Yesterday, we had to say goodbye to a cherished member of our family, our cat Lola. It feels impossible to sum up the impact she had on our lives in just a few words, but I wanted to take a moment to honor her memory.
We adopted Lola from a shelter when she was just 8 weeks old. Soon after bringing her home, we discovered that she had kidney disease. The vet warned us that her life expectancy would likely be no more than three years. But in true Lola fashion, she proved them wrong, living for 15 and a half wonderful years. Those years came with special diets, extra vet visits, and moments of worry, but they were also filled with love, companionship, and memories we will hold dear forever.
Lola wasn’t one to warm up to strangers or new people easily, but she was incredibly attached to our family, especially our youngest son, Lazarus. Since the day we brought him home from the hospital, she would sneak into his crib at any chance and sleep beside him. They had a bond that was unbreakable.
When I fell ill with COVID in 2020 and later developed complications that left me bedridden, Lola never left my side. Through the hardest of times, she was there, always keeping me company with her gentle presence.
Over the last few months, we saw Lola begin to decline. She struggled with climbing the stairs, lost her appetite, and had difficulty controlling her bladder. After many sleepless nights and long talks, we made the heartbreaking decision to ease her pain. Yesterday, we had to say our final goodbye.
We will be laying Lola to rest at our new property, a place where we hope to build many more memories as a family. Leaving her behind was not something we could bear, and so she will always have a place with us in our new home.
Some people make a distinction between pets and family, but for us, Lola was very much a part of our family. Though animals’ lives are shorter than ours, the love and joy they bring far outweigh the inevitable heartbreak. I pray I get to see her again one day on the other side.
Rest in peace, Lola. You will always be missed.
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