William Alan Snapp
Feb 28, 2008- June 6, 2016
"He's a good boy, he really is!"
I know I haven't posted this to the blog yet, but really I think the larger audience has been on the Facebook page, where I did put out the information. But I suppose for the sake of the blog, I think I should write a final post. I'm not going to do like others have done where they write a farewell post in the words of the cat. I don't think that would be beneficial.
Here we are, a week later. 1 week AW if you will. My sweet boy passed away, rather unpleasantly for both of us, in the car on the way to the vet. He was drooling, having great difficulty breathing and making painful yowling noises. I discovered him in this state upon arriving home from work that afternoon, I quickly shoved him in the PTU and ran to the car. Our drive was about 15 minutes and he passed before we got in the office parking lot, next to me in the car, while I was screaming/crying at him "No William! Don't lay down!" The vet said that it sounded like he was in congestive heart failure and that he couldn't hang on anymore. He was never diagnosed with a heart problem, however Dr. G. said that it is very possible that it could have been manifesting for some time, but kitties don't like to share their illnesses with us. He was being treated for feline asthma. He was given a depomedrol steroid injection on Feb 22 after the diagnosis was confirmed. The depomedrol seemed to help him immediately, there was no more coughing and he was breathing normally for over 3 months. Around the week of Memorial day he started to have the little nightly coughing spells again, so the WB and I decided that we would get him another injection, since it was easy and effective. William has never been a cooperative fella when it comes to doing things to him (ie. nail trimming, restraining) so I honestly did not feel that we would be able to give him a daily pill, and I felt similar about the AeroKat inhaler system. Dr. G. advised that the injection was the most risky of the methods, based on the volume of medication that is administered at one time, he stated that it can disrupt the immune system and make them more prone to UTIs. He did not seem concerned with William's heart, as it appeared normal on his February X-Ray. Well we got the shot and four days later, he went into CHF, it seems like a coincidence.
However, at this point it's rather silly to dwell on the how or why, and focus on what is. My sweet boy crossed the bridge and now we are here in an empty catless house. It has been a hard week, more difficult than I ever imagined that it would be. I have spent countless hours thinking about what could have been done differently and wondering how long that day that he was in agony. We both went to work that morning thinking that something seemed odd about him, he didn't have his usual morning vigor, he didn't beg at his bedroom door to be let out and he didn't charge to the food door. It's heart breaking and I feel a bit guilty for how it all went.
However, I do know that he had a wonderful adventurous life and he enjoyed living with the WB and I, and we thoroughly enjoyed having him here with us for the past 8 years. It is difficult to think about the future and not having him around, but it is our reality, as depressing as it is right now...
21 comments:
We were so heartbroken when we read about William on Facebook, and have been sending lots of purrs your way. Please don't think about the what-ifs - it sounds like he really didn't give you any real clues that something bad was going on. We all have our off days, and then usually bounce right back later on, so you couldn't possibly have known there was anything more to it.
Don't torture yourself. You could only do so much. 10 years later and TW still tortures herself over Nicky. She can still hear him screaming. It hurts. It will hurt. Try to remember how you loved him and enjoyed his company.
Thank you.. It does help to know there are so many who care, and have gone through this too.
You can only make decisions with the information you have at the time. The head peep has second-guessed not acting sooner, especially for Radcliffe, who also went into heart failure during/after after a stressful vet visit, but in the end, second-guessing doesn't help, it just makes your heart hurt, and it's hurting enough right how. Sending you lots of purrs.
We are so sorry to hear that your beloved William has passed over Rainbow Bridge and know you will miss him very much. We are sending lots of hugs and purrayers to you.
we are so sorry...and hope that you can squash the "what ifs" running around in your mind....mom has been there and knows how hard it can be. purrs....
we send our sincerest sympathies on your loss; and we hope you know you did everything in your power to help William; he knows it too.
I asked myself what if, why didn't I, why, if only; so many times when Sauce left ~~~ it's hard and it hurts and we all understand.
Please remember William loved you; he always has, and he always will
Godspeed your journey William
♥♥♥♥♥
I don't have the words that convey how deeply devastated I am for you. I am so sorry (((hugs))) what a sweet boy catchatwithcarenandcody
I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful boy.
We are so very sorry that you lost sweet William so suddenly. It's so hard...especially when it's so sudden. Be kind to yourself...you did everything you could. We hope all the good memories you have of William helps to ease the sadness you are feeling. ~Wally, Ernie, Zoey and Island Cat Mom
I am so sorry that sweet William had to run off to the bridge. I know you will keep him with you always in your thoughts and your heart.
Remember:
Those we love don't go away,
They walk beside us everyday.
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still Loved, and still missed
and forever dear.
I am feeling your pain-literally.
We are so sad about William. I know what that's like to be struggling with a precious one who is clearly so miserable yet is so loved and wanted. My daughter has lost two precious ones in the past two years, one in 2014 and one a couple of weeks ago, and everyone feels the pain. Her only remaining precious jewel is really lonesome and not letting my daughter out of her sight now. It's all so difficult.
Purrrrrsssss and prayers and hugs for all of you.
Marilynn
Oh goodness, we are so so sorry. You should not blame yourself. You did the best for him that you could. It is so very hard with cats when they are sick. Just know that he was well loved while he was there with you and know he had such a good life with you. Sending tons of hugs.
We're so very, very sorry. It's so hard to lose a much-loved furchild, but it's harder when we retrace our steps over and over, wanting things to be different or could we have done more. Sweet William was loved with all your heart and will continue to be as you carry his memory around with you day by day. Sending comforting purrs to you at this difficult time.
Julie and kitties Tinker, Anastasia, Chopin, and Bridgie xxxxx
I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope in time that you will only think of Sweet William at his happiest healthiest time.
He was well loved and cared for.
With sympathy,
Maggie
I was away when this happened. I am so sorry about William. You cannot predict things like this. My Ivy threw a clot and fortunately I was home. She made it to the vet but since there is nothing they can do, I let her go. She was already struggling to breathe. It is never easy to let them go no matter how it goes down. Keeping you in my thoughts, Thank you for sharing William with us.
We are so sorry for your loss.
Emma and Buster
We were so sorry to hear about William. He was a valued member of the Tabby Cat Club and we will miss him a lot. Purrs of sympathy and paws of comfort.
We wish there were something we could do or say to help ease your pain and sorry. But we know there is not. Thank you for loving William so much, and so well. Sending you rumbly purrs of comfort and love.
We are so sad to hear that William has left fpr the bridge..we send our heartfelt purrsand gentle headbonks to you..love and purrs Dinnermintz and Pickles from the TCC xxx
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