On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 21:58:48 -0700, CatTayls wrote:

I spoke to the vet this morning who said GM had a bad episode that almost
put her in cardiac arrest. TED suggested I come and visit her, suggesting
that they draw blood today to check her white/red counts and then I could
take her home tomorrow. They thought she might be less stressed out at
home. We talked about this at length. I finally concluded that the blood
test would tell us what we already knew., that an antibiotic injection on
Monday, another on Tuesday, plus intravenous feeding and antibiotics for
three days had not improved her. She had rallied briefly but could not
gain strength.

They brought her to me. She was breathing heavily, could not stand and
had difficulty moving much at all. I was at TED's for two hours, talking
to them and hearing possibilities from them. They would leave me alone
with her, then we would talk again. At one point, I had my face next to
GM's and she started whimpering. I told her that I "got the message" and
asked the vet to put her down. I could have taken her home one more time,
but I honestly would not have been able to watch her being so miserable.
GM was on a towel on the table and she managed to get up and turn her back
to me. I moved the towel around so we would be face-o-face again. She
did this twice more. I think that was another clear message that she
wanted to turn her back on being so sick. So TED injected her and she
left us in just a few seconds, looking absolutely beautiful. I have no
doubt that I made the right decision. Whatever overtook her did so with a
vengeance and I don't believe she could have overcome it.

There is a big happy party going on at the Bridj tonight. And there are a
couple of hoomins--my late niece Patti and my friend Kath Lyons--who are
taking turns holding her.

Thank you again for all your thoughts, prayers and purrs. I feel her
around me constantly but I have never felt so alone.

Arlene, proud meowmie to
Gretchen Marie House of Knop

".....rise up slowly, Angel. It's hard to let you go..." MLB