Options
Saying goodbye to Moofaly Doofaly
digital faerie
Registered Users Posts: 667 Major grins
A few years ago, I had the honor of posting shots of my superbly handsome kitty named Moofaly Doofaly. This story is about a journey, one of love and loss, and coming to peace with the hole left in my heart.
Over four years ago I met a sweet guy online and much to my surprise we fell in love pretty fast. Life, however, had a different plan and that involved him moving to Indiana while I was going to stay in the mountains of NC. But he had this awesome orange tabby named Moofaly Doofaly. We took to each other right away, which is pretty biased of me, because Moofaly is much like a dog, there was never a lap he was afraid to sit on!
When the boyfriend left, he decided to leave Moofaly with me, so that I could soothe the heartache with sandpaper kisses.
A couple of years ago, I thought it might be fun to try and take a few portraits of Moofaly in the field behind my house. With him being an indoor-only cat, I was a bit nervous, but once again, Moofaly surprised me by staying in the spot I put him in. He seemed content to stay in the same 3 foot area, chewing on the blades of grass as he saw fit and sniffing at the air like it was brand new.
One of Moofaly's most endearing qualities is his underbite--I think this picture helps to show off just how sexy that can be:
Little did I know that Tuesday, April 3, 2007 was going to become one of the hardest days I've ever experienced.
I had just gotten back from a friend's house to pick up his "pocket monkey", an affectionate term for a sugar glider. They're almost too cute to look at! I was relieved to see that he had a bird cage, with bars too small for a cat's paw--that surely would have been a disaster.
Having been home for about 45 minutes, I noticed Moofaly seemed to be ill. I'm going to spare you the details here, but will just say he was having a very hard time breathing, and meowing a lot. As fast as I could handle it, I shoved my heart back down my throat, got him into his carrier, and was out the door to his vet, which is fortunately only 1/4 mile away from me.
The vet looked him over and decided to take an x-ray. It was a difficult task because the positioning needed for the machine made it harder for him to breathe, I thought I just might pass out if I had to hear him scream one more time like he was. It broke my heart.
The x-rays revealed that his stomach was way too high -- indicating a possible diaphragmatic hernia....so I had to wait for the emergency hospital to open at 6 pm.
Those 45 minutes at the house waiting, watching him suffer, checking on him constantly and hoping beyond all hope that something could be done was all I could do. Fortunately, my boyfriend came home so he was able to drive me to the emergency vet because I don't think I would've been able to see the road.
The prognosis was looking bad....his temp. was 2 degrees below normal and I just got this sinking feeling. The vet wanted to put him in an oxygen tent and try to take more x-rays to see if he could get a better diagnostic image. He said he would call me in a couple of hours.
When I returned I was so elated to see Moof with pink gums again and a pink tongue instead of a purple one, but he had just come out of the oxygen tent so I knew that it wouldn't be long before he starting turning blue again. It took less than a minute...but wouldn't you know it, my cat was so happy to see me and my boyfriend, that through half-open eyes full of pain, he kept trying to purr. It was as if he didn't want us to feel bad!
That's when I knew.....I asked the doctor what his chances were with surgery. His old age, and respiratory distress all spelled disaster, and that the likelihood of him waking up from surgery was very very slim.
I slowly nodded my head and turned to Moofaly . . . ah, those eyes. I've never seen them so sad-looking before, they'd lost a lot of their brightness. Moofaly looked back at me and laid his head down on the towel and I knew what he wanted--what he needed most of all.
Taking a deep breath I asked the vet if I could have some time alone with him. He quietly left the room and I just circled my arms around his frail heaving body and put my cheek against his. The faintest purr was all he could give but it was so much more than I could have asked for. I said everything I always tell him everyday, but this time I told him to come back to me. Because one day, and I am absolutely confident in this, I will come across another fuzzy face, and something will seem so familiar, that the circle of life will once again complete itself and begin all over again.
The vet returned and in two minutes, Moofaly slipped away so peacefully. I cradled him one last time and left in shock and disbelief.
Wednesday morning was especially difficult without hearing that familiar incessant meowing for breakfast. It is absolutely amazing how grief-ridden silence can become so cacaphonous.
I thought about some pictures I had taken a little over a year ago, trying to capture Moofaly's silhouette. Working on them in photoshop became quite therapeutic, not only giving me something to do, but trying to give Moofaly some sort of honor as well.
The first is a siimple silhouette....but the second, well the second one ended up taking a life all it's own and speaks volumes to me and that's really all that's important--but I thought I would share them with you guys because a lot of you have been where I am now, and probably will be again.
We take the risk of losing them, because it is impossible not to love them. There is nothing more powerful than the unconditional love of an animal.
