Tonight Is Lily's Last . . .

[AvaJoy]

Well, this is a bit embarrassing but we and she are happy because Lily is still here!!!!!

I took the day off from work just to spend time with her on Friday before the vet came in the afternoon. My husband dug her grave in the morning, we bought a bouquet of flowers and decided upon a blanket to bury her in . . . tears flowing all the while.

She took a stroll around the house, and Schuyler kept her company on the bed for quite some time. She slept in a cozy position, not a twisted one like I had seen her do before.

When the vet arrived, we indicated our apprehension and she examined her and while remaining neutral, her feeling seemed to be that Lily might not be ready for this drastic step just yet, and we CERTAINLY had our doubts, so all things considered it would be best to postpone and just take it day by day. Lily is still getting around, alert, and eating some. She said we will know for sure when the time is right, and Lily will tell us by refusing all food, becoming increasingly lethargic, etc. and she is not in all that much pain or else she wouldn't be trying to quickly get off the bed where we were all sitting! She probably sensed what we were all up to and was opposed.

The vet said she still has some "fight" in her expression, and that remark made me view the situation from a different angle. She was a tough cookie from the streets, and just like people who refuse to let their illness get the better of them, she may prefer to be strong and stoic and fight the inevitable as best she can, and who are my husband and I to rob her of whatever additional time that spirit and determination may afford her?!

I know she will not be with us for too much longer, but I want to be absolutely sure she has given up her personal fight before I intervene and call the Vet out again . . . I apologized profusely for our indecision and having her come out and not going through with it, but she is a dear and felt we made the right choice in giving Lily more time.

Maybe Lily will be like some people who are given a poor prognosis with only limited time to live, and end up proving their doctors wrong and living way beyond what was medically expected . . . well, every additional day is a blessing to her, and to us.

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone for your kind words and keeping us in your prayers. {{HUGS}}[/SIZE]