Ernie was hand raised

Ernie's mom was a barn cat. Shortly after her litter was born, she was hit and killed by a car. From that moment on, he and the rest of the litter were hand raised. Ernie was the runt of the litter, they didn't think he would make it.
He grew into a large beautiful black cat, with an attitude.

My grandson brought him home New Years night. I was still be awake... Ernie come running to me from the end of the bed, I'm here, I'm here, ain't I cute?
I'm here to fix everything that is wrong...starting with that Chancy woman. If he could have spoke, I'm sure that's what he would have said. Chancy was not impressed with him either.

My grandson had named Ernie on their way home. "Earnhardt"

I believe Ernie thought he was one of us and that we were his people...or pets.
When I was preparing dinner, he would lay on the bar and watch every move I made. When I said, "dinner is ready"...he was the 1st one at the table, only he liked to lay on it and beg for bites. From the time he was a baby kitten, we tried keeping him off the table. It just didn't matter what we did or how many times we removed him, he was right back. We just gave up and would slide him to the other side of the table. Chancy didn't have a problem with not getting on the table...she done her begging from the floor.

I should have been with him...

We were about 30 minutes away...it would take to much time to get dressed and drive to the vet's office. Please help Ernie out of his misery, now.

As it turned out, the tech needed to wait for the vet to get there. It was another hour of suffering for Ernie.

I should have been there to tell "Baby Ernie", he was "my big boy" and how much we loved him and his antics. To comfort him in his final minutes. Last night...I should have ask to see him before we left for the night.

The morning after Ernie's passing, my husband went to the vet to pay the bill and pick up Ernie's carrier. The tech was so sweet and thoughtful, she started crying, while telling my husband how Ernie's passing went, how she and both vets were there to sooth and stroke Ernie. They told Ernie to say hi to their pets (calling them by name) who have passed. All were in tears...how sweet was that?

I've never in my life been so attached to any pet, like I was to Ernie...

I heard Ernie's voice...

Ernie was dying. His chest was filling with fluid. How could this be?
He just had an infection, diagnosed just one week ago.

It all started late on a Saturday night. His eye was red and swollen. Took Ernie to the emergency vet, not too far from here. The attending tried taking Ernie's temp. Thermometer didn't beep soon enough for her, so she stopped. Pulled it out. Weighed him. The usual routine. Vet checked his gut, said his heart was muffled, probably because he was over weight. He was diagnosed with an eye infection, prescribed an antibiotic and sent home.

The following Monday he was at his vet. She gave him the usual check up, he had a fever. This should have been found Saturday night.
Vet checked his gut, again, heart sounds muffled, most likely due to the fact that he is so over weight. The vet prescribed an antibiotic. We took him home.

Over the next few days, he seemed to be getting worse, it was getting harder & harder to give him his med's. He would gag and spit it out. He was also taking med's everyday for mega colon. I called the vet...they made suggestions. Nothing seemed to help. He was more listless, didn't jump up on the table or bar anymore. Didn't seem to move around much...breathing heavy, seemed very tired.

The next Monday we were in the vet's office, again. Exactly 7 days.
Another doctor checked him this time. He was sure Ernie had fluid on his chest. Heart sounds weren't muffled because of fat. It was fluid.
Done a Ct scan. Sure enough, there it was. Vet said, this suggests it may be lymphoma. Maybe brought on by the mega colon. He is only 5 1/2 years old. Older cats usually get this. By this time, it was closing time. Vet said, he could stay, aspirate the fluid, if he makes it until morning, we could take him home and maybe have a couple more days with him.
We went on home...vet called about an hour later, aspirated the fluid from Ernie's chest. He is breathing better. Now we pray he makes it until morning.

Morning came, the tech called, Ernie is panting heavy, and suffering. We told her to end it now. Can't stand the thoughts of him suffering any longer...