Richard Schneck – October 13, 2016
I adopted our beloved George, and his beloved brother Harry, when they were eight-week old kittens, in July 2000 in Greenwood, IN. (I had planned to name them “George and Gracie”, but “Gracie” started showing male parts a few days after I adopted them, and thus became “Harry”.) I met my wife Karen about a year later, so she did not know them as kittens. When we were first dating, she was worried that George didn’t like her, because he was shy around strangers and would hide when she came to the house. Then one night when we were sitting on the couch watching a movie, he came out of hiding and sat on her lap. In the years that followed, the bond of love between George and his “Mommy Lion” was remarkable. He was the gentlest and most affectionate creature we have ever known. He was a constant loving companion, and we miss him more than we can express in words.
In March 2008, a few months after we all moved to the Raleigh area, George was diagnosed with cancer and hospitalized. We were told that it was treatable if not curable, and that we might expect “up to a year” of good quality of life if we decided to pursue treatment.
It was around this time that we met Mardella and Neil Berg of A-1 Pet Care, because we needed a professional pet sitter who could administer medications. (The following year we moved out of Mardella’s service area, and Michelle Haopshy, who works with Mardella, has been our on-site pet sitter ever since.) We are so grateful to them for all their friendship and support.
George went through chemo, and by God’s grace, he completely recovered and stayed healthy, happy and playful for another eight years!
In May 2016, as an old man of 16 years, George got sick again. He had a severe infection that affected multiple organs, and during diagnostic procedures, he went into septic shock and nearly died. After a few days in the hospital, he came home with a feeding tube and multiple medications. Our lives revolved around him as we became veterinary nurses, preparing liquefied food for the feeding tube, crushing pills, and mixing solutions to medicate him several times per day. Karen’s experience as a pharmacist no doubt helped. If I had been alone, I would have been completely overwhelmed and clueless. Her love and patience and tenacity in doing what was necessary to care for George was incredible. And he miraculously recovered again. It took about six weeks, but eventually he started eating on his own, and the feeding tube was removed. He became like his old self again – loving, happy and playful.
It turns out we would only have a few more months with him, but that time was precious and we are forever grateful for it.
On a very special day in July, Mardella, Neil and Michelle came to our home over lunch and brought George gifts to celebrate his recovery. They are so much more than pet sitters – they are family.
Just a few months later, George became very sick again, and this time we ran out of viable treatment options. It was time to let him go. On October 11, Dr. Jennifer Frey of Peaceful Passing of Raleigh came to our home and put him to sleep in the warmth of his home. She was amazingly compassionate and supportive. And now our beloved George is in Heaven, where we will see him again.
We are so grateful to the amazing doctors and staff at VSH, to Dr. Duffy of Raleigh Cat Clinic and her staff, Dr. Frey, and to Mardella, Neil, and Michelle, for all they have done for us and for George and Harry.
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- George
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- George
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- George’s brother Harry is living and currently doing well. George (left); Harry (right)
