Friday, September 5, 2014

Saying Goodbye to Grandma

This is one of our favorite pictures of Grandma.  That's who the little girl was in our Wordless Wednesday post this week!  Grandma was Mommy's mommy, and she was living with us for the last 7 months.  She died of cancer on August 8th, so we're very sad about that.  There have been a lot of changes around here lately, things moving around, people coming in and out, meeting new people who are relatives whom we've never seen before, and different schedules.

Our purrents say we're a houseful of therapy cats, which is a good thing!  Having Tabby in our family has taught us all to be mindful of our purrents' emotions and behaviors, so when they first heard the news, we all offered ourselves to be petted and to purr for them.  Grandpa (Mommy's dad, who was divorced from Grandma ages ago) came over and immediately got three lap-sitters!  We've all been extremely snuggly and attentive to Mommy and Daddy and social with other people who have come by to offer help and condolences.

Heimdall was the closest to Grandma, and became her "furry doctor".  He would sneak into her room to do his rounds, walking under the desk, then around to check out underneath the hospital bed, then walk to the far wall and look up at her when she was lying in bed.  Then, most of the time, he'd go under the rocking chair and have to be caught to be taken out of the room.  If Grandma was in the rocking chair, he'd go over to her for pets.  None of us could be on Grandma's lap, because she had cancer and so her immune system was compromised by the chemo and radiation.  After she died, Heimdall went in to do his rounds and was very concerned when he didn't see her on the bed.  He hopped up onto the bed and immediately shrunk because he could tell she hadn't been there for a week.  She had been in the hospital for a few days before she died, so by the time Heimdall went into her room it had been almost two weeks since she'd last slept in her bed.  Heimdall immediately let Mommy pick him up and snuggle him, then Freya came over to lick him on the head when he was set in the hallway.  He still pulls on Grandma's door at least twice a day, hoping that she'll reappear.

Tabby is the only one of us who knew that humans could die.  She'd encountered death smells and "not there" smells, as well as ministered to dying friends on her visits, so she's been trying to help the rest of us through this.  However, without direct experience, it's hard for us to visualize one of our people being "not there".  It's a different "not there" than when fosters have been adopted.  This "not there" leaves an empty place that's sad, instead of a happy-sad one, and we don't like it.

Mommy let us smell the death smells on Grandma's things when they were retrieved from the hospital, but that only helped a little.  Human death smells, while similar, are still different enough from kitty death smells that we don't know if what we smelled really was a death smell.  Our purrents say it was, but we can't be sure.  All we know is that our third purrson is missing from our lives.

We love you, Grandma!  We miss you very much, and wish you were here to give us leg pets and hand pets, knit blankets for us, and tell us how much you love us, too.  If you were here, Heimdall would purr his best motorboat purr for you!  We know you are at the Bridge, so we will see you again.  We hope your spirit will come visit us like the spirits of our furry family members Skylar and Spooky.

Stephanie Thompson
July 20, 1948 to
August 8, 2014

11 comments:

Fuzzy Tales said...

We're so sorry for your Grandma's passing and are sending you all soft purrs.

Peace.

Summer said...

Purrs to you. I can tell I have a lot to learn as a therapy cat in training - humans need so much care in so many ways (and so do other kitties, too) and it sounds like you are all so good.

meowmeowmans said...

Sending you gentle and comforting purrs and prayers as you remember your dear Grandma.

The Island Cats said...

We are so sorry about the loss of your Grandma. Purrs to you....

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

We are so very sorry for your loss. We know you miss your Grandma, purrs of comfort and sympathy for your loss.

Cats of wildcat woods said...

So sorry that you lost your Grandma.

pilch92 said...

I am so sorry for the loss of your grandma, make sure you give your mom lots of extra love because I am sure she is sad.

Unknown said...

We are purring for your Grandma's trip to The Rainbow Bridge, and for the empty sad in all of your hearts.

Lilith, Rosco, & Tina of The Feline Contingent (and Staff)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful story. It looks like your grandma had a wonderful energy about her. She probably learned that from all of you.... unless you all learned it from her. Mom and I will say prayers for your family to heal quickly and remember always. xoxo

Love and licks,
Cupcake

Saku said...

We are so sorry you Grandma went away. Purrs from all of us.

Sasha, Sami, & Saku

Kitty Cat Chronicles said...

So sorry for your loss. Sending warm, comforting purrs from all of us. Sounds like you kitties are doing a wonderful job of taking care of your family during this difficult time.