Just lost our baby boy Lyric

Hello All

I just recently encountered one of the greatest losses yet...our baby son Lyric was taken from us by FIP. I had never heard of this disease, and I truly hope I never encounter it again. Lyric was only 10 months old. Lyric was so soulful and full of life. My boyfriend and I truly believe he knew we would only be here for a short period of time. We believe this because he was so attatched to us, so in love with us. We were in love with him. He was so unique, so human. Lyric loved to eat fruit, mostly strawberries, apples and bananas. Lyric talked to us all the time, especially when we were in the kitchen. Lyric was never fully healthy. I always thought he just had a weaker immune system. Lyric was getting sicker and sicker last week, so I decided to take him to the Vet on Monday. The Vet told me she wanted him over night, to do some observations. On Monday night, I heard an Owl calling outside our window. I'm fairly spiritual, and knew this was a sign of a spirit talking to me. I felt Lyric was not going to be coming home, and so did my boyfriend. I called the Vet, and was told he needed to stay another night. We both held our breath, and walked around aimlessly. I got the call on Wed. morning. The Vet explained that she truly believe Lyric had FIP. I'd never heard of it, but she said it was almost always fatal. She explained that we needed to make a decision. My boyfriend and I basically broke down. I was losing my baby boy. I was losing one of my best friends. My boyfriend couldn't handle to be there to put him to sleep. I went alone. I almost felt releif that I was going alone, as I was the one that had brought him home 8 months earlier, and I wanted to be the one to watch him go. I held him when I got there, and he was so lifeless. He looked like he had aged 20yrs in 2 nights. Lyric was tired, Lyric was ready. I cried for the times that we had together, and for the times we wouldn't get to share. I cried for his amazing grace. I cried and cried. I called for the Vet, and told her I was ready. I knew Lyric was too. I looked into his eyes the whole time, hoping that a part of his soul would forever embrace me. Lyric left this Earth, with his heart strong and Mother by his side. Its only been 2 days...but I can't seem to get the hole in my heart to close. I don't think I ever will.

I hate this FIP disease, and I've been doing a lot of research. I'd like to know if anyone else has encountered this disease(I'm sure there are lots) who would like to share their story with me.

LyricsLegacy

Oh no, I'm so very sorry your precious love was stolen from you. Your heart must be absolutely shattered. This is such a deep, painful loss that forever leaves an emptiness in your heart. Please know Lyric is now so happy and healthy in Heaven watching over you until the wonderful day when you are reunited.

Thank you so much. I'm just so shaken with disbelief still. I appreciate your words, they helped.

LyricsLegacy

I'm so sorry that you lost your sweet Lyric. I know how difficult it must be. Just know that he's not suffering anymore, and he's happy and healthy playing over the rainbow bridge. It takes a long time to get over such a loss, and you will never forget him, but someday you'll be able to remember him with joy instead of tears! You'll get there - it just takes a long time.

Bless you and sweet Lyric. Play happy and free over the Bridge, sweet boy.

Originally Posted by LokisMum

I'm so sorry that you lost your sweet Lyric. I know how difficult it must be. Just know that he's not suffering anymore, and he's happy and healthy playing over the rainbow bridge. It takes a long time to get over such a loss, and you will never forget him, but someday you'll be able to remember him with joy instead of tears! You'll get there - it just takes a long time.

Click to expand...

I agree with LokisMum completely, and I'm sorry you joined this site under such sad circumstances. Here's a copy of the beautiful Rainbow Bridge poem...I hope it helps give you some comfort.



Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so that they can run and play topgether. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made well and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content except for one small thing: they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carring him faster and faster.

You have been spotted and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, not to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face: your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look on again into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.

Then, you cross the Rainbow Bridge together..........

Author Unknown..............

Originally Posted by neetanddave

Bless you and sweet Lyric. Play happy and free over the Bridge, sweet boy.

Click to expand...

....I´m so sorry about it...

Don´t give up! ....there are many homeless kittys looking for a new home with love like your´s..

Thinking of you in this difficult times!

Thank you SO much for that poem. Last night was a really rough night for me, I couldn't pull myself together. I just miss his soft touch, his amazing grace. I keep saying I'm being selfish, but I just want him back so :censor::censor::censor::censor::censor::censor::censor: much. My heart is hurting for him. I just see him everywhere, laying by the door for the bathroom, waiting for me to come out. Sitting on the table, while I am on my computer. I could go on forever about him. I just appreciate the poem more than you will ever know. Thank you Thank you Thank you!

LyricsLegacy

As you can see most of us here have lost beloved pets and so truly understand how you feel. The pain will lessen in time but allow yourself the time to grieve for your special boy.

When you feel you are ready, please consider giving another special kitty a loving and forever home - one who will benefit from a wonderful, caring human like you and a kitty that will be able to help fill the void that your sweet Lyric has left in your life.

