"Bender"
One of my daughters and family live in Cold Lake, AB. on the Air Force base. This is Bender, their 3 year old that succumbed to cancer of the kidneys yesterday. We had high hopes he could be saved, but the cancer had spread throughout his little body. This is heartbreaking, specially for my little grandson Arran, who was Bender’s owner. I am putting Tracey’s story of Bender in the forums on my cat groups for all to read if you wish.
Bender had been a rescued pet. When my family moved to Cold Lake, Arran was having a very hard time adjusting to the move from Ontario. His doctor thought a kitten may help him adjust, so they answered an ad for kittens to be given away that had lost their mother. The people at the farm found a stray cat had been killed on the road. Their dog Homer happened to find her kittens and brought one of them to the house. This got the family looking for the rest of them, and Homer led them to the three little guys. They were determined to be between 2-3 weeks old. Well, my daughter took two of the kittens, and the next day went back to get the other, so each of the kids had a new kitten to raise. The kittens were so young, they needed to be handfed milk until they could eat. Thus the story of Bender, Fry and Leela and how they came to be a part of my family in Alberta, till the family was broken yesterday with the passing of Bender. I took this photo of him while on one of my visits to Cold Lake.
Matted Prints
bdazzled
I was a very moving and sad story – my heart goes out to you. I just lost my beloved Rosa this Summer – but she got to stay with me for 20 years. It was close to loosing a child. My deepest sympathy for you and your family
Vickie Emms replied
thank you so much Kira, it was devastating. Cancer never came to mind for this beautiful guy. It was supposed to be a simple fix. So sad for the kids and my daughter.
bdazzled
Yes – I understand completely. But it makes no difference if you’d had him for several years more – you just grow more attached. It sounds to me like he was a very special cat. How’s Arran taking it?
Vickie Emms replied
Still sad. My daughter wrote a tribute to Bender and joined RB today to a couple of cat groups. Her message is in a forum or two but posted by me. She joined so she could comment. Thanks hon, for your concern. Arran will be OK, he has Nibs as well, his tabby. Bender was special (his first)
bdazzled
It was your daughters story I read first – then I went to your page for the photo of him. He looks great almost like a saint up on high. My best to you all – I hope you will have a good Christmas in spite of it all.
Cheers
Kira