It’s taken almost a month to say anything at all, because there’s just no easy way to say this. The sad truth is that on February 12th, after a long battle to hold kidney disease at bay, complete kidney failure set in and we had no choice but to say goodbye to our dear friend, Pandy.

It still feels surreal. She had such personality, it didn’t seem possible she could do anything but live. Her quality of life remained high right up until the end, and I’m glad she didn’t suffer a lengthy decline, but the abruptness of it left us stunned.

In October when I talked Brad and Em into adding a third cat to the family, I didn’t expect to lose Pandy so soon. I thought we had lots of time, years, even. In retrospect, that drive I felt now looks more like inspiration. Maybe a part of me realized the inevitability, I just wouldn’t consciously accept that our time was drawing to a close. I think Pandy must have known, because she became friends with Martin. That was a big surprise to everyone, but looking back, I think she knew. And she was passing the torch, in a way. Star wants absolutely nothing to do with him, so I hope that means she intends to live a very, very long life! But Pandy… I think she knew. And by accepting Martin, by giving us good memories of the two of them together, it’s allowed us to be comforted by him in a way we wouldn’t be, otherwise.

It’s been a rough year so far, on top of the already difficult previous three years. I’m doggedly hopeful that life will ever settle into some type of normalcy. Em was recently diagnosed with narcolepsy, and that on top of Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, dysautonomia, fibromyalgia, and stage 3/4 endometriosis. Prayers for her would be dearly appreciated. It has taken a long time to find the right doctors, to find the right diagnoses, in order to find the right treatment options. Finally we’re here, and we’re hopeful her life will become easier. She is an amazing person to have managed as well as she did before being diagnosed, with no treatment, and no knowing what was wrong or what to do about it. I never said anything before because I wouldn’t, without her permission. But she told me it’s fine to share this with my readers. Suffice to say, there are many doctors and physical therapy appointments every week, and that’s part of what has made it difficult to devote time to writing. I’ve been mentally preoccupied, too. I sympathize greatly with Anika’s mother in “Miles”, when Doreen was clearly ill and no help could be found for her. But, Doreen finally received the diagnosis and treatment she needed for Chronic Lyme disease, and Em is diagnosed and receiving or getting treatment for all the above mentioned conditions. So I’m praying she’ll recover as fully as my character. Em’s story has a different author, One far greater than Doreen’s. So I trust He will make her life beautiful, perhaps even more beautiful because of the difficulties. If she’s not a diamond already, she’s close. I’m very proud of her, and of the young woman she’s becoming.

I’ll end this now, with a reminder to hug your babies and your fur babies, whatever age they may be. Take joy in each moment you have with them, and hold dearly to those memories. And take so many pictures you have to purchase more memory just to hold them all! Because the mind can only hold on to so much, and those memories deserve preserving. I’m so thankful for all of mine!