Dear Lyric's Legacy:

Your post really hit home with me. In 1999, we lost our beloved King Sunny-a-Cat to FIP. He'd been diagnosed with it an almost unheard-of five years earlier, and was almost a record-book survival case on Immunoregulin (an immune system booster innoculation); but eventually, as your doctor rightly told you, this scourge is fatal and the toll it takes, described so heartrendingly in your telling, also made my sweet Sun into a little old man. He was 16, though, and had had a pretty good go of it. I, too, needed to be there with him as he went over the Rainbow Bridge. He'd told me it was time, on his last day at home. It tore me up but I knew it was only selfish to think of what I wanted; I had to consider HIS needs before my own, and he needed to be released from the suffering when the Immuno no longer worked its magic and he could no longer eat or drink.

And then, three years ago, I adopted a homeless kitten from neighbor/friends who'd found her outside a business and could not keep her. She was very young, only about three months old, and healthy, as far as we could tell. But as soon as she got her kitten vaccines, she suddenly and inexplicably became very sick. On the night/morning before we got another appointment for her, she left us, in her sleep. The symptoms were classic FIP. The vaccine for FIP is very controversial, and many caregivers choose not to have it. But when lives are in our hands, which decision do we make to protect them from this dread disease? Innoculate and risk them contracting a fatal disease, or not innoculate and risk the same?

I do not have answers for that. I, too, would do anything to wipe out this scourge, and I, too, have studied it and continue to do so. So far, a cure is not at hand. We pray one will be, some day soon.

Your mention of the owl also resonated with me. I'm multicultural/Indian, and share that belief.

May you derive some comfort, if possible, from knowing Lyric KNEW he was truly loved. And I don't know about you, but I always feel that the greatest tribute I can give to a beloved one who's left, is to open up my home and my heart to give another homeless and deserving cat a loving forever home. As you can see, that's how we do.

TarasGirl06

WOW...I've never felt so close to someone that I didn't know. You really just made me sit back, and realize that other people feel the same loss as myself. The one thing that has stayed in my mind, is that Owl. I'm Native Canadian, and knew what the calling meant. I'd never heard it before, in the eight months I've lived in my apartment. I laid in bed that night, and felt Lyric telling me it was time. I hated the fact that his last 2 days on Earth were at the hospital. Lyric was around people that wanted to take care of him, and love him the way that my boyfriend and I did. I am having a really hard time with this. I've had to put pets down before, but Lyric had this connection with me that could not be ignored. I just felt like he truly knew, that he couldn't stay for long. My boyfriend made a tribute video with the song 'Comin Home' and some of the pictures that we took of him. It brings me closer, yet makes me feel so far from him. Thank you so much for all your words, they truly replenish my soul.

LyricsLegacy

Dear Lyric's Legacy:

Wow. It's amazing how this machine can bring us together, and what a great site this is for that. Would be honored to see your tribute if you ever want to share it. I have dialup so a lot of videos I can't see...I'm hoping that when I move I will be able to get DSL and then my viewing problems will be over, or at least lessened.

I know what you mean, so much, although that "necessary decision" is never, ever, easy for me because I am so connected to all of my beloved feline family members. My sweet Tara girl, for whom my screen name is a tribute, passed away in the hospital as well, from acute upper respiratory and abscess infections. I was devastated. Always before, my loved ones have passed at home with me by their side, or at the hospital with me by their side. Tara always had this problem, probably from birth; we'd get her treated when it got really bad, and that would help her for awhile. Finally it got really bad, and she had an abscessed tooth as well. We had so many antibiotics I thought NOTHING could survive them. She was so patient, little angel! But she did not improve. So it was back to the hospital. They called me and told me, and I was just devastated. I always say I don't play favorites, but even in our extended feline family, Tara was very special to me.
I know the doctor and staff were wonderful to her. But I feel like you do about your little boy being in the hospital. I look out across the valley here, to where the hospital is, and feel so bad that she was 20+ miles away from me. It's not something one gets over.

Stay in touch, okay? and I won't say "feel better" because that is trite and stupid. But I will say I empathize 100%.

TarasGirl06

It truly is amazing, how people are able to connect through all of this. I've been telling my boyfriend how much all this support has been meaning to me, as he's starting to feel as though he's not doing enough. He is, I just am feeling a bit in my own world about it all.

I'm so grateful that you were willing to share your story of Tara...it connects our experiences and makes it more 'real'. I feel your pain, when it comes to always having her at the vet. Lyric was never completely healthy, it always seemed to be something. We did our best though, and never held it against him. I took him in as my son, and never judged him for being a 'cat'. I just loved him. I've always had pets, more dogs than cats, but whenever I lived on my own...I always had a cat. Lyric was my shadow, and was my boyfriends companion on the weekends, when I would be at work for 48hrs. My boyfriend actually invited a friend over for the weekend, as he wasn't sure he could handle the 'emptiness.'

