I'll See You At The Rainbow Bridge, Phantom! :)

Phantom is a gorgeous, plump, and stunning White Oriental-Siamese mix. I’ve always wanted to own a black cat. (again) The last one I had (Blackie, who died of old age) was way back in 2004. When Phantom was born, I was overjoyed and decided to keep him even if my mom wouldn’t let me. I’ve had Phantom for almost two years. Last Friday, I had to say goodbye to a dear friend. This is his story.

Phantom, 2 months old

DECEMBER 3, 2011, 11:00 A.M.: It was a warm and sunny Saturday morning. I woke up early because I had two events to attend that day. I make it a point to spend more time with my furry friends during weekends, as I’m always out of the house during weekdays. After gobbling down my hearty lunch, I prepared the meals of my cats and dogs.

It was girl- hunting season for Phantom, and it has been so hard pinning him down and making him stay inside the house, let alone in our garage. I tried jailing him inside the house, but he would pee everywhere, and this irked my mom to no end. So we decided to let him stay outside the house.

I glanced across the street and saw Phantom sitting below a tree planted at the street corner. It was his spot for spotting female felines and showcasing the other male cats his big and strong body. It’s his way of saying that he’s not the cat to be messed with, and he’s the IT male cat in the neighborhood.

“Phantom!” (rattling the box half- filled with dry cat food)

He heard my voice and he glanced at me. When he saw me getting some of his fave cat food, he stood up, stretched his legs, and started crossing the street.

I went inside to get his feeding bowl. Suddenly, I heard Phantom let out a loud shrill.

I was thinking, “Oh boy, he’s fighting some male cats again.”

A few seconds after Phantom’s hair- raising shrill, the doorbell rang crazily. I glanced at the door and saw our neighbor, who was sorta’ sporting a troubled facial expression.

Me: “Yes?”

Neighbor: “Your black cat.”

M: “What’s up with Phantom?”

N: “A truck carrying (insert a popular soda brand name here) ran over him.”

I couldn’t believe it. I just saw Phantom crossing the street. I was in disbelief, and I couldn’t bring myself to believe what my neighbor was saying until he pointed at our car. It took me a while to realize that indeed, Phantom was gravely hurt. I went out, and saw Phantom underneath, wiggling and crying in pain.

I asked our house helper to pull him out from under the car. His lower body was wiggling. He was trying to walk, but I know that he couldn’t. After a few struggles, he peed blood and let out some soft and almost liquid- like poop. That moment, I knew he was going to die. The same thing happened to my white cat, Ulo. A few minutes after Ulo encountered a terrible car accident, he peed blood and died. I just asked the maid to put Phantom inside one of the pet cages and cover him with a soft towel so he would know that until his last breath, we all loved and cared for him.

With a heavy heart, I dressed up and readied myself for the blog events I had to go to. When I checked on Phantom, I was so surprised to see him alive. I felt that Phantom wanted to fight for his life. I pulled out the pet carrier and gently placed him in it and rushed to one of the vet clinics in The Fort.

Two events later, I went back to Beterinaryo Sa The Fort to check on Phantom. There he was, lying helpless on the surgical table with a cone on his head and an IV Drip on his front left leg. I caressed his head and whispered “Phantom baby”. His eyes opened, and his bright Topaz eyes widened with joy for he finally saw his mommy. He let out a small, weak “meow”, and tried his best to nudge my hands with his head like what he would always do when he was still better.

The vets showed me their X-Ray findings. He had massive damage inside him. His pelvic bones were crushed, and the bone fragments severely ruptured the muscles surrounding it, causing hemorrhage. His urethra was also flattened. I knew right then and there that I couldn’t bring him home. So I decided to leave him to the vets, and hoped that I’ll receive better news the next day.

I went back to BSTF the next day, and one of the head vets, Dr. Farrah told me that they did another X-Ray and it showed that a part of his intestines went loose, and they have to do two surgeries on him immediately because he’s getting worse. I asked the doctor if Phantom will survive the surgeries. Dr. Farrah replied that they will try their best, but ultimately, it is up to Phantom’s will.

I’ve always known that he’s a strong cat. So I told Dr. Farrah to proceed with the two surgeries. The first surgery was called Exploratory Lap, wherein they had to open him up and check the internal damage. If they find out that the damage could not be fixed, they’ll sew him up, and put him to sleep. If the damage can still be fixed, they will proceed to the corrective surgery.

Phantom, a few hours after the accident

Indeed, I was right. Phantom survived the two surgeries. A week after his hospitalization and two weeks before Christmas, Phantom was already with us.

