Frankie April 22, 1992 - August 13, 2009

I've dreaded this day for so long, finally it has happened. My beloved Frankie, my sweet old lady, Froo Froo La La, has left me.

17 glorious years I had with Frankie and yet, I wanted more. 17 fur filled years and yet it passed in the snap of my fingers.

She was the image of perfect health until a few months ago. Rapidly she got weaker and skinnier, she would follow me around the house meowing really loud. She fell down the stairs one day and I knew then something was wrong.

The vet said she had dementia and the weight loss and weakness was just something that happens, just like in humans as they age. She was the equivalent to a 95 year old lady and we all know what happens to Grandma's body when she ages. She had been about 14 pounds her entire life and suddenly, she was only 7lbs. The vet thought she might have had a heart attack or stroke but didn't think bloodwork or scans were necessary because what are you going to do at this point and that it would just upset her. She really didn't like going to the vet, and that is the understatement of her life!

Two weeks ago she started to really deteriorate. I could not just sit and do nothing. I couldn't stand to think that there might be some underlying health issue with her and that I was doing nothing to treat it. I took her back to the vet on Monday and insisted on bloodwork. I weighed her again and she was now down to 5lbs. 1/3 of her normal weight.

Results came back on Wednesday. She was in total renal failure and was so far advanced, there was nothing that could be done for her.

By this point I had to carry her around the house, to the litter box, to bed, outside, wherever she wanted to go. I had to bring water and food to her every hour or so or else she just wouldn't bother eating or drinking, it was too much effort for her to walk to her dishes. She was so dehydrated, even though I would have her drink often. Her kidneys were just shot.

We made the painful, heart-wrenching decision to not let her suffer and Thursday we had her put to sleep. We were with her through the end and I am so happy that I could be the last face she saw as she left this earth.
I gave that girly everything, she gave me more than I can ever thank her for.

Here are some pictures of our last days with her.

My boys and Frankie:


Frankie rarely ever sat on anyone but me. Mark, sometimes, but rarely the boys. In her last few days, she came and sat on Rayden twice and he was in heaven when she did it. I think she's only sat on Zander once in his life, pictures are somewhere...

Look how proud he is...



Sweet Frankie:













The boys and Frankie:







Rayden drew this pictures for her as she sat in the sunshine the other day.
Is it just me? Or does it look like Frankie is pooping flowers?


What do you think of it, Frankie?



Mark did this one:



The fur-kids:



They would each try to get that patch of sun first. Sometimes one would push the other out, other times they would lay together in harmony.



We wanted some family pictures before she had to go. The first attempt was inside. Peter wanted to pose, for us. Not for the camera.



This is the only picture we have of the whole family. The only other family picture we have is pre-Peter.



This is what Frankie looked like for the last week of her life. Not happy. Just staring. I see it in her eyes now. She was saying "help me".



Peter is very sad to have lost his girlfriend. He is an only fur--child now.



Okay, that's enough for now. I had told a friend that I just can't imagine life without her. Our family is Team Tinis and Frankie is a team member. We have our own family language around our animals. She's been with me my entire adult life! She slept in the crook of my arm nearly every single night. She moved with me from Vancouver back to Alberta and throughout the province. Every decision I (or we) have made involves her somehow. The kids have never know life without her. I accidentally call my kids Frankie sometimes!

Even though it's only been one day, we all see her everywhere. Out of the corner of our eye's, certain sounds... My oldest said he came in the room and thought he saw her, it was his black bike helmet, sitting in the sunshine by the back door, one of her favourite spots. It was just the right shape and color and in just the right place, he thought he was seeing Frankie at first. We've all had instances like that today, and I'm sure we will have them for years to come. The shock and sinking feeling in my stomach when I realize it's not her has been overwhelming today.
My poor baby girl...
I love you forever. Thank you for all you've given me and our family.