R.I.P. Diamond :(

[Tanga]

Well it's been really hectic these past couple of months for me.
I went in for major surgery in late April, after I got back from the hospital I heard news from my father that the vet found multiple tumors in my 14 year old Diamond's digestive track. There was no hope for her recovery, as the whole digestive track was covered in tumors, an operation to remove them would be a lost cause.

Diamond couldn't have picked a better time to go (that was sarcastic, of course).

Diamond, you will be missed very much. You are my little girl and will always be. I'm so thankful to have had all those years with you while I was growing up. I hope to see you when that time comes. 1994 - 2008

Here's some pictures in remembrance.

Last, but not least....a priceless picture, she doesn't look too amused at the baby gecko's presence.:main_laugh:

On a happier note, my mother picked up this little squirt at an animal rescue shortly after Diamond's passing. She's quite the hellraiser and has helped me through these difficult times. Her name is Jasmine, she's all white with beautiful blue eyes (unfortunately because of this beautiful combination she's deaf, but she gets along just fine).

Wink

 

[techgirl]

Lani, I am so sorry for your loss. Hopefully the little hellraiser will help ease your grief some with her shenanigans. Diamond was one beautiful cat that looks like she ruled the roost in your house.

 

[LeapinLizards]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I just had to put down my 20 year old boy, Tiger, less than a month ago due to just old age. There is a pic of me and him in the members pictures section. Diamond was beautiful, I'm sure she will be sorely missed. The new little hellraiser sure is a cutie though too!

 

[Tanga]

I appreciate the condolances Jessica & Heather.
Heather, I also send you my sympathy about the loss of your Tiger. It's never easy to lose a pet, especially ones that have been a part of your life for so many years.

I just realized there's a pet memorial section where I should've posted this thread. Oh well.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Heather, I also send you my sympathy about the loss of your Tiger. It's never easy to lose a pet, especially ones that have been a part of your life for so many years.

Oh definitely. By that point they are more like family. Well may Diamond and Tiger both RIP...I'm sure they are watching down on us from the big Rainbow Bridge

 

[moosassah]

Hopefully a little of Diamond's personality will come through in Jasmine Sometimes I wonder when pets come into our lives if it really happens that way. Glad that Diamond will be forever in peace & that Jasmine has come to add a spritely spark to your day.

 

[efx*]

Im very sorry about Diamond

 

[LadyGecko]

Lari
I am so very sorry for your loss
I can completely identify with your pain

Diamond was beautiful and 14 years is a long wonderful lifetime of sharing

Unfortunately it is very difficult to get used to the idea when one of our beloved companions passes

RIP Diamond

Jasmine is beautiful and I am sure that her company will help in those really tough times of sadness for Diamonds passing

Losing a pet is a very life changing experience

I pray that the tough times that you have gone through recently will help make you stronger and that life becomes much smoother for you in the near future

Take Care of yourself

Sandy

 

[Tanga]

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement Jeanine, Dane, and especially Sandy.

It's been an especially rough losing Diamond, although she lived a long life at 14 years of age it's seriously difficult for me because she was bought when I was 10 years old shortly after my grandfather died in 1994 and has grown up with me throughout alllll these years from middle school to high school thru college. Every night when I came home from college she would be waiting at the door for me, every time. Now to not have her there waiting for me when I come home breaks my heart.

Although now I've become stronger through this ordeal. I've finally accepted the fact that no living thing goes on forever, and we all have to face it when the time comes. I've been close to death myself so that makes me realize this even moreso.

On a more cheerful note, Jasmine has become very closely bonded with me and I believe Diamond's spirit is in her because now she waits for me to come home, when I come home at night Jasmine is right there waiting on the stairs near the door. It's amazing. And Jasmine also waits for me at the door while I'm taking a shower, EXACTLY where Diamond used to sit when I took a shower. I'm really happy that I have a new cat that has taken on Diamond's spirit and characteristics, it's truly something to behold.

 

[fallen_angel]

Reading all of this post has really made tears come to my eyes. We have 5 very beloved cats and every so often I think about the horrible day that I will have to face sooner or later, and it really makes me upset. Animals/pets truly do become a part of the family and my heart aches for you, as I seriously just want to break down and cry. On a better note, though, I am so very happy that Jasmine carries on Diamond's spirit and am very glad that you have gained strength through this experience.. it's all we can do at times. Diamond was a very gorgeous cat and perhaps her connection to you has brought her spirit back through Jasmine. Jasmine is very amazing too, and what a sweet and loving mama you must have for picking her up for you during this time. Our thoughts/hearts are with you :heart: and although everything must come to an end at some point or another, it's the time that was spent while it lasted that will echo for eternity.

