This is the update we never wanted to have to write.
Our brave, beautiful boy has left this world.
On Saturday, Casper traded his usual spark for a quiet ember. He’d rallied — yet again — after June’s update, bobbling around the lobby with gusto for another miracle month. But this Independence Day, Casper’s eyes were clearly searching for another sort of freedom. He was suffering yet another bout of painful constipation, this time unresponsive to treatment. Our vet surmised that Casper’s kidney disease, and the likely spread of his lymphoma, were causing his distress. It was time to lovingly let him go.
Jonathan, our Founder and Executive Director, called Casper’s original rescuers so they could come say goodbye. Their lives have been so richly interwoven with Casper’s that it was only fitting that they love him through his last moments.
Their love lengthened those moments. When his old friends arrived, Casper’s eyes lit up and his energy surged. Our team decided to closely monitor Casper for one more day. By “closely monitor,” of course, I mean “closely monitor…and regale with wet food, cuddles, prayers and kisses.”
Casper’s final day was a feast of joy and a celebration of love. As we prepared our hearts for the inevitable, we marveled at the miracle of Casper. This is a cat who was supposedly stamped with a short “expiration date” from the day he arrived in early 2014.
“He has spinal cancer,” experts said. “He’ll never walk again,” they said. “He’ll make it a few weeks. Perhaps a few months, but don’t get your hopes up,” they said.
They spoke from science and study and human reason. They did not, however, know the stuff of soul and spirit and Casper.
So, even as we knew, in our reasonable human brains, that every day with Casper was a “bonus” gift, we got comfortable with feeling like he’d simply always be with us. Once a miracle, always a miracle, right?
Right…but not always in the way we’d want.
Yesterday, our miracle man was ready to be released from the body that had finally worn out. Surrounded by an adoring circle of staff, volunteers and cats, Casper gently, peacefully left this world. The Tabby’s Place lobby gaped with a void in the shape of a forehead-smudged, paw-crumpled, wondrous white cat.
Yes, this is the update we never wanted to have to write.
But this is also the update that would have been written a very long time ago — and in a very tragic tone — had it not been for you.
Without lavish love from his rescuers, Casper would have breathed his last all alone, outdoors, paralyzed on a February day.
Without lavish love from Tabby’s Place, Casper would have never had the chance to challenge his “expiration date.”
Without lavish love from Casper’s extended family — that means you, sponsors — Casper would have faded fast, missing out on the life-saving medical care that bought him over a year of health and laughter, love and wet food, miracle and wonder.
Without lavish love, we would have missed out on Casper.
So even as we grieve, we rejoice in the miracle that Casper was, and is, and will always be. Thank you from the depths of my soul for loving Casper so generously. I believe we will see him again, in the place where there is no more pain or death or crying, and every tear is wiped away. Can’t you just hear Casper triumphing, once and for all:
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Until that glorious day, thank you, sponsors, for giving Casper a taste of heaven — and showing us the meaning of love.
Since Casper has passed away, we have transferred your monthly sponsorship to our Special Needs Fund, which helps support all of our Special Needs cats.
As a supporter of the Special Needs Fund, you will receive monthly update on a different Special Needs cat each month.
However, you may do one of the following:
- Choose to have your sponsorship transferred to support another Special Needs cat.
You can see all of our Special Needs cats here.
If you wish to do this, please contact us by email and let us know your wishes. - You may choose to discontinue your monthly sponsorship. To do so, please contact us at 908-237-5300 with your request.
We do hope that you decide to continue supporting our cats in need. And, whatever you do, thank you for loving Casper so lavishly.