The Life and Loss of Juno

by Diane
(Sydney, Australia )

Just five days ago I came home after teaching a yoga class, to find my 8 year old British Shorthair Juno, half lying behind a door. I called her thinking she was sleeping in a strange position but she didn't respond. I quickly ran to her to find her body limp and lifeless. Her eyes were open and it seemed she was trying to breathe. Thinking she was chocking, I gave her mouth to mouth resuscitation and palpitated her chest. As I don't have a car, I frantically called for an Uber while banging on neighbour's doors for help. Finally, some very kind hearted people from across the road came to our rescue and got us to the vet, a short drive away. The vet tried to rescue her but it was too late. My little girl was gone and I was in deep shock. The vet and staff were very supportive and gave me all the time I needed with her. The sudden cause of death was heart failure. She had acquired a heart murmur which had worsened extremely quickly, otherwise, she was in perfect health. Since that horrible day both my surviving boy Ziggy and I have been coping in our own ways. I cried very hard and had flashbacks over and over of her laying there on the lounge room floor. I realised I was dealing with the discovery of her and her death.

Juno came into Ziggy's and my life to be a friend and companion to us both and for Ziggy while I was at work. It took Ziggy about 9 months to accept her but I feel he loved her dearly. She would stand right next to him and wrap her tail gently around the back of his neck to hug him. She was very cheeky and had her own unique personality characteristics. She loved cheese and I don't think was happy when I turned vegan two years ago! Vegan cheese never cut it for her. She was very shy of strangers too. If anyone came to visit, her first instinct was to run and hide. She loved trying to eat porridge out of my bowl, so I always had to save a tiny bit for her. When changing the sheets on my bed, she would hear me and come running in so that she could race around the fitted sheet. I'd always end up making the bed on top of her but leave a corner for her little head to poke out.

I'm so grateful that I still have beautiful Ziggy, but at the same time, terrified something bad is going to happen to him too.

Each day is a new day, and both Ziggy and I are finding our way through.

Thank you for reading this far and giving us a voice to talk about our grief.

Sincerely, Ziggy and Diane