So these go out to Moofaly and I raise my glass high to you sweetie. I miss you but know you are so much happier now.
Moofaly's Silhouette
Moofaly's Light
Thanks to anyone taking this short moment to take this journey with me, I think it will make Moofaly's star shine that much brighter.
Over four years ago I met a sweet guy online and much to my surprise we fell in love pretty fast. Life, however, had a different plan and that involved him moving to Indiana while I was going to stay in the mountains of NC. But he had this awesome orange tabby named Moofaly Doofaly. We took to each other right away, which is pretty biased of me, because Moofaly is much like a dog, there was never a lap he was afraid to sit on!
When the boyfriend left, he decided to leave Moofaly with me, so that I could soothe the heartache with sandpaper kisses.
A couple of years ago, I thought it might be fun to try and take a few portraits of Moofaly in the field behind my house. With him being an indoor-only cat, I was a bit nervous, but once again, Moofaly surprised me by staying in the spot I put him in. He seemed content to stay in the same 3 foot area, chewing on the blades of grass as he saw fit and sniffing at the air like it was brand new.
One of Moofaly's most endearing qualities is his underbite--I think this picture helps to show off just how sexy that can be:
Little did I know that Tuesday, April 3, 2007 was going to become one of the hardest days I've ever experienced.
I had just gotten back from a friend's house to pick up his "pocket monkey", an affectionate term for a sugar glider. They're almost too cute to look at! I was relieved to see that he had a bird cage, with bars too small for a cat's paw--that surely would have been a disaster.
Having been home for about 45 minutes, I noticed Moofaly seemed to be ill. I'm going to spare you the details here, but will just say he was having a very hard time breathing, and meowing a lot. As fast as I could handle it, I shoved my heart back down my throat, got him into his carrier, and was out the door to his vet, which is fortunately only 1/4 mile away from me.
The vet looked him over and decided to take an x-ray. It was a difficult task because the positioning needed for the machine made it harder for him to breathe, I thought I just might pass out if I had to hear him scream one more time like he was. It broke my heart.
The x-rays revealed that his stomach was way too high -- indicating a possible diaphragmatic hernia....so I had to wait for the emergency hospital to open at 6 pm.
Those 45 minutes at the house waiting, watching him suffer, checking on him constantly and hoping beyond all hope that something could be done was all I could do. Fortunately, my boyfriend came home so he was able to drive me to the emergency vet because I don't think I would've been able to see the road.
The prognosis was looking bad....his temp. was 2 degrees below normal and I just got this sinking feeling. The vet wanted to put him in an oxygen tent and try to take more x-rays to see if he could get a better diagnostic image. He said he would call me in a couple of hours.
When I returned I was so elated to see Moof with pink gums again and a pink tongue instead of a purple one, but he had just come out of the oxygen tent so I knew that it wouldn't be long before he starting turning blue again. It took less than a minute...but wouldn't you know it, my cat was so happy to see me and my boyfriend, that through half-open eyes full of pain, he kept trying to purr. It was as if he didn't want us to feel bad!
That's when I knew.....I asked the doctor what his chances were with surgery. His old age, and respiratory distress all spelled disaster, and that the likelihood of him waking up from surgery was very very slim.
I slowly nodded my head and turned to Moofaly . . . ah, those eyes. I've never seen them so sad-looking before, they'd lost a lot of their brightness. Moofaly looked back at me and laid his head down on the towel and I knew what he wanted--what he needed most of all.
Taking a deep breath I asked the vet if I could have some time alone with him. He quietly left the room and I just circled my arms around his frail heaving body and put my cheek against his. The faintest purr was all he could give but it was so much more than I could have asked for. I said everything I always tell him everyday, but this time I told him to come back to me. Because one day, and I am absolutely confident in this, I will come across another fuzzy face, and something will seem so familiar, that the circle of life will once again complete itself and begin all over again.
The vet returned and in two minutes, Moofaly slipped away so peacefully. I cradled him one last time and left in shock and disbelief.
Wednesday morning was especially difficult without hearing that familiar incessant meowing for breakfast. It is absolutely amazing how grief-ridden silence can become so cacaphonous.
I thought about some pictures I had taken a little over a year ago, trying to capture Moofaly's silhouette. Working on them in photoshop became quite therapeutic, not only giving me something to do, but trying to give Moofaly some sort of honor as well.
The first is a siimple silhouette....but the second, well the second one ended up taking a life all it's own and speaks volumes to me and that's really all that's important--but I thought I would share them with you guys because a lot of you have been where I am now, and probably will be again.
