12/02/2021
She was my first real responsibility, she was my family. I cared more for her than my own well being for years. At a time when I had nothing, no money, just a studio to live in for the summer, I had Jenna and Sully. She was always the older sister and caretaker of the little soon to be sully monster. Lansing proved to be a nightmare situation for me. I did everything I could to feed and care for them while I was eating $1 Tim hortons sandwiches. There were several instances when I left for work to Nike and didn’t return home because I could afford the cost of gas. Jenna and Sully were my 1st priority no matter the cost.
It wasn’t until I moved to Milan that I was able to provide them with a better life. It’s so unfair that she had mammary cancer. I remember waiting to get her spayed by the humane society. Perhaps waiting to get spayed was the reason for the cancer, she was apparently left by a family in the Saginaw area. My first encounter with her was at a shelter, she was sitting in the window barking at a bird. My second visit was the one I knew i needed to take her. Turns out she had feline eosinophilic granuloma, a disease which is triggered by allergic reaction but left untreated results in ulcers and deadly lesions. I was deathly afraid at first but knew deep down that I would be better able to take care of her than any shelter would. My heart hurt so bad that I would give anything to keep her with me. They say cats have nine lives but she was handicapped from the start. ❤️
The diagnosis of mammary gland cancer was really hard. We spent years battling allergies with pills, bitting and chewing hair because it felt good. That was nothing compared to the cancer building up from within. I felt so terrible because I thought I waited too long to get a lump checked out by the vet. I mean, mammary cancer is supposed to happen after age 10 not age 7. So I did everything I could and we chopped out 4 large masses. Seeing Jenna in the cone of shame brought tears to my eyes like no other. I was scared to lose her from the surgery. Recovery took place in October 2020 and I was very hopeful that a couple years would be maintained. Cancer, however, had a much darker plan. The lumps and masses had spread so rapidly in just 2 months time. Cancer had reached her lungs and lymph nodes. You take life day by day sometimes and don’t realize the importance of someone in your life until it comes to and abrupt end. Today was one of the most emotional days I’ve ever experienced. The feeling of telling the vet “it’s time to say goodbye” is literally the hardest thing I’ve ever has to do.....Jenna has been my most loyal friend for the last 8 years, and I will never forget that.
