77/365 ~ Nigel.

Nigel started acting sick again. His breathing was very labored, so my hubby took him to another vet for a second opinion. The diagnosis was a hernia in his diaphragm, and he was considered to be in critical condition. The vet didn't think that he would even survive surgery to repair it, as all of his internal organs were invading his chest cavity and crushing his lungs. We made the very difficult decision to let him be put to sleep, to end his suffering. We will miss our sweet engine kitty, that mischievous little fur ball.

Last May, after I drove the girls to school one morning, I kept hearing this weird whistling sound that I thought was coming from the backseat... I thought Niko was getting a cold and doing the strange whistling sound that kids do when they have a stuffy nose. I got home, and a few minutes later my Dad knocks on the door and says, it sounds like you have a cat in your van. We opened up the hood, and there, sitting on the engine, was this terrified, pissed off little wild kitty, about 10 weeks old, covered in fleas, who promptly bit me on the chin and spent the next month cowering behind the toilet seat and hissing. Lots of love and smushing later, he was our sweet little tabby, that my hubby named Nigel.

He loved to chase laser pointers. He allowed the kids to carry him around the house like a baby and even dress him up in doll clothes. He loved to sit on our headboard and watch the birds in the trees and on the front lawn, curling his lip up like a bad Elvis impersonator and chittering. He was best buddies with Henry, and it was so sweet to watch them groom each other and sleep curled up on our bed together. He also liked to wake me up in the middle of the night by pouncing on my head or biting my toes.



















Saying "Goodbye"...






Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

~Author unknown