Goodbye, Sweet Nikki...

[Sue and Kids]

Hello, everyone. Could you please send a prayer for my precious "Nikki Belle"? My baby has left for the Rainbow Bridge, and I would so appreciate your sending love and kind thoughts for her.

Nikki was our little "spitfire". She was larger than life, and our house is so empty without her. For such a dainty little girl she had such a strong personality. She was very mischievious, very smart, very curious and very headstrong.

Nikki seemed completely normal until she suddenly stopped eating. I rushed her to the emergency vet. (It was on a Sunday and our local vet isn't available on weekends.) The vet did tests and found Nikki had very high levels of hyperthyroidism, her liver tests were very high and she had a heart murmur. I had no idea! It was so typical of her that she hid the fact she was sick until she was very sick.

I gave her thyroid medication, but Nikki continued to get weaker. When we took her to our vet for blood tests, the vet said Nikki had the highest creatinine values she had ever seen. The vet said we could try force feeding her or getting a feeding tube put in, but Nikki would have fought those really hard. The vet said she doubted Nikki could be saved with her liver in such bad shape. So I just couldn't put her through that.

My little angel drank a lot of water and used the litter box until the last day of her life. She was such a good girl. You had to know Nikki to know how hard she fought to live. I hope you don't think I'm a cruel monster because I didn't have her put to sleep. Nikki did not seem to be in pain or suffering, and I wanted her to leave this world on her own terms.

Right before she died, I carried Nikki around the house and showed her every room. She looked around and seemed very interested. She died in my arms in her favorite place, our hothouse. I miss her so much. The light in our house is gone. I feel so bad that I didn't know sooner, so I could have helped her.

Please wish my darling baby a safe, happy trip to the Rainbow Bridge. I love you, baby. Thank you for your prayers.

Sue (And Kids)

[Traci]

Oh Sue, I am so very very sorry, my heart just breaks for you! I remember when you first got her, it seems like only yesterday.

She is such a beautiful little girl, I know how much you love and miss her. I'm saying special prayers for her and asking mine and all our angel babies who have gone on before her to watch over Nikki and keep her safe until she can be in your arms again.

Safe and gentle journey, sweet sweet Nikki, ((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

[momPaws]

She is so beautiful = esp now as an angel. Am so sorry..hugs and tears.

[Marty]

Hugs and prayers for you and sweet Nikki. Peaceful journey, baby...

[k9Karen]

I'm so sorry Sue and unfortunately, I know exactly how you feel. Please don't blame yourself in any way and I certainly don't blame you for letting her go on her own terms. You did what you felt was right for your beautiful girl and I don't think anyone here would even begin to question your decision. She will be with you forever in your heart.

[Cleo]

I'm so sorry. She knew how much you loved her right to the very end.

Gentle journey sweet Nikki.

[Sue and Kids]

Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts and prayers, everyone.

This was all such a shock. Nikki was 12 years old but she seemed so healthy, I never knew she was getting ill. I thought she had many years left with us.

Our Shadow kitty has been the one who concerned me with her bad teeth and she is slightly overweight. I never could have believed Nikki would leave us first. Shadow is fine now but when she gets her physical, I'm going to have the vet add a T4 test to the others. (Shadow is the same age as Nikki.) It sounds like so many kitties have thyroid problems and it isn't routinely checked out (around here anyway).

I feel sad now that Nikki had our Tank kitty to deal with for the last year of her life. She and Tank never got along and generally avoided each other. I wouldn't have brought Tank here if I had known she was getting ill. I hope she can forgive me.

Again, thanks for all the support. Thanksgiving was sad this year without Nikki wanting her turkey and bread roll (she LOVED bread). I'm not looking forward to Christmas without her. But I hope all of you and your precious furbabies had a Happy Thanksgiving and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. God Bless you all.

Sue (And Kids - Shadow and Tank)

[slvrwhispr]

Mom and I were decorating for Christmas. We came across the box with the stockings in them. I found both Emmy's and Tyler's.

And that was the end of decorating.

*hugs*

[Traci]

I can certainly attest to sad holidays, they never seem the same anymore. I too, no longer decorate, not just because of the cats getting into things, but like Silvr, the personalized kitty stockings are too much to bear.

But, it doesn't mean we can't remember them, hold special thoughts of them and wishing they were here with us on not just holidays but all days....

[k9Karen]

I know exactly how you feel. I lost Angel on Christmas Eve and this time of year always brings back of flood of terrible memories of that awful day. I haven't decorated for years because no one other than me seemed to care and I couldn't get any help setting it up or taking it down.