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> Fibrosarcoma
prissy's mommy
post Feb 17 2009, 11:23 PM
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Group: Pet Lovers
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From: NY
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Hello. I just found this site, and so glad I did. I just received news that there is a good chance that my cat has fibrosarcoma. I am a mess. To make matters worse, I never heard until this past weekend that getting your cat vaccinated can cause this!! I tried to be a good pet owner and keep her protected by getting her vaccinated, and now I feel that I gave her a death sentence!
My Prissy is 16 years old. Any other cat at 16 yrs., I wouldn't consider putting them through a surgery to remove the tumor, but Prissy is no ordinary 16 yr. cat. Any vet that has seen her is amazed with her age. My sister is a vet tech, and is encouraging me to think about having the surgery.
Prissy saw the vet on Saturday, (I found the lump Friday night), and since then my world has been turned upside down. I really thought it was an abscess, but after researching fibrosarcoma online, I truely believe now that is what it is. I have been in limbo since getting the news. Tonight the vet called me and told me she discussed Prissy's case with a surgeon. They recommend a biopsy. It is scheduled for Monday. I feel at least I will have a definte answer, and can go from there. It has been explained to me that if she needs the surgery, it is very aggressive. The "lump" is on the side of her spine, up near her neck. They will have to remove muscle and go right down to her spine. I'm now reading that in a lot of cases, the tumor will grow back again.
I'm at such a loss. I would never do anything to Prissy unless I knew she could handle it. I am confident that she will do well having the surgery if it is needed. She is very strong spirited. I really can't afford the surgery, but will come up with the money if it means having more time her.
I guess I'm just hoping to hear if anyone has has to deal with fibrosarcoma with their cat and what the outcome was...with surgery or without...or just any advice or thoughts.

Thanks.
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LoveThem
post Feb 18 2009, 01:58 PM
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Group: Pet Lovers
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I have dealt with cancers but not Fibrosarcoma. I did a search in this Section and in the D&D sections for posts about the subject. I found 1 here and 2 in D&D.

One cat was 10 years old, had the surgery and 21 radiation treatments and was okay from Feb to October. One was 14, had the surgery, the tumor came back 3 months later. In these cases, apparently the surgery did buy more time.

The best one was in this Section in Sept of 2006 by a member named "Parker". The cat was named Parker, had the surgery, did fine and did live 4 more years and the member, his "Mom" said that when it was time for him to go...4 years later...he did not pass from cancer at all.

I know you said you researched on the web so you probably heard stories like these. It does seem to depend on the cat. Prissy sounds to be in good condition for a 16 year old. All you can do is read everything you can about it, talk to your vet and your sister (the vet tech), see what the biopsy says, and make your decision based on all you have found out..and also on how you feel in your heart.

What is good to read is that a good result is possible. At least that's what happened to Parker.

You have my prayers and hugs for you and Prissy.
Judy


--------------------
LITTLE GUY - May 28, 1991 - Sept 10, 2007 - Always in my Heart.
His story: Section D&D: How do I stop crying? and also... My Boy is Gone Forever.

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prissy's mommy
post Feb 19 2009, 01:24 PM
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From: NY
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Thank you Judy and Joanne.

I will definetly look into both.

I'm still going to go ahead with the biospy to see exactly what it is we are dealing with, and then try to make a decision from there. I was told it will take 2-7 days to get the biopsy results back. I will post it when I know.

Thanks again!



Miss Priss aka "Prissy"
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prissy's mommy
post Feb 26 2009, 10:55 PM
Post #4





Group: Pet Lovers
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Update....
Prissy had a biopsy on Monday. I received the call last evening, and it IS fibrosarcoma.
I cried myself to sleep last night, and woke up still crying this morning.

I have decided not to put her through the surgery. I have been thinking long and hard about it since last week. She did horrible with having the biopsy, and the surgery would mean have to take a large area to remove it all,(muscle, possibly part of her spine), and it doesn't guarantee that it won't grow back. I just can't make her go through that. I want to her to be happy and enjoy what time she has left, then to be but through a surgery like that. I have to keep reminding myself that she is 16 years old and I have had 16 wonderful years with her. It's just going to be so hard to let her go.
I asked the vet how much time she thinks she has, and she said months or possibly just weeks. I am going to cherish every day, every minute I have left with her.

I don't know how I am going to get through this. I just keep thinking about the day that she will no longer be here with me. I can't stand to think about it, I just love her soooo much.


