad and sorry that Romeo has died. We are sending you love and purrs. RIP sweet boy.

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  9. Words can not express our sorrow at your loss of Romeo. Comforting purrs.

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  10. I am so, so sorry. Beyond words. My heart just aches for your loss, having lost two of my beloved fur companions now, one very suddenly several years ago (blood clot) and Annie this past February, whom I had to let go. I know you'll never really "heal," will always miss him, your heart will always hurt. But I also know that in time the grief and pain fades and becomes a bit more manageable.

    Please know I'm sending you universal Light and wishing you Blessings and Peace, and the boys are sending soft purrs of comfort.

    -Kim, with Nicki and Derry

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  11. Blockages are so very hard to take care of - even tho they seem simple. We lost our dear Manny at age two from a blockage treatment gone wrong. We know how you feel and are sending lots of loving purrs of deep sympathy in your loss of sweet Romeo.

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  12. "The Boys" and I just read about Romeo. We're are so sorry. He was a very handsome man cat. You certainly did all you could to help him. And you definitely loved him so/

    We can also understand a little of what you're experiencing, as we lost our Bowie suddenly just a month ago.

    Lots of purrs.

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  13. RIP handsome Romeo. We are all so sad and heartbroken for your loss. (((HUGS)))

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  14. It is so hard to lose a precious poodin when you least expect it to happen. May Romeo rest in peace now that he is across The Bridge. He is happy and stress-free now. No mean poodins are being bitchy to him now! Everyone is happy and running around and healthy! We are sending you hugs, purrs, purrayers and head bumps.

    Luf, Us and Maw

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  15. We're so very sorry to hear that Romeo has gone to the Bridge. You did everything you could for him and it's obvious how much you loved him.

    We're sending quiet purrs to support you during this time of sadness.

    Charlemagne, Tamar and Mal

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  16. We are so sorry and sending you kitty kisses. Please know that you did what you could - he was safe and loved while he lived with you and you let him go rather than let him suffer. But that doesn't make the loss any easier.....

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  17. Sending snuggles and purrs...While time might ease the loss, it never goes away-the hole in our hearts is the shape of our loved one but as long as we remember them, they are never truly gone from us.
    Taz, Runt, Charles and mommy, Anna, in Illinois (who has a few holes in her heart too)

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  18. Me and my cat Charlie came over from AFSS's blog. We are so so so sorry to hear about handsome Romeo's passing. How awful for you all. We are truly sorry. We are sending you all purrs and hugs. Take care
    x

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  19. My sincere condolences on the loss of your family member.

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  20. We are all so very sorry to hear of this unexpected loss of your dear kitty Romeo. He was not around as long as he should have been, but we know he spent the time happy with you...

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  21. We're so sorry to hear of your loss, please accept my purrs of condolence.

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  22. We are so sorry to hear about Romeo's untimely passing. Thank you for loving him so very much. Please know we are purring and praying for you all.

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