Another sad part was his bill ballooned so much that it ate my funds for a new bag. I really waited for this new bag. His post- medication bill also ate Denver's surgery funds. I've sacrificed my want for Phantom’s life. And it was the best decision I’ve ever made. It felt like I’ve done something brave and meaningful in my life.

Phantom was doing great when he got home. I would see him cleaning himself, which is a good sign. If cats clean themselves, it means they feel good or better. Two days after his surgery and during dinner time, I've noticed that he kept on meowing inside his cage. I went up to him and tried feeding him a strand of chicken meat. And he ate it! Boy, my Phantom is such a fighter! I can’t wait for the day where I will see him running around the house again!

But life is just full of surprises.

After that joyous week, Phantom had stopped eating. And surprisingly, he also has stopped cleaning himself. I knew there was something wrong, and I brought him to the vet a couple of times before he died.

Dr. Farrah told me that some of Phantom’s muscles and blood vessels died, so his blood is having a hard time circulating in his lower body. He had a yellowish, foul- smelling, and moist hanging paunch from his surgical wound. Dr. Farrah told me that it was dead skin, and the skin will eventually heal itself. But we have to disinfect that part everyday to prevent internal and external infection. She also advised us to let Phantom start walking around the house because his legs have gotten thinner. Yeah. I also noticed that.

And disinfectin’ and chiropractin’ I did. A day before he died, I made him walk around the house. He would just scream in pain, and he would literally be exhausted after taking three or four steps. As much as I want to carry him back and just let him rest in his cage, I can’t because this is the only way for him to regain his strength and fully recover.

On the day of his death, he was very noisy. He would “meow” at every person who would pass by his cage. I gave him water and some wet cat food. He emptied his water bowl (which is not a good sign because healthy cats don’t normally drink too much water), and he ignored the food from this newly- opened wet cat food can. I touched his head, and he tried his best to nudge it. I felt my heart breaking, and was almost teary- eyed at the sight of the deteriorating Phantom. I wish I could show you how he looked like on the day of his death, but it was so heartbreaking. I just want to leave myself (and everyone) with better (and fatter) memories of Phantom. I had to go somewhere that day. Before I left, I spent a few minutes with him. He gently clawed on my finger inside the cage. Maybe it was his way of saying “Martha, I’m in deep pain, and I think I want to rest for good. You have done more than enough. Can you let me go?”

Call me crazy but I think I can understand animals. I stared at his beady eyes and whispered “It’s okay Phantom. Please do your best to fight for your life. But if you can’t, you can let go. I completely understand.” All of a sudden, Phantom let go of my finger, and he laid his head to sleep. I filled his cat bowl with water and left the house.

DECEMBER 24, 2011, 1:30 A.M.- I just got home from a nice Christmas dinner with mom, and we bought a few gifts for the pets. New leashes for the Beagle and Labrador, cans of Dog Food for the Golden Retriever, cans of Cat Food for the kitties, and High- Calorie gel tubes for Phantom. I called the house helper and told her to give two doses to Phantom. I put a leash on Denver and had a 10 –minute walk with him outside the house.

When I got back, mom said:

“Phantom’s dead.”

I did not utter any reply. In fact, I didn’t even wonder why. I knew it was going to happen.Mom and I suspected that he died of an internal and external infection caused by the dead skin hanging from his stomach. I went inside the house, and saw him lifeless inside his cage. His body was still warm and soft, which is a sign that he died only a few minutes ago. I asked the house helpers to pull him out, cover him in newspaper, and put him inside two black garbage bags. At 2:00 A.M., Phantom was finally laid to rest just beside our house.

This is a lesson to myself, to all of us, and to speeding vehicle drivers.

To anonymous commenters who keep on bashing me for shopping in spite of my pets’ conditions, I hope this story is of any sense to you, and this is the first and last time you'll hear from me. I am not asking you to love me. All I ask is that you stop judging, most especially if you do not know every single thing that’s going on.

Pet owners like me should spay, neuter, and castrate pets. It will save them from terrible accidents like this in the future.

To the dear truck driver who escaped the crime scene, and to vehicle drivers who are guilty of the same thing, I (and we) have forgiven you all. I hope that one day, something will make you all realize that life in all forms is precious, and we must respect every creature in this world. We might think that we are the superior creatures, but we are no different and no higher than animals. We’re all equal in the eyes of God, and we all share this planet.

One day, Phantom and I will see each other again at the Rainbow Bridge.

RAINBOW BRIDGE

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. 



When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. 
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. 
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. 

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. 


The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. 

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. 



You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. 

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....



Author unknown...

Phantom, if you see King, Ulo, and the rest of our family pets who had come before you, say "Hi" to them from us. :)

New Year's coming. At least I can finally start again. Thank you for taking time to read Phantom's story. :)