Goodbye, Jet. Options

[Walk Alone]

Hello everybody. I am glad to find this forum. I don’t have a family or anyone else to talk to.

On August 7, 2007, I adopted an eleven-week-old kitten from an animal shelter who they called “Marty”. I was actually a volunteer at the shelter and noticed that the kitten’s eye was very infected. I called it to the attention of the staff on several occasions. After it remained untreated for over a week, I adopted him and took him to one of my own veterinarians, who is especially good with eyes. I renamed the kitten “Jet”.

My veterinarian initially thought Jet’s eye had already ruptured. After they cleaned it out, they saw it had not ruptured. Jet suffered permanent damage to his tear duct, but otherwise fully recovered.

When Jet’s eye was being treated, I would sit on the edge of the bathtub to medicate him. Anytime I sat there after the medication was done, Jet would hop up on my lap and rub his nose against my nose as if he remembered the treatments and was saying “Thank you.” He was my best friend.

On February 2, 2010, I took Jet to the veterinarian after I noticed some weight loss. Jet was diagnosed with Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). Working with animals for many years, I knew that disease well. I was devastated.

I read about a veterinarian in the UK that had a 25% survival rate with FIP when using Prednisolone and Interferon. Jet and I fought hard with these medications for nine months. He was so brave and strong! Unfortunately, on November 8, 2010, I couldn’t ask him to fight anymore. We said goodbye at 6:20 p.m. at the veterinarian’s office. He died in my arms. My baby boy.

I feel absolutely terrible because when we arrived at the veterinarian for the last time, Jet hid his little face in my arm for protection, but I was the one who brought him there to die! It was me! I absolutely hate myself.

Why, oh why, was he given only three years to live? Why is there no cure for this disease? Why did he recover so well from the eye infection just to get sick again? It is not fair. Jet deserved so much more.

My grandma passed away on Christmas Eve. I asked her to please give me a sign that Jet is in heaven with her. I needed to know that animals go to heaven. This morning on the way to work, an SUV in front of me had a license plate that simply read “JETME”. I read it as “Jet is with Me.” I hope so.

[moon_beam]

Hi, Walk Alone, thank you so much for sharing with us how you're doing and the wonderful memories and pictures you have of your precious Jet. Wearing his collar as a bracelet is a wonderful idea!!!

Bringing home Jet's ashes can be very comforting - - knowing that he's back home with you. I know it's not the same as having his sweet precious physical body to hold onto - - nothing will be able to compensate for that, but I hope having his ashes with you can still be a source of comfort to you.

I can so relate to your statement "I need to focus on the blessing I was given by having nine precious months with him after his diagnosis. The vet estimated six months, so we were fortunate." My beautiful Abbygayle was diagnosed with End Stage Fibrosarcoma in July 2009 and underwent three major surgeries to remove recurring tumors on her left hip, the last surgery being December 10, 2009. When she was assisted to the angels on March 15, 2010, it was exactly 8 months post-diagnosis. As her doctor and I were talking before I left the vet's office in March, I thanked her for giving us those 8 months, and for helping my baby girl to keep her leg through each of the surgeries instead of amputating which would not have stopped the course of the cancer. Abbygayle was able to live a good quality of life through those 8 months because of the dedication of her doctors, and I am very grateful for that. Still, - - even though she lived to be 6 years old, it doesn't matter how long our earthly journey is with our precious companions because it is never long enough - - we will always want just one more minute, one more hour, one more day, - - one more lifetime with them.

Walk Alone, thank you so much for sharing some of your memories of your precoius Jet with us, and look forward to sharing more with you as you are able. Perhaps sometime you may want to do a special memorial for him - - like a scrapbook, or a garden, a donation to a research faciliity on FIP in your precious Jet's name, or -- whatever you might think would be a fitting memorial for him. But whatever you decide, he has the most wonderful memorial of all - - an eternal flame of love burning for him in your heart. And it is an honor to share him with you on this wonderful forum. Thank you, Walk Alone.

Walk Alone, there are going to be some good days and some not so wonderful days as you travel this grief journey, but please do remember that through each and all of them we are here for you, and please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam