Friday and Saturday: The End

So on Friday, we noticed that Bette wasn't eating much at all. By the end of Friday, Kerry was absolutely in tears. He had even tried to get her some beef broth to get her to eat. Nothing worked. She just took one or two nibbles at a time, at the most. So Friday night, he wept. "I think we have to do this tomorrow," he said. At first I was resistant. But eventually, he convinced me it was best. 

I noticed that Bette was very clingy. She clung to Rachelle all day Friday, sitting on her lap for hours. She also cuddled against Kerry Friday night. The nicest surprise was that, again, she sat on my lap for about an hour Friday night. I talked to her as she sat there. I sensed that was the last time she would ever sit on my lap, so I told her a lot of things that I never got a chance to say to her. I apologized for being selfish when I could have maybe been paying more attention to her. I also still feel a lot of guilt for our year's stay in China. Her attitude towards me changed quite a bit after that.

I was up with Bette most of the night: until about 4:30 am. Finally, I could handle it no longer and lifted her off my lap and went to bed. I decided to call my vet at 8:30 am to see if they were open because they are open "every other Saturday." I assumed that, judging from what Dr. Nuth told us in November, this would be a lucky Saturday. No such luck. I called three times at 8:30--no answer. And Kerry called an additional time. No answer. 

So we decided to go with White Bear Animal Hospital down the road, at the corner of Highland Avenue and County Road E, which is actually a LOT closer to us than our regular vet. They were open and able to take us right away. We explained to Bettte what was happening to her and why....and we also let Freddie say goodbye to her. Then we carried her out of the house in her carrier, for the last time. 

Fortunately, it was a short trip to the vet's office. Only about two minutes. One thing I liked about their office is that they had it separated into "Cats" and "Dogs." They led us into a "cat" room. Soon after, they took my credit card. To assure I could pay for it, I guess. Fortunately, it wasn't much more than Minnesota Veterinary Hospital would have charged. (I think I paid $380 as opposed to $333, plus the doctor examined her, and I got all the same services.)

Soon we met Dr. Dalton. He performed a physical exam on Bette. He said he thought she had oral cancer in her mouth. I also asked him to weigh her. She weighed 3.30 pounds whereas back in late November she weighed in at 4.0 pounds. I was stunned at the weight loss. That would have been a lot for a human. He also recommended euthanasia. He left and said take as much time with her as you need. I called Jeff and updated him on the situation.

It was nice that the office we were in had a pretty window with a yard. Bette actually perched on the ledge and looked outside. She watched a squirrel for awhile. I was glad that she got to see a bit of nature before she passed. 

But at about 10:00 am CST, I decided that we needed to move forward. I pushed the grey button in the room and the vet tech came in. She came back and gave Bette a sedative and a catheter. This took a few minutes--maybe 15. When she returned, Bette was sleepy but still alive and wrapped in a blanket. I called Jeff again and let him talk to her. The vet came back in--we buzzed him in--and prepared for his final injection. Jeff stayed on the phone while the vet inserted fluid in her, and then the final injection. And just like that--probably in about 30 seconds--she was gone. Kerry and I bawled. I had never seen anything quite like that. I was really surprised that her eyes stayed open. But they did. She didn't "go to sleep." 

Anyway, they told us that they'd get back to us with the ashes in a few days and encouraged us to leave through the back (I'm not sure why), but we came in through the front, so we left through the front. Perhaps they thought we were going to be too emotional? 

Before we left, we did thank the doctor. He was VERY nice to see us on short notice, and I really liked him a lot. I'm actually thinking of switching to their office, especially since it's so close. I also like how clean it is and the whole cats/dogs division. Time for a change, you know?

As Kerry and I went to go pick up something to eat, we contemplated changes that would take place in our lives now that Bette is gone. It's kind of fitting that she's leaving us at the end of the year because a new year usually brings new change. Not that I want there to be, but such as it is. It's going to be very strange not to have her around, and I will always have the special memories of my Bette Boo. I'll always miss her, too. I think it will be like Andrew, my dean who died: I'll think of him and have good memories. 

Goodbye, Bette. I'll miss you forever.