R.I.P. SIMBA LEE GARSKE 7/4/99-1/3/09
Unfortunatly this will not be our normal upbeat post about how wonderful Madisynn or the baby are doing! Yesterday we lost our wonderful and very loved cat Simba. It was a hard day for all, but something we knew was coming. 2 years ago he was diagnosed with kidney failure, and after switching vets I found one that I loved who said that he still had a while to go. Once Madisynn was born he started going down hill and just recently it had gotten a lot worse. We went in in Nov and the vet said that it was about time and we really didn't have much left to do for him. He was down to just over 6lbs. I waited until the holidays were over and we made the appt for yesterday. Derek and I both decided going there is a much harder thing to do than leaving. Simba sat in the back with Madisynn on our way up there and we took Madisynn to a friends house while we took Simba. When she got back in the car she kept yelling for kitty and "Ba" (Simba) When we got to the vet I couldn't even fill out the paper work I was crying so hard. They took him to the back to put a cathetar in and that is when Derek lost it. I have seen Derek cry 3 times in the 10 years we have been together. When our cat Tabitha died, when Madisynn was born and now when we put Simba down. He is usually my rock so when I saw him break down I lost it even more. They brought him back to us so we could be with him while he passed and it happend VERY quickly which made me feel better that he was ready to go. It was hard leaving him there, but the vet is just so amazing and was very comforting. We should receive his ashes in a few days and he will be put next to our other cat Tabitha.
Simba was the kind of cat EVERYONE loved! Even if you didn't like cats, you liked Simba. He would play and cuddle. We had even taught him how to roll over. He was very social and loved people. He never really liked kids, but when Madisynn came along he was in love with her. He had gone through a lot in his life. We got him when he wasn't even a whole pound yet, Derek and I had been together for 6 months and we already had Tabitha. Tabitha hated him, but Simba insisted on chasing her and trying to play with her. We then took them to Germany with us and in between Germany and Arkansas we had to put Tabitha down, because she had gotten so sick. Simba was distraut and so we got him Zoey. He LOVED her! That was his baby and they played together all the time. For those who know me they know that these cats were my LIFE! I loved them as if they were really my babies! I know some thought I was a little overboard, but Simba was just so amazing it was hard not to love him with your whole heart. Then came Madisynn and at first it was hard for him, but he grew to adjust. Plus he had already started getting sick at this point! We knew the next baby would definatly put him over the edge. It was such a hard decision and I just pray that it is what he wanted. Now we hope Zoey will be ok with out him. So far Madisynn has not asked for him again, so hopefully it will stay that way, because that breaks my heart!
So here is a little bit of what Simba was like!


He loved sleeping on my neck. You can barely even tell there was a cat there. He would rub his paws through my hair and chew on my ear. He was 4 months here

Here he is again at 4 months. I personally think the shocker in the picture is how young Derek looks!! :)

Simba loved boxes! Any kind. He was usually found in a Bud Light box !

Simba loved playing! His favorite were shiny little balls!

It wasnt often you see Tabitha and Simba together! Simba loved Tabitha, but she always hissed at him!

This was right before Tabitha passed away!

Then along came Zoey and Simba thought that was his baby. He was a little on the feminine side :)

There last good bye :(

Then along came Madisynn! He was so good with her and they loved each other so much.

This was Simba's getaway! It was behind the chair, but once she started walking, there was no getaway!

This was Simba's last meal. A can of Tuna!!!

Madisynn would sit with Simba every afternoon after her nap! This was on Friday.

He was getting so frail and his hair is all matted