Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Goodbye Sweet Olympia


This has been a very tough week for today we lost another friend... Sweet Olympia was gently helped across the Rainbow Bridge today.

We have told you about Olympia before and what a strong and brave girl kitty she was. She turned 18 years old in August and led a very rich and full life. She so bravely battled cancer and diabetes and underwent many medicines and treatments and yet she was always so strong and her will to live was so powerful she simply never gave up. In 2001, Olympia was diagnosed with cancer after her daddy found a golf ball sized lump on her right shoulder. The lump was removed, as well as a good portion of her right shoulder and back muscle. She went through chemotherapy every two weeks for a few months, she lost a lot of weight, but pulled through with the help of her Mommy and Daddy and lots of support from her Grandma H.

After all that Olympia felt pretty good but she was then diagnosed with several other ailments including bladder stones and a gastro-intestinal disorder requiring her to take Pregnizone every day to keep her from throwing up. After that, she was also diagnosed with diabetes, so she had to have a shot of insulin twice a day.

Olympia was born in the mountains of Blacksburg, VA where her mommy went to school. After her Mommy graduated from Virginia Tech (Olympia was always so proud of her mommy for graduating) she spent some time in Charlotte, NC where she lived with her Grandma and Grandpa, and got to be spoiled and treated like the queen kitty she was. She got to eat tuna from the grill and was well-loved by her Grandma and Grandpa very much. Olympia got to fly many times (only in cargo once, and it was horrible for both her and her Mommy) and she got to be driven all up and down the east coast.

Olympia liked to join her mommy and daddy for vacation in Oak Island, NC and usually got to go there once or twice a year. When she was at the beach she loved to roam around the house, sleep in the sun and look out the windows at the big blue ocean. Olympia often got to feast on fresh fish, shrimp or crab at the beach, too!

She has been to Buffalo, NY a few times and got to visit with Bo the dog and Yoko the cat and remember times with Alex and Mandy the cats and Rocky the dog who aren't with us any more.

In Feburary 2004 Olympia's Mommy and Daddy brought home a surprise - a baby brother named Will. While she wasn't too happy about this at first, she got used to him and thought he was fun to have around. Will was a good brother to Olympia and was very gentle with her and liked to pet her. He also checked in on her and kept her dish full all of the time.

Olympia's Mommy and Daddy loved her so very much and had silly nicknames for her including "Goo", "Goose", and Big Earl. You might think these are not good names befitting a lovely girl cat like Olympia but they were meant in pure love and she knew it.

Although Olympia had more than her fair share of illness and troubles in life she never ever forgot how important family is, how much they care about you and what an important part of the family each and every loved kitty is. Olympia believed you could never understimate the power of positive thinking and she embodied that credo every day in her life until the very end of her glorious 18 and a half years.

We are all sending our deepest purrs and love to Olympia's Mommy and Daddy and her brother in this tough, tough time. We love you sweet Olympia and we will all see you again someday on the Rainbow Bridge...

15 comments:

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

OAH NO....
This is extremely sad!!!!!
18years and 4 months...
she must be very wise and great to live that long.... But, still very very sad ....

Oah Dear...what a big lost week.....
Please sending my purrs and prayers to Olympia's mommy and Daddy!

Motor Home Cats said...

What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful friend. We know she is now running around at the bridge without any pain, or problems. Please let her family know we are purring for her.

Tiki, Tavi, Cody and Camie

Black Cat said...

That's so sad. She lived to a good age but how sad she had to suffer so much in that life. It seems she had a very positive attitude. Please give my condolences to her family. xxx

Skeezix the Cat said...

Good bye, sweet Olympia, I'll see yoo at the Bridge. This was a vary nice storey, but it made my face leek.

Honey P. Sunshine said...

wat a sweet and brave gurl. sending my purrs and prayers to Olympia's mommy and Daddy

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Poor Olympia. :( She certainly went through a lot and was very brave. Please pass along our condolences to her family. It is always very sad when someone goes to the Bridge.

Monty Q. Kat said...

Oh no! Not anofur furrend. :( She sounds like she was one classy lady too...

I tagged you both for a meme, stop over and see when you can.

And MomBean is feeling better, but man she gets grouchy at times. I don't get it, but if I sit on her feet at night it helps her be still and sleep.

Tiki, Kirby, and StanLee said...

We are very sorry about Olympia. What a brave girl. Purrs and hugs to all who miss her.

Rosemary B❤️ said...

What a brave kittygirl she was.
she had a wonderful life full of love.
This tribute to her was so lovely.

<3

The Wanderer said...

very sad to hear about Olympias passing.

zevo hussein calamari said...

We are sending lots of healing purrs and prayers to Olympia and her family and friends.

xoxoxox

Daisy said...

I am very sorry to learn that the beautiful Olympia had to go to the Bridge. She was a very brave cat and lived through a lot. I will be sure to go meet her when it is my turn to go to the Bridge.

Parker said...

Oh dear. I remember Olympia from your post over the holidays and thought she was great! What a lovely tribute you wrote for her. I am sure her Mom and Dad will miss her terribly. She sounded as though she was truely a member of the family and I think that's wonderful.
Please send our sympathies to her mom and dad for us!

Grandma H said...

I was always in awe of my cousin Olympia. I, being short haired, admired her beautiful thick Maine Coon coat and her big bushy tail. She carried herself like a queen and when she entered a room she lifted her tail and swished it so that it could be admired. She is the reason my mommy and daddy got me.
Olympia will be remembered for her courage, strength and remarkable will to live while enduring many health problems and treatments. She and her Grandma H.
were soul mates as they went through cancer surgery and chemo at the same time. She was her Grandpa H.'s "Little Girl" and he delighted in dishing up feasts of chicken and fish for her from the grill. She sat on his lap every night. She was much loved by their two dachshunds, Dudley and Sammy even though she loved to tease them and totally ruled them and the house.
Olympia was a beloved lady and will be greatly missed by all of our family.
God speed, Olympia. You can rest now and I will see you again someday. I love you.
Cutter

The Cat Realm said...

We only found this post right now - we remember you talking about Olympia before - we remember her well. And we are very very sorry for her family! Olympia will now be running around pain free with Anastasia at the bridge! She was a very special cat!!!!