Another Goodbye

I had a different post in mind for today.  I wanted to talk about bricks and adoptions.  But we had another loss over the weekend.  We lost little Oliver on Sunday morning.  Nobody saw this coming.  We should have considered this possibility.  We had the information.

Oliver was part of a litter that was being bottle fed by the bottle-feeding foster lady.  She returned him to the shelter because he was displaying symptoms of illness and she had no way to isolate him in her home.  He came to the shelter alone.  His siblings would stay in the foster home and continue to be bottle fed.  Older Daughter knew he couldn’t be placed in a cage and expected to fend for himself.  So she brought him home so that we could see to it that he was eating and getting his medications, etc.  He was no longer so young that he needed to be fed during the night.  We were sure we could handle this little guy, bottle feeding throughout the day and introducing him to solid food. 

When he came to us, he was vomiting and having diarrhea.  He had been to the vet when he was returned to the shelter.  We had medications to give him.  The diagnosis wasn’t clear.  He did not have giardia or coccidia.  The other kittens in the litter were doing fine.  It was possible he had a structural problem - something was not quite built right in the gastrointestinal system.  This could end up being a really big deal, or he could “outgrow” it.  I guess I latched onto the “outgrow it” part.  I never even considered that he might have a fatal developmental flaw. 

Older Daughter bottle fed Oliver and we started him on softened kitten chow.  (I told you about how Oliver would flap his ears when nursing.)  At first he tried to suck the softened food, but he eventually learned how to eat.  We gave small amounts throughout the day and continued to supplement with formula.  We got the diarrhea under control.  But Oliver seemed to struggle sometimes when eating.  He would eat really fast and it seemed this might be the problem.  But the other two (Thomas and Samuel) also ate really fast, as has every kitten we’ve ever fed.  Oliver would sometimes seem to get so far ahead of himself that he wasn’t able to swallow fast enough to accommodate the speed at which he took mouthfuls.  Occasionally, he would vomit some of his food right back out.  But the diarrhea had been gone for several days.  No doubt, we thought we had three healthy little kittens - Thomas, Samuel, and Oliver.

We found Oliver in a semi-comatose state.  Older Daughter actually found him.  She was up early getting ready for work.  She was the first one in the downstairs bathroom.  I went to the bathroom door and called through - Do you want me to put your coffee on?  No answer.  I called her name through the door.  I heard the door lock pop free.  I turned the handle and opened the door.  There she stood, tears streaming down her face, a limp Oliver in her arms.  I was in shock, as was my daughter.  He was already almost gone. 

On Saturday, it had been business as usual.  We always feed the three babies four times a day.  Oliver ate each meal.  He did not spit up his food that day.  Older Daughter had been out for the evening, so she was the last one to bed.  She gave the late feeding.  Oliver was fine.

I guess the ONLY indicator that something might have been wrong was the fact that Samuel had ever so slightly passed Oliver up in size.  We thought of Oliver and Samuel as nearly identical in age, and it seemed that Samuel might be getting a tiny bit bigger than Oliver.  Older Daughter and I have since talked about what must have happened.  She explained to me that if Oliver was born with some type of gastrointestinal structural deformity, and if he was not to outgrow it, the problem could be chronic (causing a slow decline in his health), or acute.  If there is an acute exacerbation, something like this can suddenly become extreme, and fatal.  She reminded me that the vet said this was one possibility.  I realize that I had completely ignored that information.  He was so playful, so bouncy, such a little love, that I guess I never let myself think that his “condition” might take him from us.

The ONLY comfort I was able to take yesterday was how quickly Oliver left us.  He went from being happy and playful and safe to gone in a matter of hours.  We were heartbroken that he started failing in the night and no one was with him.  But when Older Daughter found him, he still seemed to have a bit of recognition in his eyes.  She held him for as long as she could until she had to get ready to leave.  I held him after that, while Older Daughter got ready for work.  Younger Daughter was up shortly after, and she held him while I gave some meds and did some feedings.  From the time we found him, nearly comatose, until he left was a period of less than two hours.  That is what I was grateful for.  He seemed to slip away more easily than other kittens we’ve lost.  He died having known love.  And he did not die alone.



                                                   Oliver loved to curl up in the dogs’ food bowls.

