Rascal: April 1, 2000 - July 1, 2010

It is with a heavy heart that I write this final post on Welcome to Rascal's World. Rascal was helped across the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon.

This morning Rascal woke me up around 6:30, and asked for breakfast. He'd been hungry a lot lately, though fussy about what he wanted to eat. He ate a big helping of raw chicken breast, and then accompanied me outside while I worked in the garden. He made his usual rounds, and when I went in for breakfast, he came in too. He took a long nap, but when I came in around 1:30 after checking on the chickens and goats, he was lying on the kitchen floor, breathing with great difficulty. I called his dad to let him know what was up, and then made an appointment with the vet.

We had several hours before his appointment, and I spent it with him, talking to him, using all the words he knows, and telling him how much we loved him.

Dr. C said his lungs were filling with fluid and that we did the right thing to bring him in. He would have suffered terribly as his breathing got worse. We were able to ease that suffering, by helping him to the place of no suffering.

Rascal was a trooper. When he was diagnosed with Feline Lymphona in February 2008, we were told that he could probably live another 5 to 6 months with chemotherapy. His remission lasted for 2 years. At that time Dr. C gave him only another month or two, but he survived another 5 months, doing the things he liked to do, and living life as he always had.

Thank you to everyone who's cared about Rascal, visited his blog, left encouraging comments, and indeed, has been a part of his world. I don't need to tell you how much he will be missed.