A word of advice to cat owners...talking with my sister again and she spoke to the oncologist...it is the feline leukemia vaccine that is causing this to happen to cats. Please, if you get your cats vaccinated with the feline leukemia, please make sure that it is administered in their lower leg. They do this now so if they develop a fibrosarcoma from it, they can amputate the leg. Unfortunatley, my Prissy was given the shot between her shoulder blades.
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prissy's mommy
post Feb 27 2009, 08:42 AM
Post #5





Group: Pet Lovers
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From: NY
Member No.: 5,541



I had started researching the information that you sent me. I live in NY, and found a holistic vet only 10 minutes from my home. I am going to call her today. I know that there is no magical cure, but I DO want to make her comfortable, and if there is anything that can prolong her life, I will do it!

Thank you so much for the information, I'm hoping I can get into that vet soon!!
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LoveThem
post Feb 27 2009, 07:05 PM
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I'm glad you had the biopsy done because I had read it is very important to do that if surgery is considered at all...it really helps the doctors.

I'm sorry about the results and I certainly understand your feelings about surgery. My Little Guy was 16 1/2 when he started not eating right and the vet thought it was cancer but the x-rays showed nothing and the alternative to find out what it was....would be exploratory surgery. He was so weak and miserable already ....I couldn't do that to him either...after over 16 years of having him with me. It was unfortunate that while we were deciding when we might have to make the decision was when he dragged himself (he could not stand) into our living room and fell down, obviously in great distress and we rushed him to the ER and found out his chest had filled with fluid and he couldn't breathe. We could not put him through draining since the vet also said without the surgery and knowing what was causing it, it could come right back within hours and he would go through all that again. And yet, if the surgery confirmed the thought of cancer...there was no cure anyway. The vet told me afterwards she was glad at his age that we decided against the surgery, she would have done the same if he had been hers.

We sure didn't want to let him go either but it truly was taken out of our hands when he became an emergency ...and he is the first baby in my lifetime that was such an immediate emergency.

I pray for your girl. It is hopeful she is doing alright right now and as you said if you can find a way to keep her comfortable and be together longer..........go for it!

You never know unless you try. Give her a hug and kiss from all here and tell her she has lots of aunts and uncles praying for her to continue having a quality of life that keeps you two together much much longer.

Hugs and prayers,
Judy

P.S. She will always be with you. Only her physical body can leave..never her soul and her spirit and her heart....they belong to you and are a part of you and can never be taken away from you.

Remember the beautiful 16 years. One of my favorite sayings to think about that helps me is the one that says: The pain of losing her will never ever be greater than the joy of knowing her.

Remember the joy. We are blessed we were allowed to have them as part of our lives and each year we have them is priceless.

Please keep us updated.



--------------------
LITTLE GUY - May 28, 1991 - Sept 10, 2007 - Always in my Heart.
His story: Section D&D: How do I stop crying? and also... My Boy is Gone Forever.

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jasonsmom
post Feb 27 2009, 10:29 PM
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Don't dismiss the surgery too quickly! I have a 14 year old cat who developed a dreaded lump between his shoulder blades. It got quite large very fast. I got him the surgery because the vet said if they can get all of the tumour out and have clean margins, he would be fine. I was concerned about pain, etc. but cats heal much faster than humans. The xrays showed that the tumour had not spread into surrounding tissue or bone. The surgeon was very aggressive about removing the involved tissue, and the cat looked pretty awful at first after the surgery. BUT we made sure he had his pain pills whenever he showed any distress. He actually allowed us to put a t-shirt on him for several days, and keeping him warm, fed and having a litter box nearby helped a lot. He was shaved quite extensively. He had the surgery in October. The first 5 days were rough, and we made sure he had pain pills when he needed them, they worked miraculously. After 2 weeks, he was almost back to normal, except for his fur. The biopsy showed that his was the most aggressive cancer he could have had. But, four months later, he is perfectly normal, healthy and notably lump-free, except there is obviously some flesh missing from his back, and his fur has not grown back in totally. If we hadn't had the tumour removed, it would have ulcerated and then there is nothing that could have been done. Bottom line, a few days of discomfort (and a lighter wallet) and his life has already been extended substantially. I am glad we did it, especially because in the meantime, the other cat unexpectedly died :-(
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prissy's mommy
post Mar 3 2009, 01:55 AM
Post #8





Group: Pet Lovers
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From: NY
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Thank you all for your thoughts and advice.

