My Gigi is gone

[Julie Grove]

Tonight, my little Gigi died. I took her to the vet. We saw a different one as our usual is on holiday. It was a locum. An hour later my Gigi was dead. She had her usual jabs for her breathing and ones to make her feel better. She also had a different one, something to help her stomach - to ease the nausea. I took her home and she laid on the floor and cried and just dragged herself across the floor. She cried again and again. I took her back to the vet and she just didn't get better. She just kept crying. I couldn't watch any more and so I said she must sleep now. I couldn't do anything else to help her. I can't believe she is gone and I don't really understand what went wrong. This visit shouldn't have been any different from the others. I just don't understand.

[RedHedd]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your Gigi What went wrong? What is a locum? Was she sick?

Welcome to PT, Julie. I just wish it were under better circumstances. Rest well at the Rainbow Bridge little Gigi. Play hard and give my RB Goldie a kiss for me. Just know that you were loved here. Godspeed that you're out of your pain and suffering. You will be missed sweet little one.

[slick]

Julie, I'm so so sorry I didn't see this post until now. It sounds like you are such a good Moewmie and knew when the time was right for Gigi to take the trip to the RB. Take comfort in knowing the Gigi is now happy and running around and playing with all the other RB kitties right now. Hugs to you Julie.

RedHedd, Julie posted that Gigi had cancer in the beginning of December.

[Steffi N]

Julie, I am sorry that you have lost your darling Gigi. We cannot tell why someone’s time to leave this life comes when it does. Be comforted knowing that you did all you could for her and that she is not suffering any more. Gigi will live forever in your heart. I hope that you will stay with Pet Talk. Best wishes to you and when you are ready, please let us meet your tabby Lucy.

[rg_girlca]

Oh Julie, I am so, so sorry for the loss of your precious Gigi.
Please take comfort in knowing that you did everything possible you could for her and that you made the right decision to help ease her pain and suffering.
Rest in Peace sweetheart and have fun at Rainbow Bridge.

[RedHedd]

Originally posted by slick
RedHedd, Julie posted that Gigi had cancer in the beginning of December.

Thanks, slick - I thought so. Poor Gigi.

Julie, just know that you did the right thing. I lost my Goldie to liver cancer this past April. She gave it a brave battle for a couple of months. When the time came I knew helping her across the bridge was the right thing to do - she was in the same condition as Gigi, crying and unable to move her back end. I will never forget our last night together. She crawled up into bed with me, barely able to move, but she made it up to the bed and then fell over the pillow onto me. I held her and we cried together for the rest of the night as we knew it would be our last together. It wasn't easy at all. She'd been my baby for over 14 years. Now I'm crying too. Be gentle with yourself.

[Julie Grove]

It is nearly 6am here in UK and can't sleep for thinking about Gigi. Just a few hours ago she was here in my life and now she's gone. I know she is in a better place but I can't get my head round this right now. This wasn't meant to happen - not yet. My plan was for her to be at home, no suffering, no pain and no stress of being at the vets which is what she hated so much. To go with me and Lulu at her side. I promised her I would not keep taking her to the vets but I didn't keep my promise. But sometimes I just didn't have any other choice. Or maybe I did. I told her when she was leaving how much I loved her and how special she was, and how so very lucky I am to have been able to spend my life with such a beautiful cat. I said sorry for not being able to make her well but told her that she would soon be seeing all our other pets at Rainbow Bridge and that she should keep an eye out for her mum.

I will, now that I shall have some free time, concentrate on learning how to post pictures and you can all see just how beautiful Gigi really is. God, my life for a long time now has been taken up with nursing my sick cat. I think I may feel a bit lost for a while, and just can't bear the thought of not seeing her and touching her.

I bought a bottle of champagne for Christmas Day but I have just opened it and I shall now have a drink and celebrate my Gigi's life - I know she would approve!

Thanks for listening - so sorry to ramble on but it feels very therapeutic.

p.s. A locum is a temporary vet. Can't help but think that if Patrick had treated her, things may be different right now....?

[krazyaboutkatz]

Julie, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I'm sure that Gigi is now playing up at Rainbow Bridge and is finally pain free. Just remember the good times that you had with her and she'll always be alive in your heart. RIP sweet Gigi. Please take care.

[sasvermont]

Julie, my heart goes out to you as I know how difficult times can be when your pet dies. Many of us have lost pets and I suspect none of us have ever really gotten over it, just lived to enjoy new pets, knowing that some day they too will pass on to RB. It is just oh so sad of a time.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Sallyanne

[smokey the elder]

I'm so sorry you lost your cat. My Smokey the Elder went to the RB 4 years ago yesterday. I miss her to bits, but I think she set me on the path to cat rescuing. Who knows what ideas Gigi will put into your heart.

(sorry about the typo-my bad.)

[RedHedd]

Julie I know that feeling so very well. We think we're ready for the end and then when it happens, we discover that we're not - that's so very human and normal. I had been taking care of a very sick Goldie for over three months when I had to put her down. My heart and my home felt so empty; I felt lost. I felt like I had nothing to do and no warm purring cat to do it with. Actually, I did have a lot to do - the first weekend I shampooed the carpets in my apartment and cleaned - she'd had diarrhea her last few months and it was hard to keep up with the cleaning while she was alive and very sick. So I kept busy and cleaned while crying.

It took me months to be able to put together a photo album of all of Goldie's pictures. I kept them out on my coffee table and looked at them often until I finally put them in an album. Many of them are tear-stained, but that's okay. I loved her so very much. I didn't have a digital while she was alive, and was shocked to discover that I had fewer than 100 pictures of her, each one is so special and is finally in an appropriate album.

Julie, it will hurt for a while and you will never forget her. You did the best you could do. When you get her ashes, put them in a special place. Don't beat yourself up for taking her to the vet - you did the right thing. Be gentle with yourself.

[ChrisH]

Oh, Julie, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your precious girl.

Rest in Peace dear Gigi.

{{Hugs}}

[Julie Grove]

Thank you so much for your kind words. Today is the first day for me. Just the beginning, I know. I feel so bad because I love my other cat, little Lucy, but it doesn't feel the same. During Gi's illness everything I did was for her, my whole existence was about making Gi feel better, and I think that Lucy must have felt left out. It's just that Gi needed me more, and I just didn't have any energy left for anything or anyone else. All I could think about was my princess. Today, Lucy is very quiet and has not eaten. And neither have I - I think I will cook us a very nice dinner.

Thank you again.

[catcrazylady]

Oh Julie, I just read this and I'm so so sorry. Your story brought tears to my eyes. We all understand your loss and how painful it is. I just wish there were magic words to make it better, but there aren't. You knew when the time was right for her to go and you did a kind deed when you ended her pain. God Bless you for giving her peace and may God give you peace in your heart.
Give little Lucy lots of hugs because it sounds like she is grieving too. Maybe she will help give you peace.
God Bless

[trayi52]

Julie, I am so sorry for your loss, I know how it feels to lose a cat that you love so much, and has become a huge part of your life. I hope you get to feeling better soon. I know it takes awhile though, wish there was something I could say or do, but there is nothing except to say I am truly sorry for your great loss.

Tray