(Published on October 12, 2014)
Yesterday, my sweet Calli took her last breath as I held her. Her latest generous gift to me was going on her own just a few minutes before our wonderful vet, Dr. Myers, arrived at the house.
She (and her brother, Bell) will always be in my heart. For the last year, she so sweetly and bravely put up with the process of managing her cardiac diagnoses, putting up with mommy administering meds and keeping a close eye on her little angel, regular visits to our wonderful vet and cardiology veterinarians,... (forgiving me each time for it all).
Through it all, she remained her lovable, loving, and sweet self, finding time between naps to purr while being petted, visit the backyard and garden, enjoy the organic chicken grandma would make especially for her, and bringing joy to my heart and life every single moment by being here and being her precious self.
Yesterday, she was ready to say good-bye for now, as the medicine making her heart better was making her kidneys worse. A few sparrows visited the deck in front of the sliding glass door where we sat together in those last minutes.
I am grateful that I got to hold her and kiss her before carrying her to her resting place. Even as I wrapped her in her blanket (the one in this picture of her taking a nap) to lay her down gently in her resting place, I could still feel her sweet warmth and softness. Her resting place is right next to our sweet Bell, next to the garden.
I am thankful to dear Dr. Myers and the South Arundel Veterinay team, and Calli's cardiology team (these wonderful angels: Dr. Cober, Dr. Rosenthal, Dr. Hickey, Gloria, Sara, Lisa, Karen, and Jamie at CVCA) for the love, care, and compassion (and excellent clinical care, of course) they've shared with us, and for givng us the amazing gift of a good year together. Thanks to my wonderful pet sitter and friend Donna Stratton (of Donna's Pet Connection in Annapolis) for loving Calli, for the loving care she always provided to her, and for going way above and beyond... My warm thanks, of course, are also with the dear family and friends who loved her and supported us in so many ways throughout the last year (and always).
Calli has enriched so many lives and left our hearts broken but grateful and full of love. I love you my sweet girl. Thank you for being in my life and heart.
(Posted October 12, 2014)