I never knew Katies last name or her phone number. I never went to Katies house. I never had lunch with her, but I Katie was my friend, none-the-less. Katie was my friend, when I commiserated with her over her bosss bad habit of calling to her, that girl. I made her laugh about it. Katie was my friend, last Winter, when THOR!s life was dimming out. That month, the vets office made me feel like an honorary family member. They treated me with gentle kindness and understated empathy. I didnt have to emote or be weepy for them to know how I felt about THOR! They knew by my eagerness to get a diagnosis ......all my questions.... my adoption of their medical terms........ I felt a special connection to Katie and looked forward to joking around with her, every time I had to bring THOR! in to see Dr. Graddous. We were brothers-in-arms, elbow-to-elbow at THOR!s side, during his abdominal surgery. I made her and the other girls laugh as I pretended to berate Dr. Graddous about giving THOR! razor burn in his surgical prep.. With him standing over THOR!s innards, he was my captive, as I teased him about his teen years in front of the girls, while I winked at Katie and Bobby. Dr. Graddous was sewing THOR! up. I was helping the girls clean up and made jokes. They knew I was only trying to keep up a strong front, otherwise, I thought we might all loose it and break down crying. We were all sad, because Doc had just given THOR! about two months to live. We bonded, not only over THOR!, but over a shared stiff upper lip. I didnt see Katie the last time I was at the vets office. Today, I found out that Katie died. She was 46. She had had a stroke in the night and died alone in her house. When she didnt show up for work the next day, Bobby and Laura went to her house, and, with the help of a neighbor, they broke in. They were too late - way too late, as Laura said, but they gave her CPR, anyway. I cannot know how much Dr. Graddous and his staff will miss her. I only know that she was part of saving my dogs life, that I love her, that the vets office feels utterly incomplete, and that I miss her dearly. I love you, Katie, where ever you are. I bet youd be telling me to stop crying, so I am going to do my best to do that, now. I only hope you know how much I appreciate you and everything you did. Much love from THOR!s Mama
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 21:42:50 +0000
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