When it began, it was obvious it was more serious than a cold or flu. During the night, coughing spasms racked my body, leaving me gasping for air. I felt as though someone was sitting on my chest.
A week later, the doctor diagnosed pneumonia but did not want to hospitalize me. He asked if I had anyone to look in on me. My only daughter lived up north and couldn't take time off from her new job, and my sister, two states away, likewise, could not come.
There were my two very loyal intelligent cats, though. He just nodded as he wrote my prescriptions.
My would-be angels of mercy were Sydney, an aloof female Lynx Point Siamese, a beautiful cat adopted years before from the Humane Society; and a rough-and-ready black tomcat named Spohnky who had a broken tail and torn ears, the result of a fight or two on the streets before I rescued him.
They were my immediate family and we all lived happily together in my small apartment. Nothing eventful ever happened until this.
I was not ready for the havoc pneumonia plays with the body. For weeks, I remained in bed all day after getting up in the morning only to go to the bathroom and fix a simple breakfast. As quickly as possible, I'd find my way back to bed where I intermittently coughed and slept for hours on end.
In such a weakened condition, I was able to shower only once every three or four days. Washing my hair was too great an undertaking to even contemplate. I was miserable because I felt dirty and greasy, but the cats didn't seem to mind.
I would wake up at the end of the day when the light was fading to realize that my two faithful fur buddies were there on either side of me, like bookends, still watching over me.
They never complained if I was late with their food, but just lay beside me, watching. If I got up, they got up. When I got back into bed, they got back into bed.
Spohnky was used to falling asleep each night on my chest. Obviously, with my breathing problems, that wouldn't do. He must have understood because he didn't once try to climb up. Instead, he just ducked under the covers, where he would stay epoxied to my side.
Likewise, Sydney, who was used to sleeping on my legs, knew instinctively that she shouldn't because I was so ill. Like Spohnky, she refrained but kept as close by me as possible.
I visited the doctor each week. It was December, and the weather was cold and windy. Upon arriving home, I always found my two nurses sitting side by side, having waited anxiously for their patient to return. I patted them to reassure them that everything was okay, then fed and watered them, thanking them for their excellent care.
Weeks went by with tea and toast for breakfast, soup for lunch, and mostly nothing for dinner. My two loyal guards remained with me, day and night, not even begging for treats. Truly amazing!
Finally, days came where I could get up, make it into the shower and then back to bed to read before sleeping for a few hours. Gradually, my strength began to return in small increments, and each little sign was a blessing.
By the end of February, I had returned to working part-time, and over the next several weeks, most of my strength had returned.
I attribute my recovery to the best nursing team I could have had. They left my side only when absolutely necessary and made it quick so they could return to duty. They never got impatient or snapped at me and were totally efficient in performing their self-imposed duties. They never looked bored or glanced at their watches to see how much longer their shift lasted. Thank God I hadn't gone to the hospital! The doctor even agreed.
When I think back on that time when I was so ill, I wonder what I would have done without my two loyal caregivers.
There are people who believe animals are dumb and have no understanding of the world around them. They also believe they have no souls and are on this earth for us to do with as we will. I believe just the opposite. Animals do understand - they understand kindness, they understand when you administer aid, and they certainly understand love. They also sense when another is in need, as I was during my illness.
If I could somehow bottle the awesome power of love my two feline guardians exhibited for weeks on end in keeping me safe and protected, completely content with their purpose of the moment, I believe I could be rich today.
I will always be grateful to my wonderful companions for watching over me and taking their job so seriously. They can never know how much it meant to me.