I have truely considered the surgery. A couple of weeks ago, I was positive I was going to do it...but then thinking about it now, I think I was going to do it for me because I couldn't stand the thought of letting her go. I know my Prissy would be miserable going through a surgery like that. She is just getting back to her old self after having the biopsy a week ago today!
My husband held off telling me until we knew for sure that it was fibrosarcoma, that he has noticed her breathing a little "different" in the past week, and he truely believes that it might be starting to spread into her lungs. I don't know for sure, but this past weekend, I did notice her making a noise while she was sleeping. (Maybe she was just snoring!!)
I have to take her to get her stiches out in a couple of days, and I'm asking the doctor to listen to her lungs.
Everyone who knows Prissy told me to do the surgery in the beginning, and I had no doubt that I would. Now that we know for sure what it is, and it has had time to sink in, everyone has changed their mind on it...even the doctor. If she was younger, there would have been no doubt in my mind.
She is doing well right now. Sleeping, playing, eating.
She slept a lot with me this past Sunday, and didn't want to leave my side, but today was back to her old self. I have a feeling that she knows, and I truley think she is trying to make it easier on me!!! Prissy has always been able to sense my emotions, and has been there for me when I needed to just cuddle with her.

Joann - Thank you for the information, I truely appreciate it.

Judy - Thank you for your beautiful words..they meant so much to me

I drop in here and there to post on how she is doing......Thanks again!
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LoveThem
post Mar 3 2009, 12:30 PM
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You are a great Mom. Please continue to keep us updated as you can. I think it is a good idea to have your vet listen to Prissy's breathing. He might even suggest an x-ray of her chest. My boy at 16 1/2 had no problems having x-rays done and sometimes they can back up an opinion, and if it results in waiting and having more time..it is worth it.

Good luck. Give Prissy a hug and kiss and tell her what a good sweetheart her aunts and uncles here think she is.

Extra hug for you.....we Moms need that.

Judy


--------------------
LITTLE GUY - May 28, 1991 - Sept 10, 2007 - Always in my Heart.
His story: Section D&D: How do I stop crying? and also... My Boy is Gone Forever.

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Furkidlets' Mom
post Mar 4 2009, 11:50 AM
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Dear Prissy's Mommy,

I'm so sorry you, Prissy and your family are having to deal with such gut-wrenching decisions at this time. I am the one Joanne spoke of to you about holistic care, homeopathy and the like. She's provided you with many excellent links, all designed to bring you courage and hope for your baby's quality of life, no matter how long or short that may be. I so appreciate her 'taking over' for me in my own messages of inspiration here when I can't do it myself, so I hope you will seriously consider going that route.

Perhaps giving you one example from my own girl's ordeals might help. My darling furgirl, Nissa, developed sudden and extreme glaucoma in one eye, due to her chronic kidney disease. Very long story short, the specialists wanted to remove her eye. I consulted with both my inner knowingness as well as a trusted animal communicator (after asking a million questions of her 3 vets. at the time, too) and decided NOT to have this operation performed, for various reasons which I don't have time to detail right now. The specialist gave me an expected range of her eye pressure that she felt we MIGHT be able to achieve with her prescription eye drops....drops that couldn't be continued for too long because of known side effects. We'd only used them as acute prescribing to get her eye pressure to drop to a more manageable level immediately, until we could get more info. and make more holistic decisions. The prognosis was not great as far as that expected pressure range, though. Nissa was 19 at that point, and lived another 7 months after that.

As soon as we began our prescribed homeopathic remedies for this condition, we got a firm handle on things, to the point (w/i only abt. 1-2 wks.) where her inner eye pressure dropped to within 2 points of NORMAL, a feat that the specialist had said was "wholly impossible" to achieve.....at least with allopathic treatments. She'd never in her life seen such amazing results, and we, of course, were gratified to have had Nissa and her condition help teach yet one more allopathic vet. about the power, safety and efficacy of homeopathy and other more natural forms of health care. Nissa never did have to have her eye removed, even though she'd lost her sight in that one eye for the rest of her days with us.

We also had similarly amazing results for some major dental surgery Nissa had to go through 2-3 yrs. prior, where her kidney enzymes actually IMPROVED from where they'd been prior to her surgery....all from homeopathic remedies and some other energetic and herbal treatments we did both before and after. These are just two examples of the successes we achieved with our homeopathic vet.'s care, keep in mind. He lives in New Mexico, while we are in Canada, so all consults were done by phone, and he only actually MET Nissa once, when he dropped by our place during a trip he took up here.