I am honoured that you would like to see Lyrics tribute, and I would love to share it with you. Do you have an email that I could send it to? I don't know if you're able to send it privately or not...but that would probably be best. May I know your first name, kind of makes you feel like a friend Once again, I appreciate the communication...more than anything! By the way, I'm Jen

I forgot!! Your cats are beautiful...you are truly wonderful!

LyricsLegacy

Dear Jen:

Absolutely! And right back at'cha, as we say. I'm Jamaka and my main addy is if you want to get in touch with me. My Sun, by the way, was my son, truly. I was born into a home where a cat was already in residence, and he was my brother. In fact, I didn't even meet my human brother for some years (long story). Cats have always been my closest friends, and any time I had to be catless due to landlords, those were lonely times in my life, no matter what else was going on socially or whatever. I've had two dogs in my life, neither one by my own choosing, and while I'd defend dogs, I'm just not a dog person -- I'm a 100% cat person, 24/7-365. I know how it is, no matter how much another person grieves with you, grieving is something each person does in her or his own way, and it is a very "alone" process, although of course it helps somehow when others share the loss of a beloved one. Cats are SO loving and unconditionally loyal, while still retaining their own beingness (unlike dogs, I think), that it's impossible not to feel close to them -- again, my own feeling. My extended feline family are SO important to me. I could easily do without human companionship, though I have many dear friends all over the world; but I would never want to be catless! And like I said, I don't play favorites and I love all cats (of all species); but, well, my Sun is my son, and my Tara is my angel Tara, and I could go on and on. Matter of fact, long story again, but my beloved Talker, with whom I'm joined at the heart, so to speak, is now up in Canada...I'm going through an unwanted divorce and impending relocation from our desert acreage and beautiful home to an urban location, which has stupid quotas on how many cats one can have, even in owned housing (they can't tell you how many children you can have, but they can tell you how many cats you can have. Totally unfair.) So some of my beloved ones went to sanctuary. Talker is one. Anyway, I have to go offline for the evening, but keep my contact info in your book and feel free to contact me any time! Dohiyi (Peace), Sis!

Jamaka

I am so grateful to have met you on here!!! I have your email address, and will email the video to you. I work 48hrs straight on weekends, so I am gone for the weekend! Thank you again for sharing your stories of Sun and Tara, and I am really sorry you had to part with Talker. I love the names you give your cats, what are the meanings behind them? We will definetly be talking more, and that brings a humble happiness to my day I'll be in touch after the weekend, and I hope you have a beautiful one. Jen

I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your special boy Lyric. It's so hard to lose something so special in our hearts. These beautiful animals are our children. I truly believe his spirit will remain with you comforting you.

Thank you! I really appreciate your support and your words. It's a loss like I've never felt, he was just so connected with me. Your cats are so sweet.

LyricsLegacy

I'm so sorry about poor Lyric. My beautiful Smudge was taken by FIP last October 25. He was born at our home, one of 8 kittens to Elsa, who was a stray that I had found at work. He was always special - the first born, the biggest, he had a blue eye and a green eye. So when the other kittens found homes, we knew he had to stay with us. I guess it was meant to be, because we had to make such a hard choice to let him go, but I had so much help from people here on TCS. He was just barely 6 months old, but he touched so many lives I still find it amazing. He also brought me my new friend Leslye and my new baby Smudge. It's so hard at first, I know, but I also know that you will find your blessings from Lyric too. Hugs.

Condolences on your sad loss of Lyric. I am glad that you were given the gift of hearing the Owl. For my folks, the owl is the portent of sad times a-coming; ravens are the messengers of the border. And we get rainbows, too. At my nephew's funeral in the summer of 1992, at the gravesite, a large, thin cirrus cloud formed a sundog (cloud rainbow) that lasted the rest of the afternoon; the day after my brother's funeral, I was driving to Mammoth Mtn., and in a clear, perfectly blue sky, there was a bright, full rainbow formed by the sun evaporating the snow, then suddenly condensing in the chilled air. Later in the week, after I was in my horse corral, crying to my mare, I prayed for a sign that my nephew and brother were okay, and immediately, 2 ravens swooped low, circling us and swooping so close that my mare threw her head at them; then they flew off - I had my sign!
So if our beliefs are true, then Lyric is over RB, with those people and animals yet to be born, and your future cat is getting all the instructions on how to be a good kitty that brings you happiness.
As for FIP, it sounds so horrible Condolences to you all for having to see your precious babies suffer that way. And bless you for making the right decision, that although it wounds your heart to the very core, it releases your beloved from pain and misery. A true gift of love. Susan