In Memory of Ginger Schultz
August 22, 2002

My beautiful baby girl Ginger is gone. She hadn't been acting quite right or eating much the last couple of days. I took her to the vet after I saw she wasn't doing well at lunch. Somehow I knew it was bad because I was already crying when the vet walked in.

The doctor said Ginger had a lot of fluid in her abdomen and I knew immediately it was FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis). The doctor didn't say that at first, but I knew. She had a fever of 104.3. They did x-rays which showed how much fluid there was. Her liver was enlarged and there was even some fluid in her lungs. They suggested exploratory surgery which they were kind enough to schedule right then and there. The doctor had the rest of her afternoon appointments cancelled.

She gave me time to spend with Ginger before they took her away. I just held her in my arms and told her how much I loved her and how much happiness she has brought to my life. I kissed her and kissed her and held her little paw. Finally they came to take her. Once they had her situated in the cage, they let me go back and see her again. They had started administering the anesthetics so she was a little bit out of it. But she was awake and even kept trying to get up. I just rubbed her face and held her little paw. I told her it was okay if she had to go and to not be scared. I sat there on the floor with her for awhile until it was time for them to begin the surgery.

Within 20 minutes the doctor came out and confirmed what I already knew. FIP. Her little insides were just covered with lesions from the disease. I lost my cat Samantha to this disease when Ginger was just a kitten. Since Ginger is strictly an inside cat, chances are she had been carrying the disease all these years but had been able to fight it off. After two years of struggling with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), her little immune system just couldn't handle it. FIP is a horrible disease. There is no test. No vaccination. No cure. And it is always 100% fatal. This disease has taken three beautiful babies from us. Wydell's Prescott, my Samantha (left) and my girl Ginger.

They offered me the opportunity to say goodbye to her. I told them I had already done that and that I didn't want to see her asleep. I wanted to remember her with her little eyes open rubbing her head on my hand. They took me back to the vet office so I wouldn't have to sit out front with all the people. They put her into a little box. I took her to my father's house and Wydell picked her up to have her cremated for me. I couldn't bear to put her into the cold ground. This way I'll get to keep her ashes with me. And I picked up the little tufts of hair from where they shaved her tummy to check for fluid.

Clarise, her sister, has been so sweet and affectionate. Like she knows that our girl is gone. I love all my pets, but Ginger was my true love. My little companion that was always by my side. I keep trying to tell myself that she is with my mother and Samantha now and they will all take care of each other. No more stomach problems. She can eat and drink whatever she wants. No more nasty medications that she hated so much. I know at some point these thoughts will make me feel better. But right now I'm waiting to see her beautiful little face come around the corner to see me.

Thank you to Dr. Page at Galveston Veterinary Clinic for dropping everything yesterday to take care of Ginger so she wouldn't have to be uncomfortable for another day. And thank you to the other ladies who tried to comfort me.