Today our THROWBACK THURSDAY kitty star is SIMON TORPEDO, an extraordinary gray tabby who was adopted from the Jackson County Animal Shelter in 2010 when he was four months old by the Shepherd family, Dan, Aushna, Alex and Lily. This cat-loving family also has four other rescue kitties, two of whom, CHARLIE and SONNY CROCKET, were adopted from the shelter as a 2-fur-1. Simon Torpedo decided early on, that eight-year-old Alex was HIS boy; and it was the beginning of a close-knit, remarkable relationship. Alex and his mom, Aushna are long-time shelter supporters. They volunteered together in the cat room when Alex was quite young, often helped out at dog washes, and when Alex was in kindergarten he was, in his moms words, the youngest kid to collect money for the shelter. He went door to door selling wristbands for the 2-fur-1 program and made $297. I will never forget how proud he was. Simon must have decided that if he was going to make his own notable mark in this family, he too needed to do something unique. One day when Aushna was in a hurry, she jumped in her Nissan and took off through Ashland, and onto the freeway, getting off at the second North Medford exit (were talking a distance of at least ten miles here). Stopping at a light, she heard a pitiful crying, and when she looked down at the road she could see the shadow of her car with a little kitten shadow perched on top. Panicked, she pulled over and extracted Simon from the roof of the Nissan. He settled happily into her lap, purring and kneading. Maybe it was the can of albacore tuna Simon received once he was safely back home that prompted him two days later to jump once more on the top of the car when it was clear that Aushna was planning to drive somewhere. Aushna says that now when theyre ready to get in the car, we look up if we dont visibly see Simon frowning from the front door! Hes hilarious, and such a people cat. Hes everybodys friend, and thinks nothing of running and jumping on someones back or shoulders--whether he knows them or not. As many of you know, in April, 2013, shortly after his eleventh birthday, Alex was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. Since that time he has undergone multiple surgeries, and countless trips to Portland for radiation and chemotherapy. This continues to be an uphill battle, but throughout, Alex has maintained his sense of humor, his compassion, his love of everything family , and his devotion to all kitties--his beloved Simon Torpedo, in particular. When Alex is feeling okay, he can sometimes be found behind Target in Medford, feeding a colony of feral cats. When Ellen DeGeneres heard Alexs story she invited his family to be on her show. The car she presented them with on the show, to make their trips back and forth to Portland easier was, of course, a huge hit; but the smile that lit up Alexs face when Ellen, who had heard what a cat-lover he was, gave him a specially made DVD called The Best of Cat Week , was something to behold.. Through Alexs good days and his bad days, Simon Torpedo (who, incidentally, still loves to go for car rides INSIDE the car) has been there for him. Aushna tells us that when Alex feels like playing, Simon is playful. When Alex proudly sports his fedora, Simon has been known to wear one as well. Simon even sits patiently (albeit, rolling his eyes), when three-year-old Lily decides to give him an exuberant hug. But when Alex is wiped out from chemo, or is feeling the weight of this ordeal on his young shoulders, his big gray kitty Simon, is right there next to him, a quiet, loving presence. As Aushna says, Hes the coolest cat ever. You can follow Alexs story on the TEAM ALEX Facebook page, and join all of Alexs FOTAS friends in wishing him, his family and his devoted kitty companion Simon Torpedo strength for this journey they are taking together.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 15:26:34 +0000
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