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In Memory of Cedric
A letter from Home For Life Executive Director
Cedric relaxing in his cattery, 2005.
Cedric came to Home For Life® as a stray from a humane society in rural Wisconsin. He had been cruelly and deliberately burned by someone with acid. From the trauma, Cedric was also battling skin cancer. HFL took him to a number of vet clinics, but when doctors saw him they anticipated that the only possible treatment for Cedric would involve pain control. The other option was euthanasia. With Cedric's incredible will to live, we could not give up on him.
With money from our Emergency Medical Fund, Cedric underwent surgery to remove the eye that had suffered the worst trauma. Skin grafts were used to cover the wounds around the eye and nose, and the cancer was also removed from these areas. Throughout all of his treatment Cedric was heroic in his battle. Even during stages of pain and discomfort, he was dignified and full of love.
Cedric stayed at the vet for about three weeks, and the doctors at Midwest Veterinary Specialty Clinic, including ophthalmologist Dr. Bob LaRocca, dermatologist Dr. Tim Strauss, and surgeon Dr. Art Fettig put forth extraordinary effort and succeeded in restoring Cedric's comfort and quality of life.
Cedric (bottom left) gladly accepts affection from one of his sponsors, and permits his cat friends to share the moment.
This brave cat emerged from a difficult past and intensive surgery to a new start, and was lovingly cared for at Home for Life® by our dedicated staff. Cedric had many friends among the other feline residents and was very bonded to the other cats at the sanctuary. The many friendships he developed at HFL were a big part of his happiness while with us.
Cedric touched all he met and attended many events where he was receptive to anyone who had a kind touch or word for him. His audience, children and adults alike, were drawn to this quiet, proud and noble cat. He was a handsome guy even with one eye and like all cats he liked to primp and preen and get lots of attention. A gentle touch was always rewarded with a loud purr.
When the cancer returned, we took him to the University of Minnesota for radiation treatment and, although the tumor initially responded to treatment, after 3 weeks the tumor returned even more painfully and aggressively and invaded the sinus cavity, which began to hemorrhage.
Unable to let this brave guy suffer any more, he was put to sleep very gently in the arms of Katie, one of our staff. The vet gave Cedric a sedation shot first, so the last thing Cedric knew was that he was falling asleep in Katie's arms, safe and loved to the end.
This is still heartbreaking for me to write even now. Never have I known a cat that was so full of love despite the horrible abuse he had suffered. What a lesson in forgiveness and love triumphing over meanness, cruelty and indifference.
What's more, so many people loved Cedric and cared about him. I feel Home for Life® and Cedric were very blessed in that Cedric knew that many people cherished him and after the obvious neglect and callous indifference that he had faced, his last years made up for it due to the love and caring of his many sponsors and our devoted staff.
Cedric's ashes will be buried in our memorial garden and blessed this fall
by an Indian spiritual advisor from the Mille
Lacs Tribe at our Memorial Garden event. We will plant a beautiful flowering
plant over his ashes to always remember him by. Our Memorial Garden design
is based on the labyrinth, the archaic symbol of the journey of life, which
Cedric's life surely illustrates. He has come full circle and is now at
peace.
– Lisa Laverdiere