Tucker, I remember the first time I saw you. I’d gone to Wal-Mart for an oil change, and it was too hot to wait outside so I went
around to shop.
A no kill shelter had many kittens on display, and then there you were. You were a very big boy, and you were not at all bothered by the traffic, the people or the noise. You were laying down relaxing and just watching people go by. I just knew you were thinking,
“Please pick me.”
The ladies from the shelter told me you had lived there a very long time. People had not chosen you because you had allergies and nobody wanted a “sick” cat. I did!
I took you home, and you were a bit shy at first. Before too long, you came out from under the bed and joined me in the recliner. You were big, and I estimated that you weighed about 18 pounds. A visit to the vet revealed that you really weighed 22 pounds.
I remember that purr! It was so loud, and you walked around purring at every given opportunity. While you were still able to jump, you loved to curl up in the bathroom sink where the air conditiner
blew right on you.
All I had to do was get in bed, and there you were. You loved to lay with your head on my shoulder and your paw on my arm. Often, you would reach out and pull my hand to your face so I could pet you. What you really wanted to do was lay on my chest so you could put your cheek on mine. I just couldn’t breathe with that
extra 20+ pounds on top of me.
About 13 months ago, Tucker, we found out that you were diabetic. I was so frightened at the though of giving you shots. I remember how calm you were while I sat on the bathroom floor and cried like a baby for the first five days of the protocal.
You had spent so much time in the shelter that you didn’t know what a treat was. You were never interested in people food, and
you didn’t care for snacks.
The day came when you no longer jumped up on the arm of the sofa to lay and watch TV with me. You slept more and your face became grayer with time. You were an older gentleman when we met, and you soon
became a senior citizen.
Because you were diabetic, you couldn’t take allergy medication other than benedryl, and HOW you hated that. Eventually, you developed sinus infections. The antibiotics worked for nearly six months, but eventually, they did not help you.
I watched, and I knew that we were facing a terrible decision, one I did not want to make. Dr. Moore and Dr. Armstrong did everything
that they could do for you.
Friday was such a very sad day. I was asked if I wanted to stay with you, and of course, I did. You would never have left me alone in my time of need, and I wasn’t going to leave your side
as long as you needed me.
Remember when Fritz joined our little family? You came to the door when you heard my key, and Fritz started to bounce right into his new home. He made me laugh so hard because when he saw you, he started backing up as fast as he could! I’m sure he’d never seen a cat
as big as you.
My baby boy, I will never, ever forget you. I will love you forever. I wish you were here with us now. I can hardly believe you were only in our family for three years. You won my heart the moment we met, and it will
always belong to you.
You are at Rainbow Bridge now, and I’m sure Bingo came to greet you! You don’t have to have insulin, and you don’t have any allergies now. You can lay in the sunshine, and you can eat all you want without gaining too much weight. Please wait for me,
and meet me at the bridge……..
I will always love you,
| Charlotte Hayes |