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Judy

You have my heartfelt sympathy. I lost my LadyJane on November 6th; she

had been my constant companion for almost ten years. I am mostly

housebound and was mostly bedbound for close to a year after WLS and she

was right by my side as if she knew I needed her. Her death was sudden

and unexpected.

I only spent one night alone but I was so empty and bereft. I was awake

most of the night and kept " feeling " her jump up on the bed. I

couldn't eat (first time ever) and all I could do was cry.

The following day my youngest daughter took me over to the Humane

Society in Kennebunk and I came out of there with what she calls my

" Charlie Brown Christmas tree " cat -- scrawny, no hair on her rump,

hanging nipples, surgical cut from spaying, lusterless fur -- my choice

out of all the cats (many so beautiful), but she connected somehow. She

has a golden stripe down her nose and a golden torque around her neck

and her name is Sheba.

Within a month she had gained l lb 4 ozs to perfect weight, her fur grew

back in on her rump and belly and is now thick and shiny. She is

about one year old and I feel she is as happy to be here as I am to

have her with me.

But there are times when I am just overwhelmed by the thought that

LadyJane is not with me; I will always miss her.

Again, my sympathy. We handle our grief in whatever manner we can. I

wonder, though, if what you ate tasted like sawdust -- I know my shakes

(which I love) were just something necessary I had to do but there was

no enjoyment.

Nina in Maine

Open RNY 2/02

325/200

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Judy wrote: One of my cats died in my arms this morning after a very

brief and sudden illness.   He had congestive heart failure and died

when he threw a clot.   I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted to

today.   I didn't make the best choices, but it was only for one day,

I got it out of my system and I'm ready to get back on track tomorrow.

Judy