July 23, 2010

we called him ocho....


he was the last one out
arriving long after all the others had been born
and
was immediately dubbed
the runt
~
he fought so hard
only to be pushed away by his much stronger siblings
~
i wasn't there to see any of them come into the world
but
my daughter was
and
even though she hated the name ocho
she had decided that he was the one she would take home
and
maybe call
small frye
~
he struggled
and
at first we thought he couldn't suck
but
after finding him attached to a sibling's ear and then a paw
we knew that wasn't a problem
~
as my sister went to buy a supplemental bottle and formula
i tried continually to get a nipple in his mouth
even pulling his siblings off in order to get an elongated one that he could latch onto
~
but
he didn't
and
when my sister returned he refused the bottle
~
hours later and into the night
my sister sent me an email and said she had finally gotten him attached and that he'd been nursing for 15 minutes
~
victory
~
but
as the days went on
he never really progressed like the others
always behind
always so tiny
even while my sister watched him around the clock
making sure he was still nursing
~
and
then my sister called on wednesday and said things weren't looking so good
and
16 days after he was born
ocho
died
~
with a litter of eight kittens
this was to be expected
but
it was still sad
~~~~~
so now
there are only seven kittens squealing away
in my sister's garage
~
but
they are vibrant and healthy
and
growing like weeds
~
3 boys and 4 girls
and
they are truly a blessing
*




32 comments:

  1. Even when you still have seven other kittens and mother nature's fine with that statistic, I always feel bad for the one that didn't make it.

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  2. I hate when that happens. Our dog has had two littlers. 5 each both times one was born dead... so crappppppy. But ... how sweet to have gotten a picture...!

    Trina
    www.mommeville.com

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  3. Aww! Poor ocho! He was totally adorable and I am sure will be missed for awhile.
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  4. AnonymousJuly 23, 2010

    ditto deidra's comment.

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  5. AnonymousJuly 23, 2010

    hmm. this is kinda happy and sad. bittersweet.

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  6. Sometimes, Nature has reasons we can't understand. Maybe Ocho's visit was only supposed to be brief - it seems as though in that short time, he made an impact.

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  7. as much as we wish we could make things perfect in this would, with whatever hard work we put in, there is still some kind of bigger plan in movement, I guess, that makes things happen in a way we would never wish for. Feeling like that about quite a few things in my life right now. Does make you hug the blessing in that much tighter...
    Love to you, blessings on the growing kitties and rest in peace, little Ocho and thank youf ro what you brought.

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  8. AnonymousJuly 23, 2010

    oh, i was hanging on every word - i am sorry he didn't make it. what a little gift he was even for a fleeting moment.

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  9. I'm so sorry he didn't make it...
    Very sweet face...

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  10. Okay, I am going to go cry now. Sending love and comfort Ocho's way.

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  11. Ocho had love and care in a short life.

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  12. Poor little guy!
    I'm glad he had so much love for the short time he was here.

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  13. He looks like my HoneyBoy. We rescued him and his brother at 4 weeks and ended up feeding them with a syringe since they wouldn't take a bottle. HoneyBoy now weighs 12 pounds. His brother weighs 15. They are just over a year now.

    So sad that Ocho didn't make it. Bless him and all the hearts he has touched...and is still touching.

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  14. How sad! He really looks fine in the photo...hope your daughter was ok...

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  15. So sad. I was all pumped up for the joy of "he's back! he's great!" Very sad.

    For all I adore cats (and you know I do) when I saw the photo, I thought he was a hamster or something (a second look and big paws... ok... but at first, till I read he was a kitten.) I've never seen a kitten new, I think. Or not for some 55 years!

    Poor Ocho. Great name, though. I hope one of the others will come home with your daughter.

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  16. What a sweet little fellow. So sad!

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  17. Oh god...this just makes me sad...even though the others are strong and healthy...I can't get over the one that didn't make it. God bless Ocho... :(

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  18. Oh....I was so hoping for a happy ending. I bet your little small frye felt loved for the time he was here. He's crossed the Rainbow Bridge and he's happy now, I'm sure of that.

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  19. oh, i'm so sorry to hear this little guy (ocho, small frye) didn't make it. for a second i thought he might be out of the woods. but, inevitably these things happen and we can't help but stand by and feel so helpless. at least the others are doing well. will there be pics of the others in the future?

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  20. Aww, poor little thing. so sad.

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  21. that is a sweet face beth...sorry...glad the others are well!

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  22. Poor sweet little guy. You did the best you could for him. It's sad but as you say, a part of life. I hope that you'll post some photos of the others as they grow. Kittens are just so cute!

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  23. oh, beth. I saw the past tense in the title and knew, though i didn't know who ocho was, or even what - dog, kitten, bunny? sweet little thing. i am so sorry, so sorry, and hope your daughter is okay. he was a gift, a blessing.

    xoxo
    Debi

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  24. our heart gets attached so quickly ...

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  25. Poor little Ocho...goodness, he certainly had heroic measures to keep him alive. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Sometimes that is so hard to accept.

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  26. Oh I am so sad for losing Ocho. He had a sweet pink nose and he deserved a chance.

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  27. Oh my gosh, that so made me cry...I know it happens, but that sweet little face...I am such a crazy cat lady...

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  28. Oh what a sad little roller coaster Ocho was. I'm so sorry your purr-loving hearts were broken but I sure do thank you for giving that darling critter your love for the days he had.

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  29. Oh Beth, Your words sure know how to hit home. As I read, I got that swelling feeling in my chest and you made me cry. It's funny isn't it how when you least expect it you can feel that kind of love. Thank you for sharing Ocho

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  30. oh this is sad poor little ocho he was a fighter though

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  31. This is one of the most touching things I have ever read. Your words are so simple, but so powerful.

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**I love reading the comments you leave, as they make me feel like we're sitting in my kitchen, having a cup of tea, discussing life and wondering where all the time has gone ...beth