16/05/2021
Yesterday was a very emotional day for me. I got a surprise visit and one of the most thoughtful gifts I think I have ever received. Many of you know the story of my sweet David — my FiV+ CH foster who I adopted when he was dying from FIP. David was one of 6 kittens born to Katrina, an FiV+ cat that was saved from the streets of Charles Town. Sadly, two of the six kittens died early on around the age of 6 weeks. Three more would go on to be adopted by very special people: Hugo (now Aspen), Andrew (Andy) and Ernesto (Ernie). I have kept in touch with the other adopters through David’s illness since their boys also (except for Ernie) had FiV like their mom. I wanted them to be aware of the signs of FIP just in case the other boys developed it since it’s not clear when David was exposed to feline coronavirus. It could have been when they were all together since now in hindsight we are questioning whether David’s CH diagnosis wasn’t really early signs of neurological FIP.
After David died, I shared the news and my tribute video with them, and we all mourned the loss of one more Hurricane: Ivan, Isaac and now David. They were all so gracious and supportive, and they sent me updates on their boys when I asked. It was hard to see the faces of the others because all 6 brothers looked remarkably alike - they were virtually sextuplets! But it was also very comforting to me to see those faces, to see them running and playing, and healthy - like I so much wanted David to be. In my last response to their sharing photos and videos of their boys with me, I replied “it’s like seeing David alive again.” Little did I know that my words and David’s story had touched them as much as they were helping me.
Yesterday I had visitors - unexpected, and I didn’t immediately know who or why. Two women - a woman my age and a young lady my daughter’s age arrived and introduced themselves as Helen and Lauren — Ernie and Andy’s adopters. It was wonderful to meet them since we had really only ever communicated via email. I had met Lauren once when she came to pick up Andrew - but with her face half covered with a mask I didn’t really know what she looked like. At first I was confused why they had driven all the way from Baltimore and points north to come to the house — having arranged this surprise with my daughter Mia Holland who was there with us also. And then Helen began to explain how much her Ernie’s brother David’s story had touched her and how she felt a strong need to come meet me. As I listened to her wonderful words of comfort and understanding, and of support for what we do in rescue, I of course began to get emotional. Just talking about dear sweet David is still difficult. She asked me if I accepted hugs which I gladly welcomed. Her kind gesture to come visit and her wonderful words weren’t all however. She then presented me with a beautiful card, a donation in David’s name and a gift — commence the ugly cry and more tears. (See picture below). I was so touched and blown away already that they had come all this way to share all of this with me. But that wasn’t all. They had one more surprise for me. Well, actually it was two. They had brought Ernie and Andy with them. Helen said that after reading the last words I wrote of how seeing them thrive was like seeing David alive again, she knew they had to make this trip.
I don’t think I can adequately express how seeing their faces and holding them felt. They had the same soft plush fur like my David, the same lanky long bodies, the same beautiful sweet faces. It was exactly like seeing David alive again — only more. It was like holding David again, kissing his sweet head again, scratching under his chin and watching his eyes close and that smile appear again. It was truly the best gift, and the most thoughtful thing anyone could have done for me.
David has touched so many people. Those Hurricane boys are special. I don’t know what it is about them, but there is something very special about each of them. I left out a key part of Helen and Lauren’s story which further illustrates how special these boys are. When Lauren was looking for a kitten, she happened on Andrew’s profile. She was instantly drawn to his sweet little face, and then when she read his name she knew she had to have him immediately. Her boyfriend — Helen’s son — was a twin, but had lost his twin brother Andrew during birth and never known him, but as twins are so connected it was always something that touched him. I’m sure he always felt something missing. It was something that Lauren knew affected him deeply and so seeing Andrew she just knew he was the one. When she arrived to meet Andrew, the bond and the emotions were immediate. It was a great adoption to preside over and I knew sweet Andrew would have all the love he deserved. When she was there, she also met Ernesto and later contacted Helen who had lost a cat recently and let her know about him. Helen immediately declined, as she wasn’t ready for that next step. But Helen then explained how as she sat with that decision something kept nagging at her. Andrew had a twin brother from whom he was separated, just like her son had lost his twin so many years ago. Suddenly, the idea of reuniting two twin brothers, Andrew and Ernesto, became so clearly the right thing for her to do, and so Helen adopted Ernie. She communicated that she had almost also adopted David that day because he was special needs, and she had a lovely daughter who I also got to meet yesterday who was also special needs. Ernie and Andy see each other often for play dates and the two twins are together again often. I love this story. 💗
I can’t thank Helen and Lauren enough for what they did for Mia and me yesterday. While nothing can bring David back to us, holding their boys and being so supported by them in such a compassionate and generous way was truly healing and so very appreciated. Rescue is tough. Life is tough. But it’s moments like yesterday that remind me that life — with all of its trials and tribulations— is a wonderful and beautiful gift. I miss my David, but I will forever be grateful to him for bringing all of you into my world. Thank you 💗