Sundays are a busy kennel day.  But I can’t even tell you the amount of time I spent yesterday trying to get that short little video of Oliver uploaded to Youtube.  I had tried to upload a video of Gideon in the past and I was miserably unsuccessful.  But now I was determined.  I HAD to get that video into Youtube, and then I HAD to discover how to get it onto my blog.  Oliver flapped his ears when he nursed.  He gave us BIG moments of joy during a very low time here.  I wanted all of you to see the video as a tribute to this newest angel.  Here’s little Oliver, nursing and flapping.  What a dear!

 

 

Oliver, farewell.

Comments

[Amiee]

That was so cute and sad at the same time. :( I'm so sorry that you lost another kitty...

[Connie]

I am so very sorry.

[meowmeowmans]

We're so very sorry that Oliver had to run off to the Bridge so soon. We're so thankful that this sweet little ear-flapping-while-eating boy was with you and your daughters, and that he knew love before he had to fly free. Hugs and purrs to you all...

[Jan (Milo and Alfie's mom)]

I have to admit I am crying ~ the youtube did for me.

Dear little Oliver ~ go safely to the Bridge little one, surrounded by love.

[Pam and the Califurrrrrnia5]

Oh no ... I am just bawling. One sweet little pea gone from the pod. I guess Winnie needed a little playmate. Bless you Oliver. Run free at the Bridge.

[Abby]

Some things are inexplicable. I am glad that Oliver knew love and compassion. He was not alone and he will be remembered and that he will always bring a smile because of his special little wiggly ears.
Joy and sorrow dear Oliver...Godspeed your journey to The RB.
Love and purrs
Abby and Mom Debra

[Cat's Cats]

Oh no...poor little lamb! His video is so beautiful, it made me cry too. Thank you Chrystal for trying so hard to get it uploaded so we could all see how magical Oliver was. At least he was not alone and he knew love...

[Random Felines]

Farewell sweet angel Oliver!

[The Poupountte]

Goodbye, Sweet Oliver. May you be surrounded by new friends at the Rainbow Bridge. We are glad that you were able to know love and were not alone.

[Taz, Runt, Charles and mommy, Anna, in IL]

Mommy is crying, but happy too, that little Oliver had to go to the Bridge so soon, but knew the love of people who cared enough to try and make his life better. He was loved and will be mourned and we will remember him and his wonderful "Dumbo" ears.
Snuggles,
Taz, Runt, and Charles

[Cats of wildcat woods]

We lvoed teh vidoe and thank youf or making sure you posted it. Farewll sweet boy - fly free.

[Andrea & the Celestial Kitties]

I'm so sorry Chrystal. But you're so right, he knew love and warmth in his short life, and that's because of you.
That video is the most adorable thing I'm glad you were able to upload it!
Praying the rest of the babies thrive!

[Miz Robyn]

I'm so sorry, Chrystal. What a sweet, wonderful boy he was (the video was wonderful), and so lucky to have known such love for the short time he was with you.

[LP]

What a sweet little flying elephant boy! Thank you for sharing a video of his special ear flapping gift. I'm glad he was able to make all of you smile during his brief visit here on earth. I'm glad he knew love and was surrounded by it.Fly free little elephant ears. Fly free.

the critters in The Cottage

[ginny wells]

Good bye to a dear sweet boy with magic ears. He is flying as an angel in the haven for all furry ones. He will be missed by us all. He knew he was loved so he knew some one cared and that we all would remember the sweet boy with the flapping ears. we loved the video -it is sad and I cried as I watched it and I played it over three times and said prayers for the soul of Oliver. I do hope the others all make it and get loving homes. My doggie Mandy is about ready to cross over the bridge- I have prayed for my miracle but I think she is ready to go soon to a place where she won't be old and sick any more. I do think she knows and I pet her and she raises her little head and lays it back down on her soft cover. She has been blind for 3 years now but she knows the sound of our voices. She does not seem to be in pain - Ginny & The Fur Family ---tears for Oliver.

[Lee County Clowder]

Fare well, sweet Oliver. Run fat and free at The Bridge.

[candace nagle]

This world is so huge, and one little life so tiny...but that one tiny life means the whole world to us. What a precious little darling boy. So sorry you have lost Oliver. I pray that his spirit is in a place of bliss.