 

[Tanga]

Reading all of this post has really made tears come to my eyes. We have 5 very beloved cats and every so often I think about the horrible day that I will have to face sooner or later, and it really makes me upset. Animals/pets truly do become a part of the family and my heart aches for you, as I seriously just want to break down and cry. On a better note, though, I am so very happy that Jasmine carries on Diamond's spirit and am very glad that you have gained strength through this experience.. it's all we can do at times. Diamond was a very gorgeous cat and perhaps her connection to you has brought her spirit back through Jasmine. Jasmine is very amazing too, and what a sweet and loving mama you must have for picking her up for you during this time. Our thoughts/hearts are with you :heart: and although everything must come to an end at some point or another, it's the time that was spent while it lasted that will echo for eternity.

Jess, unfortunately for us pet owners the inevitable is bound to come sooner or later, and thats what makes me pause and think is it even worth having any pets to save for the eventual heartache that is bound to happen when they pass?

God (whether you believe in him or not, myself, I'm not so sure yet) but anyways, God/whatever higher power there is ,works in mysterious ways.
Just 3 weeks before Diamond's passing I had my surgery and was clinically dead for 5 minutes flat lining. To come home from such a life changing ordeal like that only to find that I had to make the choice to put my baby to sleep made me question a lot of things, how could God do this to me? What did I do so wrong to deserve this? etc. etc.

Anyways, enough of my sob stories. Whats done is done, and I'm slowly still recovering from her passing, although I'll never quite fully get over it, ever.

Thank you Jess for your kind words and enjoy your 5 little furry angels (and geckos of course!)

 

[fallen_angel]

Well the answer to your fisrt question (for me) is that if you don't take the chance to love and lose, then you will never get to experience the love in the first place, and that is what is most important, just the experience and time that you did have.

I do not believe in "God" but believe in some higher power up there, and believe that the purpose of life is to learn as much as you can, love as much as you can, and give back as much as you can. We are given obstacles in life to make us stronger and teach us lessons. I am also a beleiver in Karma, numerology, past lives, all of those things.. but my beliefs really isn't what's important here. What is important is that you do not blame yourself or God for what is happening, even if you do believe in God, he must give you obstacles in life so that you learn and grow. If we are just given everything, we would learn nothing. There couldn't be happiness without knowing sadness first, there can not be good without evil, no black without white. I could go on and on forever though.

Something like this isn't just a thing that you "get over" and I wouldn't expect you to. The memories of her will always stay with you, and there will always be that place in your heart that is empty due to her loss. My fiance Mike lost a dog that was very dear and close to his heart when he was a teenager. He had time with his dog (Bandit) for 11 years, and it's been 11 years since the dog has passed. Still to this day he breaks down and cries over his beloved Bandit. That type of pain NEVER goes away, it's just that you eventually learn how to deal with it better, and that it was inevitable. That's just how life is. I too had a dog that was very dear to me growing up, and he was hit by a car and killed. A piece of me has and always will hold on to him. It's very hard to lose someone so dear to your heart, and I know that during those times it's hard to keep hope in anything. But at least that aspect shall pass with time. Just like you said, it makes you stronger. Anything that doesn't kill us makes us stronger. The fact that you were actually dead for 5 minutes and came back has a significant meaning to me. It wasn't your time to go, you still have things that you are meant to do, people you are meant to meet and love, more enjoyment to have, more sadness to have, etc.

We just want you to stay strong and not lose hope in all things during this time. Our thoughts/hearts are with you.. never under estimate the power of positive thinking. Take care :heart:

 

[Sidork]

It made me sad when I was reading this.

 

[modestmouse]

awww that's really too bad. It always hurts when an animal dies... =( It's happened to me, too many times, so I can... sort of relate.

 

[modestmouse]

God (whether you believe in him or not, myself, I'm not so sure yet) but anyways, God/whatever higher power there is ,works in mysterious ways.
Just 3 weeks before Diamond's passing I had my surgery and was clinically dead for 5 minutes flat lining. To come home from such a life changing ordeal like that only to find that I had to make the choice to put my baby to sleep made me question a lot of things, how could God do this to me? What did I do so wrong to deserve this? etc. etc.

Yes God works in mysterious ways. But, you have to realize that these sorts of things happen so that you can realize & appreciate the gift of life. It's terrible, I know. But try not to think about how your cat died, try to think of it as she's moving on, to something better (mind you I'm not saying you were bad, just..) But in all reality, if God wanted you then, he would have taken you then. I think it just might have been his way of saying, "things are gonna look up from here, you wait." We can't quite understand why these things happen, or why they happen to us in particular, but we can understand that God has a plan for us all, & death with God (in faith) is better than life anywhere.

 

[Lady_Kiya]

Lani I am so sorry, I know what it's like to lose a pet. My dog (shadow) I had when I was around 10 was hit by a car because someone who came to the door would not shut it and he got out. It's a gutwrenching feeling to lose something that is so close to your heart.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I am so very sorry you have lost our beloved Diamond. Our pets are so much more than just animals... they are an integrated part of our famlies and lives. There will always be an empty place in the heart that nothing can quite fill. Eventually, that hole gets replaced by fond memories of the one that was with us for so many years.

I hope that Jasmine will hel relieve some of the grief, and bring you many years of joy!