Cody

Dearest Dr. Forslund,

I have been wanting to get back to you for some time since you were here on January 9th to help me set Cody free. Your calls and e-mails have all been so touching and supportive and I am deeply appreciative. The deep, caring kindness in your heart is so affecting and I am beyond grateful that it was you here with me and Cody to help with his transition. It is one of the hardest things to do in this lifetime, and your gentle, kind ways made it as loving as I could have imagined without ever having met you before. That kindness and care you gave so freely to me helped me be my full self for Cody in one of the most important moments we faced together. I was so intensely blessed to have had him in my life for 19-1/2 years and so blessed to have had you here with me to help us both through his last moments.

I have an incredible support system and my personal beliefs have helped me to make peace with Cody’s passing. I will miss him forever but I loved him from my whole heart and not from what I would call desperate co-dependence. So for me he stays close in my heart always. I see now how his leaving has provided a freedom and space that was not available to me before, and I just know he would want me to fully immerse in this next chapter. I am using this time with no animals to experience that fully. Probably after a trip abroad in May I will invite two new kittens to come be my new fur family.

I have included below the e-mail I sent to friends and family just after Cody left and wanted to share that with you. Dr. Forslund, you are a very special human on this planet and I am certain it was nothing less than Divine intervention that brought such a beautiful shining light into my home on one of the hardest days of my life. You will always be in my heart as well.

With deepest appreciation,
Pam Austin
Costa Mesa

A letter to friends:
Hello My Friends,

Today I am writing because an important chapter in my life has just closed. On June 15, 1994 when I was 34, Baby Cody and Jasper came into my life. Cats bring joy into your life in an amazing way and leave a big void in their departure. Jasper did that when he left 8 years ago and last week on January 9, Cody went on to join him. Overall, Cody spent 19-1/2 years bringing nothing but pure joy, love, amusement and companionship into my life. He was a sweet, kind, devoted animal that always wanted to be sitting beside me or in my lap or cuddling close for a nap, and as he got older that only happened more. He had the softest, silkiest coat I have ever pet on a cat and I told him he was beautiful every day of his life. He always made me feel loved. As he got older and arthritis started to limit his mobility, I was more than happy to make box steps to the beds and his favorite chairs and carry him up and down the stairs. I secretly loved a chance to have an extra hug. He stayed so much longer than I thought he would, but finally succumbed to kidney failure. I prayed for the right time to let him go and while it was one of the hardest things I have ever done, I wanted to make sure he knew I would always do right by him. The kindest, caring vet came to the house last Thursday and let me hold him as he was finally freed of his sick body. I felt relief to let my baby leave his pain behind and set his beautiful spirit fee. Cody took my whole heart and cared for me through so many ups and downs in my life for close to 20 years. I am so very saddened by his passing but I could never be less than completely grateful for having had such heart-warming and devoted love in my life. Please celebrate my very special angel with me in his picture gallery below.

Cody was included in the Rainbow Bridge website’s Worldwide Monday Night Candle Tribute Ceremony for lost pets on January 13th. I would be grateful if you can light a candle or just say a prayer for my sweet angel. His tribute page is: http://rainbowsbridge.com/CandleLighting_Tribute/Tribute_Room.aspx

Thank you for indulging me in this difficult time,
Pam

Adorable Baby Pictures of Cody & Jasper