We take the risk of losing them, because it is impossible not to love them. There is nothing more powerful than the unconditional love of an animal.
So these go out to Moofaly and I raise my glass high to you sweetie. I miss you but know you are so much happier now.
Moofaly's Silhouette
Moofaly's Light
Thanks to anyone taking this short moment to take this journey with me, I think it will make Moofaly's star shine that much brighter.
0
Comments
bsvirginian
In this great big world around us, we will find what we are looking for! What we do with it is up to us to decide.
Olympus E-500 Olympus E-520 Zuiko 14-45 Zuiko 40-150 Sigma 50-500 Zuiko 18-180 4-AB800 strobes, 1AB-400 stobe, 4 softboxes, brolly box, umbrellas etc.
And I think the last image is indeed the most powerful.
Thank you for sharing.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
My sincere condolences. I have been in your position, and suspect I will be again sooner than I wish.
These words of yours:
"We take the risk of losing them, because it is impossible not to love them. There is nothing more powerful than the unconditional love of an animal."
have such a pwerful resonance to them.
Keep MD in your heart, but keep a spot for another companion when you are ready.
Thank You for sharing
ann
My Galleries My Photography BLOG
Ramblings About Me
Thank you for sharing your story, no matter how said it is. Your friend will be always in your heart and those beautiful images will be your best memories to cherish.
Take care, i know how heartbreaking your experience is.
www.intruecolors.com
Nikon D700 x2/D300
Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
The silhouette is a fitting tribute...
Bugs
Spiders
Flowers
My heart is with you!
Sorry for your loss... :cry
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
D300S, MB10, Nikon 18-70, Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR, Tamron 90mm macro, Tokina 11-16 2.8, SB800
http://www.justastateofmind.com
As I am also a "pet" person, I can tell you that this was so hard for me because I'm watching my oldest puppy, Chloe start to have some serious aging issues, and its killing me to think that I may have this decision someday soon too. I've found myself sleeping on the living room floor with her on several nights, just so we could hang out like the old days.
Needless to say, my heart goes out to you and I extend my condolences for your loss. I don't need to know anything else about you and I can still be convinced that you are a truly good person. I'm glad that cat had a chance to get to know you... pets deserve that in their lives.
Stephen Skoutas
http://stephenskoutas.com
sskoutas@gmail.com Certe, toto, sentio nos in kansate non iam adesse
Please feel free to retouch and repost my images. Critique, Suggestions, and Technique tips always welcomed.
I too have had to do this. My wife was holding one of our dogs when she took her last breath and less than a year later our husky/shepherd mix was poisoned somehow and died before we had time to say goodbye. The love of an animal is stronger and more loyal at times than our own. Letting go of them is never easy but the wonderful memories will remain. Your post here is but one more great memory you have. Thanks for sharing.
www.capture-the-pixel.com
the cats and i wish you well
Gallery of mine...caution, it's under CONSTANT construction! | Photo Journal
In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose
Dave
Shane
Blogs:
www.imagesbyshane.blogspot.com
Canon 20d and 40d
Canon 50mm 1.4
Canon 85mm 1.8
Canon 70-200L IS 2.8
what a perfect set of memorial photos - just remember, you were both lucky to have each other.
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
yes, truly irreplaceable.
thanks Waxy. That means a lot
it's so hard not to keep a spot open isn't it? That's why I know that one day another one will come along...I just can't wait to see that familiarity that only I will see...something special that sets one apart.
Thanks Ann
My heart goes out to you . . . I hope that whatever happens, that you both find a peace deep within. It will come, however slowly, because in the end, a true friend can never be replaced, only remembered.
I don't know who was luckier, me or Moofaly, but we definitely got great deals!
it's strange isn't it, when you hear someone tell the story of having to put one of their loved ones to sleep . . . as a pet lover I always said that I understood because I truly thought I did. But this was my very first experience (all previous pets were lost to cars :cry ) and I've realized you truly don't know until you've been through it. Thanks again for your kind words
well stop cryin' ya blubbery fool!
Thanks a lot, I appreciate it a lot.
If there's one thing that I miss about being here as much as I used to it's that the people here treat you like family. I think it even takes precedence over the great photography!
with as many pet lovers as we have on here we need animal smilies! DoctorIt can work on this as I know first hand he has absolutely nothing to do!
** Feel free to edit my photos if you see room for improvement.**
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if
no birds sang there except those that sang best.
~Henry Van Dyke
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
I of course never come even close, not for me or anyone else.
Been where you are today and swear every time I will not go through it again, but I do.
It's the price we all must pay for loving our companions and after all that's all they ever ask of us, while returning so much more.
My Galleries
Flicker
G+
Jill