Having said that, it must also be acknowledged that sometimes successful homeopathic prescribing might not effect a total cure, both if you only begin such care in the "11th hour", so to speak, &/or if nothing ELSE is healthy in your baby's entire health picture, such as feeding a damaging diet, for example. The poor homeopathic vets all too often must try to undo much previous damage caused by many factors and they may not be consulted by people until things are already quite dire. However, that doesn't necessarily mean they CAN'T work, or that you can't achieve a much BETTER quality of remaining life....and certainly one that is NOT invasive, extra stressful and further-damaging, unlike many if not most of allopathic 'care.' The fact that a biopsy was already done might also factor into a homeopathic prognosis as well, though, as one cannot hope to return 100% of the body and its functions that are no longer physically 100% there. So if you do go for the surgery, I wouldn't think homeopathy, or anything else, could undo that much of the further damage that would create.

But from one who has LIVED and experienced the wonders that can be had from a holistic approach to our furbabies' care, I'd still encourage you to quickly look into these other, gentler approaches for your dear one, with at LEAST an eye towards better quality of life, something that holistic vets seem to take even more seriously than allopathic vets. do.


--------------------
"I dropped a tear in the ocean. The day you find it is the day I will stop missing you."

[center]~Anonymous~


<div align="center">"Not flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone,
But still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
You didn't grow under my heart - but in it"[/center]

~Fleur Conkling Heylinger~


>^..^< >^..^< >^..^< >^..^< >^..^<


"For one species to mourn the death of another is a noble thing"

~Aldo Leopold~

<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage. ~Sri Aurobindo

Spay now or pay later, the interest is killing us.


</span></div>
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prissy's mommy
post Jul 26 2009, 07:22 PM
Post #11





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From: NY
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My Prissy kitty passed away yesterday.

Her tumor had spread, and she had another tumor spreading under her shoulder. She had been doing great otherwise. She was still eating but stopped playing, and was sleeping a lot. Her original tumor had started to open about 2 weeks ago.

Yesterday, I found spots of blood all over my kitchen and in a panic went looking for her. I went out to her ledge on the back porch where she loved to lay in the sun, and found a large area of blood. I found her sitting on the arm of the couch. She looked up at me and cried, and I knew this was it. Her tumor was bleeding badly, and I knew she was hurting. I wrapped her in her favorite towel she always slept on, and he rushed her to the vet.

She didn't freak out in the car like she always used to. She didn't cry in the vet's office like she use to. She purred in my arms the whole time. While in the exam room waiting for the doctor, she cuddled up under my chin, and I knew she was ready to go, and was trying to comfort me. I held her to the end.

She was 2 months away from her 17th birthday.

My other cat died almost 2 months ago. He developed liver disease, and died a month after us discovering it.

I've lost both of my babies.



I love you Prissy. I miss you soooo much already. I can't stop thinking of you. I will always remember our special times together. You and Duffy are together again. I can't wait until the day when we reunited...to hold you, to hear your purr...
I love you!


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jasonsmom
post Jul 26 2009, 08:54 PM
Post #12





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From: ottawa, canada
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I hear you, Prissy's Mommy, I just lost a cat to cancer as well (last Saturday). Fred had a vaccination site fibrosarcoma and had a surgery last October before the tumour started to ulcerate. I figure he got an extra 9 months of life out of it. But like your cat, he suddenly stopped playing, and was sleeping more - although he had a good appetite (the day he died he had 5 feedings that morning. In spite of the surgery, his cancer eventually spread to his lungs and he had a lot of trouble breathing. At a certain point we knew it was time. He went peacefully. I really miss him as you do Prissy. Cancer is a horrible disease, if our cats hadn't had cancer they would still be with us, and that makes me sad and also angry.

