Ruby’s Reflections: See Me, Not My Disease

Hi everyone, it’s Ruby! I want to thank all of you for all the lovely wishes, healing thoughts and prayers that you have been sending since Mom told you that I have kidney disease. It makes me feel very special to know that so many people care about me.

Allegra: You’re special alright, little one.

Ruby: Oh hush, Allegra. I know you’re worried about me, too. I can tell by the way you look at me sometimes. Anyway. Many of you have asked how I’m doing, and I want you to know that I’m doing pretty well all things considered. And I’m going to tell you the same thing I tell Mom every day: don’t start treating me differently because I’m sick. I’m still me. I’m not my disease.

Mom is taking really good care of me. She understands that eating a whole meal doesn’t feel good to my tummy, so instead, she offers me food throughout the day, and that works great. It’s kind of like getting room service, because she brings it to me wherever  I may be in the house rather than making me come to my designated dining spot. She has a real knack for knowing just when I might be hungry again. I don’t even have to tell her. Of course, this would be much easier if she could just leave the food sitting out, but Allegra would totally take advantage of that.

Allegra: You would do the same thing if things were reversed!

Ruby: Of course I would! Anyway. I drink a lot of water, so Mom has put out extra water bowls and a fountain to make it easy for me to drink when I feel like it. And apparently “staying hydrated” (whatever that means!) is important, so every other day, my Auntie Renée comes and sticks a needle in me and water runs into me from a big bag. I don’t much like that, but it does make me feel better, and Mom tells me I’m being a very brave girl for allowing her and Auntie Renée to do that. Mom gently holds me and gives me lots of kisses while I’m being watered, so I guess it’s not all that bad after all.

I have this purple pad that I love to nap on, and lately, it’s doing something that feels really really nice. I have no idea what it is, but three or four times a day, I feel this really lovely energy coming from it. (A note from Ingrid: I placed the Assisi Therapy Pad underneath Ruby’s Jackson Galaxy Clamshell, which makes giving her her treatments super easy: I simply turn the pad on once she’s settled or napping, and it automatically turns itself off after 15 minutes.)

And of course, Mom gives me Reiki every day. That’s my favorite thing of all the treatments I’m getting, because I get to sit in Mom’s lap, or lie down next to her, and it feels so good when she puts her Reiki hands on me.

There are times when I don’t feel so good, and I just want to be by myself. I know that worries Mom, but I remind her that when she’s not feeling well, she wants to be left alone, too! But mostly, I’m still the same old Ruby. I still like to play a little. I still snuggle with Mom when I feel good. I still aggravate Allegra when I feel like it.

Allegra: I can confirm  this! Same old brat!

Ruby: Oh Allegra,  you know you love me! Most of all, I don’t worry about what tomorrow brings – something Mom does way too much of. Sometimes, I see her looking at me, and she gets really sad. If I’m near her when that happens, I do something to remind her that there’s no reason to be sad yet. I nudge her with my head, or I start purring, or I climb up on her lap. I’m still here, Mom. Right now, in this moment, there’s no reason to be sad. I’m still me.

I love my Mom so much, and I hate when she gets sad. I don’t want to think about what comes next. If I had my way, I’d spend eternity with Mom. And yes, with you, too, Allegra. But I’m also wise enough to know that neither I nor Mom have any control over what comes next.

So I ask all of you to not think of my as a kitty with kidney disease, but rather, to just think of me as me! Me, Ruby, Mom’s daughter, Allegra’s bratty sister, tuna lover extraordinaire!

Allegra: That was some heavy stuff there, Ruby. I didn’t know you had it in you.

Ruby: Blows raspberry at Allegra.

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