Comrade's End of Life: A Magical Journey Ends

After seven years together, COMRADE, my best friend and most loyal and trusted companion, suddenly and quite unexpectantly was diagnosed with Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (3 of his 4 arteries hardened) from which, even with intervention, he could not possibly survive longer than 3 months. Because of this prognosis, on the evening of July 7th, the very unbearable and torturous decision to help Comrade transition was made so he would no longer suffer struggling to breathe. Today, as I flip through images of my life with him, I feel a huge part of my own heart is missing. I find myself in a deep well of grief made worse by a substantial diagnostic and euthanizing veterinary bill that right now I am unable to meet because of my own hospitalizations and medical expenditures this past year.

Anyone who has met Comrade knows he was a very special and unique cat with whom I shared a profound bond. We took many long road trips together across the United States and (more recently) into Mexico. He played with dogs as if they were cats. He slept in my arms. He let me know when it was time to go to bed. And, in my darkest hours, it was he who comforted me on those days when getting out of bed to face the day was too much to bear. I’ve learned a lot from my little buddy over the years, and I am very thankful he is no longer suffering.

While trying to raise money to assist in paying for Comrade's final bill is a very humbling experience for me, the most important lesson I have learned from my bond with him, the critical decision that had to be made, AND my own health experiences which led to my recent inability to work, is recognizing that it is ok for me to ask for help when I'm in need of assistance or feeling overwhelmed. This is a profound realization for me. Vulnerability may be uncomfortable, but it connects me with the rest of the world. If you can contribute $5, $10, $20 or whatever, and/or if you can share the link to your own FB accounts, please know that I would be most grateful. But even if you cannot do either, just know that taking the time to read this request and send your own words of encouragement will go a long way to ease the grief that now stands in the wake of Comrade's absence. With much love and appreciation for you, Kate.