Leo has been my companion and best friend since I graduated and moved from Texas to the Big Apple. I started my adulthood having adopted the sweetest soul and, unknowingly, a chronically ill one.

A source of unconditional love at the most beautiful and uncertain time of my life. He loved looking through windows and fire escapes, an observer, a cuddler, a yapper, never bit nor scratched me, even when getting his nails cut! Loved to be held, loved belly scratches, and BIG stretches. A picky and messy eater, and my guardian whenever I went to pee in the middle of the night.

He was a brave boy, recovered so well when he got all his teeth removed in ‘23, took meds like a champ, but in the end, it was his underdeveloped kidneys where, no matter my efforts, patience, and care, I couldn’t save him. Despite doing and considering everything in my power to give him a chance, he developed severe anemia after being stabilized, and his quality of life diminished. A few days after our 4th anniversary together, I was left with the devastating reality that we had to say goodbye.

Saying goodbye to him feels unreal; we still had so much more to learn about life and each other. I am so lucky to have been chosen by him to support his rather short journey on this earth, perhaps giving him a longer life than was probably in his cards. It broke my heart every time a vet would say, “What a shame… he is such a sweet lil' guy.”

I held on to hope, and once I was able to join him and my partner back in NJ, cutting my family visit in Mexico short, I didn’t anticipate starting the year with an emotional and financial hit as big as this one. The bills accumulated quickly as I did everything to give him a fighting chance and an opportunity to see each other at home and say goodbye. I will cherish these last days forever. Thank you for waiting for me, bebe. What a gift to have been loved by you.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for all your comfort. Endlessly grateful.

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