Our darling Sammy Cat

jean-ji

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We euthanized Sammy on Monday night this week and had no advance warning that anything was wrong, not even a hint of a problem.

Our son, DIL and grandkids were here, we had picked them up earlier at the airport. My dear DIL is a vet tech who works at an emergency vet hospital, thank goodness she was here to help and advise us.

Sam was fine one moment and in the next minute he had no feeling or sensation in his hind legs and tail. DIL correctly diagnosed it as a saddle thrombosis. It is sometimes the first sign of heart disease and a blood clot breaks off. We called our vet and then left for the ER clinic. On the way our vet called, listened to the symptoms and then said if it was as we described, the prognosis was not good. It is common to have another clot if the first one can be dissolved, the paralysis may or may not resolve fully, and it is very painful for the cat. He was sorry Sam had to go through this and asked that we let him know the outcome.

So now we knew what was probably going to happen when we got to the ER. Our DIL knew too, but she couldn't tell us herself, but made it clear it was a true emergency and we needed to take Sammy in right away.

The vet at the clinic was wonderful. She confirmed the diagnosis and said Sammy had had a good, long run at age 15 and it was best to say good-bye at this time. She had tears in her eyes, probably in sympathy with my crying and for a tough call to make.

There is treatment for this but the outcome is often dismal for the cat and we didn't want Sammy to go through it again. Such a hard decision to make, but it helped with two vets from different practices telling us the same thing.

We said our goodbyes to Sammy and stayed with him and held him through it all to the very end.

We came home and the kids had told our 5 year old granddaughter that Sammy was very sick and wouldn't be coming home with us. At first I thought what a terrible time for this to happen with them visiting, but it was for the best. Sammy suffered for a short time since our DIL knew what was happening. Afterwards we were distracted by the grandkids and activities and stayed upbeat for them, it helped get us through.

It was a short visit, we dropped them off at the airport yesterday after a wonderful few days, came home and decided to go for a sail on the river. Alone now, we talked about when we first adopted Sammy at the kennel where we took our pets years ago, our favorite stories of him and shed more tears with happier memories and at such a sudden, unexpected loss.

It was a cloudy day and a light rain shower with dark clouds passed over us as we were talking. I was looking at the sun that had come out behind the clouds when DH said "turn around and look at the rainbow behind you".

I turned and saw something I had never seen before: the beginning and end points of a rainbow at the same time and it kept getting more colors as I watched. We saw it from the start to the finish and it was the longest I have ever seen a rainbow last, it seemed to go on forever and wouldn't quit.

I know it was a rainbow for our Sammy, I'll never believe otherwise. I took picture after picture. He was my friend and always seemed to know when I needed him and was there for me. All he ever wanted was love and his ears rubbed. Sammy, we loved you so much and we will remember you always.

 
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susank521

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I've got chill bumps!!! What a glorious good-bye from your precious Sammy. I am so very sorry for your loss. It's never easy, but having your DIL there, and two vets telling you the probable outcome, it just doesn't get much clearer than that. Just like that beautiful rainbow. Hugs to you in your grief.
 

alyssam

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That rainbow is an incredible thing. I am very sorry for your loss of Sammy but this was a great tribute to her. I hope her rainbow helped you find he peace you needed from having to let her go.
 
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jean-ji

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Thank you so much. I just organized all our pet info last week with separate files for current vaccines and microchips. I pulled out the ones on Sammy this morning and the reality of him not being here hit me all over again.
 
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caesar

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I am so sorry about Sammy.
The same exact thing happened to my Freebee about 5 years ago, he was also 15 years old and was fine one minute and paralyzed the next. We also had him put to sleep. He was the best cat, a huge solid black long haired kitty who weighed about 23 pounds.
What a wonderful sign of the beautiful Rainbow. Sammy was saying all is well.
Take comfort in your memory of the wonderful cat he was and will always be in your heart.
 

di and bob

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I truly believe Sammy was trying to tell you he was all right, my Chrissy sent a sideways shooting star when we were crying in anguish and looking to the heavens for comfort. My husband had just cried for a sign that she had made it all right. I still cry when I think of that time and the amazement we felt. You are truly blessed to have shared a love that strong, accept and keep that same amazement in your heart, it is meant to be. My heart cries for the pain you are feeling, know we will try to comfort you in any way we can, we've suffered as you do now. Bless you for loving so much, take care.........RIP beautiful Sammy!
 

nurseangel

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I'm so sorry for your loss.  I am glad you had loving family with you; I know that helped a lot.
 

jcat

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My condolences. Jamie had heart disease (HCM), and the cardiologist told us that a saddle thrombosis was the most likely outcome and would mean it was time to say goodbye, as the likelihood of it happening again would be so great. As it was, his resulted in congestive heart failure.

Sammy was lucky to have been symptom-free and to pass so quickly, but it's naturally heart-wrenching for you.

RIP, Sammy. :rbheart:
 
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jean-ji

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I'm sorry to hear about your loss too, I always used to enjoy reading your posts about Jamie.

This hasn't been easy on us since there was no time to prepare, but if given a choice I would always choose what was easiest for Sammy, that's all that really matters in the end.


I want to thank everyone who has posted here offering me comfort; it helps knowing it comes from the hearts of other cat lovers who understand so well.
 
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