I hope we see them again sometime, somewhere......
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petmum
post Jul 27 2009, 02:03 AM
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I am so sorry for your loss. I am glad you were with her when she crossed the rainbow bridge.
I remembered my Buddy disliked the vets & the only 2 times he wasn't worried were his last 2 visits, he just walked in & sat down & he had never done that b4. I'm certain that they know we are trying to help them, though it doesn't make the pain any better does it?
{{{HUGS}}}
elaine
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katzen11
post Jul 29 2009, 10:59 AM
Post #14





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I am so very sorry that You lost Your beautiful Prissy kitty. I missed Your thread, somehow I was too busy with the fibrosarcoma of my own cat Jimmy Klinger.
I am sorry that I did not contact You at an earlier time.
my Jim(14 years) has some months left, hopefully.
please accept my dearest sympathy
I am feeling with you
thank you for sharing the beautiful photo of your dear Prissy-Cat. wub.gif
Eva


--------------------
in loving memory of my sweet babycat Felice
+ 8 december 2006
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prissy's mommy
post Jul 29 2009, 08:07 PM
Post #15





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From: NY
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QUOTE (jasonsmom @ Jul 26 2009, 09:54 PM) *
I hear you, Prissy's Mommy, I just lost a cat to cancer as well (last Saturday). Fred had a vaccination site fibrosarcoma and had a surgery last October before the tumour started to ulcerate. I figure he got an extra 9 months of life out of it. But like your cat, he suddenly stopped playing, and was sleeping more - although he had a good appetite (the day he died he had 5 feedings that morning. In spite of the surgery, his cancer eventually spread to his lungs and he had a lot of trouble breathing. At a certain point we knew it was time. He went peacefully. I really miss him as you do Prissy. Cancer is a horrible disease, if our cats hadn't had cancer they would still be with us, and that makes me sad and also angry.

I hope we see them again sometime, somewhere......



Thank you for your kind words, I too I am so sorry that you lost your kitty too.
It still angers me to think that my perfectly healthy cat was given a "death sentence" from a vaccine. I know Prissy would have lived many more years had that not happened.

We WILL see them again...they are waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge....

Tracy
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prissy's mommy
post Jul 29 2009, 08:23 PM
Post #16





Group: Pet Lovers
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From: NY
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QUOTE (katzen11 @ Jul 29 2009, 11:59 AM) *
I am so very sorry that You lost Your beautiful Prissy kitty. I missed Your thread, somehow I was too busy with the fibrosarcoma of my own cat Jimmy Klinger.
I am sorry that I did not contact You at an earlier time.
my Jim(14 years) has some months left, hopefully.
please accept my dearest sympathy
I am feeling with you
thank you for sharing the beautiful photo of your dear Prissy-Cat. wub.gif
Eva




Eva,
I am so sorry that you are having to face this with your kitty...I can't tell you how much it consumed me, how many hours I would look at her and cry. I have gone through every emotion possible through this.

Can I ask if Jim had the surgery to remove the tumor? Deciding wether to let Prissy have if or not was the most gut wrenching decision I have every had to make, but I know I made the choice that was right for her.

When I was told that it was fibrosarcoma, the vet told me that she would only have a few weeks to a couple of months. Prissy lived for 5 more months. She could have gone longer, but I did not want to see her suffer...she was tired and I believe starting to become uncomfortable, and I knew I could not see her suffer through what was coming next. I had to just let go.

Thank you for you kind words. I wish you the best with Jim. Just love and spoil him all you can!!! I'm no expert in this, but I'm here if you just want to talk.

Tracy
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jasonsmom
post Jul 29 2009, 08:29 PM
Post #17





Group: Pet Lovers
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From: ottawa, canada
Member No.: 5,492



Prissy's Mommy

I now believe that they actually exist somewhere, and are in fact around us often, even if we are not conscious of their presence. Although I wouldn't mind Fred's furry little presence being around.... :-) I still expect him to come into the room........

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prissy's mommy
post Jul 30 2009, 09:17 PM
Post #18





Group: Pet Lovers
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Joined: 16-February 09
From: NY
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QUOTE (jasonsmom @ Jul 29 2009, 09:29 PM) *
Prissy's Mommy

I now believe that they actually exist somewhere, and are in fact around us often, even if we are not conscious of their presence. Although I wouldn't mind Fred's furry little presence being around.... :-) I still expect him to come into the room........



I can not tell you how many times I have heard Prissy meow since her passing on Saturday...at first I think nothing of it because I've heard that meow everyday for almost 17 years, and then I remember she's not here!!!
It's going to take me a very long time before I can get used to her being gone.
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petmum
post Jul 30 2009, 09:22 PM
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Group: Pet Lovers
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it will take some time, just take each day as it comes & don't resist the overwhelming stab in your heart when you suddenly remember what's happened, just breathe out first, then deep breathe in.....I still hve to remind myself to do this and it's been bout 8 weeks since Buddy died & we hve our new comapnion Jesse James to love.
Go Gently
elaine
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