Traci, Kira is Gone

[Laurie and Tasha]

This happened so fast, I am still in disbelief. Took Kira to the vet because she was acting lethargic and not eating. I figured she had a stomach virus or something. We did some bloodwork and took xrays. She was so anemic that the blood the vet drew looked like pink water - I've never seen anything like it. The xrays showed a huge amount of fluid in her abdomen that obscured most of her organs. The doc tapped the fluid to see what it was, and it was blood. He suspected a ruptured tumor. After briefly considering what to do (blood transfusion, surgery), I decided to let her go. Vet said she was so anemic she wouldn't make it through surgery, and giving her a transfusion would give us a week possibly, but unless he could stop the bleeding somehow, we would just be putting blood in that would bleed out into her abdomen. I was very sure she was in a lot of pain, because she was purring very loudly the whole time she was being examined. After her knee surgery many years ago, she purred for two whole days. That was before the days of believing in giving pain meds for practically anything.

The vet offered to do a necropsy for me at no charge to see what was going on. It turned out she had a primary liver tumor of a cystic structure the size of a grapefruit. It was filled with blood and somehow ruptured. She had to have been sick for months, and I can't believe that I couldn't see how sick she was. I know cats are very good at hiding their illnesses, but this was so serious, and she acted really normally until the last day. My vet told me we did the right thing - tumor had taken over more than half of her liver, and he didn't know even if she survived the surgery (which he still doubted) that she would have lived very long. And it would have been painful for her. Plus he didn't know if he would have been able to get it all out.

I am in shock. Can't stop crying. The other cats seem to know something has happened, but I don't know if they understand what. Please say a prayer for her - she was such a joy and had so much personality. It's hard to go to the vet thinking you'll come home with some stomach medication and everything will be fine, and all you come home with is an empty carrier.

[Auntie Debbie]

Awww, Laurie I'm so sorry you've lost Kira, especially since you weren't expecting it. You diid do the right thing for her, even though it was such a tough decision.
Sometimes it really is too bad they can't talk and let us know something is wrong right away. How old as she?
I hope her little jouney across the bridge was peaceful.

[Cleo]

Laurie, you and Kira are in my prayers. I'm so sorry for your loss and shock.

**sorry, spelled your name wrong

[Laurie and Tasha]

Debbie, Kira was 13. We were just celebrating her birthday in March.
***tears***

[Tambrey]

oh {{{laurie}}} I am so sorry for your sudden and unexpected loss of {{{Kira}}}

run free now Kira....free from any pain and know that one day you will all be reunited again

[slvrwhispr]

Ohh, sweetheart... I'm so very sorry.

[momPaws]

Am so sorry (((hugs)))..we know how you feel.

[Traci]

Laurie, I am so very very sorry, I can feel your pain and it hurts like hell.

This sounds exactly what my Cecil had, it was a cyst on the liver that ruptured and had toxic neutrophils, blood and fluid leaking and no way to resolve it. You could not have known in time, they are generally rapid-progressive tumors or cysts and without frequent ultrasounds, they are extremely difficult to catch due to their rapid nature. Surgery is not always an agreeable option, and the stress alone with surgery is highly risky. I agree with your vet that letting her go was most likely the most humane thing you could have done.

Please don't let guilt obscure your decision, I truly believe it would have been the most difficult to expect a cure, even further diagnostics could have been too risky.

I wish I could ease your pain and take it all away. I wish you could have had so much more time with your precious Kira. I wish we had ultra knowledge and sensory perception to prevent these things, but we don't. You did your best and so did your vet, I hope you can always remind yourself that is what matters most and that Kira knew you loved her so much and did everything you could. I hope you can focus on the wonderful and beautiful years you had together and always remember that love will never ever seperate you, ever.

((((((HUGS))))))), I'm so sorry, Laurie, gentle journey, sweet sweet Kira, you are in our hearts, and never to be forgotten.

[Wanda]

I am crying with you Laurie, I am so sorry and it was such a horrible shock too. Have no regrets you were a great mom to Kira. I am so sorry.

[Tina B and crew]

Oh Laurie I am so sorry to hear about your loss of Kira....there are no words to make it better. I hope her journey was safe and may you meet her again on the other side.