WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2009
Midnight, the cat - a true life saving story
This is a true story that was told to me by a very sweet lady about how her cat saved her life.
Nineteen years ago, my friend's son brought home this half starved, 6 week old scrawny, pathetic kitten. He looked like he was on his last leg. Well, my friend, with her family and other commitments, really didn't want another pet, but her son talked her into it.
They named him Midnight, as he was black and longhaired. Midnight didn't like to be held and wouldn't take the warmed milk/bacon mixture that was given to him in an eyedropper. My friend had to put his nose into the dish, so that he could get some food. By the way, this dish is still Midnight's favorite dish, and he will only drink his milk out of it, 19 years later.
Well, Midnight grew up, and was a house cat, sleeping on the bed, and getting spoiled. The family figured that he had been badly abused, when he was very little, as he would not let you hold him. If he wanted loving, he came to you, but no one could pick him up. Midnight was also NOT a fighter with critters, and would only growl at them, but when it came to people, he LOVED to BITE, and he would do it as often as it pleased him. He also very rarely meowed.
He got into several scraps with other critters, and once my friend had to take him to the Vet. However, Midnight would not let the Vet doctor him, so my friend had to become his doctor. She didn't think that she could save him, but he pulled through, with her help, and a lot of tender loving care.
Several years ago my friend had to leave the house on business. She knew that Midnight was outside, but didn't think much about it, as he had a nice kitty house to stay in. It was late fall, about 20 degrees above. As my friend went outside, she slipped on a slab of ice and went down hard!! She fell on her foot, severely breaking the ankle and foot. She didn't know how long she lay there, as she had passed out. When she came to, Midnight was on her shoulder meowing like mad, and nuzzling her under her chin. She knew that she had to get into the house, and started pulling herself along the cement with her arms. She said to herself, “I can't do this.” The pain was so great that she would stop and lay her head down. Midnight was immediately on her shoulder, meowing like mad to make her move. Every time she stopped crawling, he would repeat his actions. She got to the door, struggled to open it, and started crawling in. The string on her hood got stuck under the door, leading to her garage, and she couldn't move. She had to take off her coat to get into the house. Midnight was right there, making sure that she was moving.
She crawled through the garage, and every time she stopped, Midnight was on her shoulder meowing, and nuzzling her face.
At the entrance to her home, she remembered that she had locked her door!! Now what!! The key was up high. She managed to sit up, and with the help of a stick, she got the key and unlocked the door. In the house, she could scoot on her bottom to get to the phone to call for help. Every time she stopped, because the pain was too bad, Midnight was on her lap, meowing and bugging her to keep moving.
When she crossed the room, she remembered that the cord was tied up, so that she couldn't pull the phone down. She couldn't dial upside down, and wondered how she could get help. Then she remembered “911.” She dialed and got help. The very efficient ambulance crew arrived to get her to the hospital. They only had one problemŠMIDNIGHT!!! He was growling and would not let the ambulance crew help my friend. She told Midnight that it was O.K. and told the crew to move very slowly, so that Midnight would not attack them.
My friend recovered from her accident. Now every time she goes for a walk, Midnight is right with her, watching to make she that she is O.K. At age 19, he doesn't always make the long walk with her, but he goes part way, and then lays down and waits and watches her. He always joins her again on her way home to make sure that she gets in safely.
Midnight is special, as so many critters are, but my friend really knows just how special he is.
They both share a special bond of LOVE.
