May 22, 2011

goodbye.

This is a difficult post to write... our Shiraz passed away last Thursday. It all happened so fast, literally within just a few days. He stopped moving, eating and talking, we knew that something was very wrong. The doctors were stumped at first, his little body was shutting down and everything was going so wrong so fast. After a slew of tests (blood work, ultrasound, biopsy from his liver, x-rays, etc.) he was diagnosed with a rare and fatal disease called Amyloidosis. This disease attacks the liver, kidneys and then passes to all other major organs which was exactly what was happening to poor Shiraz... The doctor's at the clinic said that they knew about this disease but most had never actually seen it, it's a rare and hereditary disease only found in Abyssinian and Siamese breeds and it can skip many generations. They kept telling us how unlucky we were and at first that's exactly how we felt, all we could think was how unfair this all was. But we know how incredibly lucky we were to have had him in our lives, even if it had to be for such a short time. We had last pick of the litter when we brought him home 4 years ago, but we always felt like we had won the lottery because everyone else overlooked the most amazing cat! He was so special, i've never bonded with a pet like I did with baby Shiraz... he woke me up every morning, sat with me while I ate, waited in the bathroom while I showered, stood on the counter top while I brushed my teeth {he loved the smell of minty toothpaste!}, came to the front door when I left for work and waited patiently at the front window when I returned home. He followed us everywhere and just wanted to be close to us, anywhere we were, Shiraz was there too.

I've been so lucky and so blessed to be his mama for the past 4 years and I will always remember each day that I got to spend with him as an amazing gift.

I love you and I miss you so much Shiraz xox...

Baby shiraz

















Shiraz on chair


















So much love
















Shiraz at window


















In my heart forever

25 comments:

  1. only 4 years old that's os young and what a sweet cat....sniff sniff!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Natasha,
    My heart goes out to you!!! I started crying when I read this...because we have cats too, and I know how much we all love our pets - and they are family to us just like the people in our lives.
    I am so so sorry for the loss of Shiraz. He obviously had a wonderful life with you and your family...and he brought so much joy to you. I am happy you had him for 4 years.

    My thoughts are with you Natasha.
    xo
    Ashlyn

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you so much Ashlyn, it's not everyone that understands the bond with have with our pets and how they are apart of our families. I know that you understand, please give your furr kids great big hugs for me. xox

    ReplyDelete
  4. oooooooh I am so sorry! I can't imagine how you must feel after just four years. He is such a gorgeous cat, you must miss him so much! my thoughts are with you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh no :( Losing a pet is devastating. And to lose him in such a way, it's just not fair. Take care xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh no, how awful. I'm so sorry. I can understand a bit of how devastated you are, having lost precious pets myself. That photo of the two of you looking into each others eyes just captures so much emotion, so gorgeous. Kellie xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh Natasha...you are in my thoughts today. I am sending you and your family all my strength during this difficult period. We grow such a great bond with our pets and suffer such a great loss when they move on. I know you will cherish all the good times you had with Shiraz. Your photos of her are gorgeous. You can tell she was a very happy cat. All my love xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Natasha! I'm SO sorry to hear that your beautiful Shiraz has past away. What a lovely cat, and my goodness it is so difficult loosing a pet... sending many, many hugs your way. xx veronika

    ReplyDelete
  9. i am so sorry natasha & family, i lost my two dogs three months apart from a rare cancer, what you described is what i remember as clear as if it was yesterday. It changed me in every way. our dogs were our children, i know you know what i mean.

    natasha i want to say something to make the pain go away
    please know i am hear if you need anything.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So, so sorry! They are family our little pets aren't they? Big hugs!
    Cupcake
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  11. oh how sad! I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you....

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm so sorry. He was really beautiful and tender cat.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh I'm so sorry to hear this. He was so beautiful and I'm sure you're going to miss him terribly. My heart goes out to you.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  14. oh how sad, unfair and heart breaking.. I'm so sorry and take care x x

    ReplyDelete
  15. awww... sooo very sorry to hear about your fur baby! If anything ever happened to my Nyla, I'd be devastated!!! *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  16. My heart goes out to you! Shiraz was so beautiful! Thinking of you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Natasha, I'm so sad to read this news, I know there is a huge part missing in your family now, bless her heart, so sad.
    Lots of love to you all xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm so sorry, this was so sad- I firmly think that the loss of a pet is equally as painful as the loss of a person - he was so beautiful! I love his huge clear eyes

    ReplyDelete
  19. Natasha, omg, omg. this is something i can't even believe and i just know how your heart has broken. i am so sorry, my tears for you and Shiraz fall down my cheeks and i am still in disbelief. i'm typing and i'm feeling fuzziness inside my skull. i wish i could do something for you, anything at all. if you need something. a phone call of support, an ear to bend...anything please let me know. i've been through something like this with our Koda and realize the deep, deep pain and anguish when our fur baby is gone. i still have Koda's ashs in our bedroom, i just can't part with that last bit of him.

    oh Tash, i'm so sad for you right now. when you wrote about him being last pick of the litter, that was what Koda was too and we felt that lottery win as well. the thing that has helped me get through it, not over it ever, but through it; is that we (you & I) know that these most special creatures were loved in a way that no one else would have. you gave Shiraz the best life ever, he was blessed to be yours and you his. my gosh, he is incredibly unique. i could see it and sense it from the moment i first laid eyes on his majestic self. i'll be thinking of you and praying for your heart to be eased from too much pain. and i'm sorry i haven't visited sooner to say this to you. much love Natasha. xo ♥

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lynn your words made me cry.. thank you so much for reaching out, it really means a lot. I know what you went through with your Koda and how you feel about animals, the same way that I do. Losing a pet is so difficult but at the same time experiencing that incredible love and bond with a pet, well we're pretty lucky. I have the most amazing memories of my time as Shiraz' mama and those memories will remain in my heart forever. Please give sweet Mylo and Gizmo big big hugs for me. And a big hug to you too Lynn. xox

    ReplyDelete
  21. Such a beautiful post and wonderful tribute to your sweet Shiraz.
    Nancy xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  22. So sorry for your loss, Natasha. I don't currently have a furry family member of my own but I know what it feels like to lose a beloved animal friend. Hugs to you.

    ReplyDelete
  23. How devastating. Pets are family. You must be broken hearted. Sorry for your loss...

    On a positive note, I'm very happy to have just discovered your blog...
    x claire

    ReplyDelete
  24. thank you Tash! i heart you big. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  25. tear, so sorry to hear about your kitty. I lost both my pups at ages 14, such an awful experience. They lived with my mom and I am a little relieved I didn't have to be there bc I am SO sensitive and I would of been a total mess. Animals have my heart. :(

    ReplyDelete