Believe

Lucky (Our Beautiful Cat)

This story remains one of the most remarkable stories I can share.

It has taken me so long to post it, only because of the sheer emotion around it.
As I speak, I am filled up with tears even before I can get the words out.

For many years now, I have held deep respect and faith in Saint Therese of Liseaux, France,
known to many around the world as “The Little Flower”. She has thought me about humility
and continued to present roses to me whenever I prayed to her. However, nothing compares to the
days of December 16th and 17th, 2012. My poor cat, Lucky (see above) was dying of kidney failure.
We were praying to Saint Therese to ease her suffering and tried our best to stay awake.

The vet had not said Lucky was dying. She was sent home with fluids but I had such a sinking feeling.Her eyes were glazed over and she had stopped eating and drinking. Even as I tried to force fish or chicken into her mouth her teeth remained tightly clenched shut. The time was nearing, I could feel it. I fell asleep late and during the night a woman came to me in my dreams. She was dressed all in black with an expressionless face. She was not smiling or crying, just expressionless. It gave me such an awful feeling I woke up. I didn’t know who she was but now she was standing near my husband’s side of the bed. When I took my focus off the lady I heard Lucky’s labored breathing. I shook my husband awake as Lucky continued to struggle to breath. It was such a bad feeling, it reminded me of being in Ireland and hearing someone die like this, some might call it “the death rattle”. With each breath the gap in between became longer and longer, two had passed and I knew we were on the last one. I came to my senses and gently lifted Lucky off our bed and into my arms. The last breath was such a long delay, I cannot explain the pain we felt. The next breath never came and I rocked back and forth weeping bitterly with Lucky in my arms.

Three days later on December 20th, we flew to Ireland for Christmas and I poured my heart out to my mother. She comforted me but didn’t seem to know who the lady was. It was only on Christmas Eve when I asked my mother for some gift tags that my eyes gazed upon her. My mother had a Christmas Present Gift Tag with this ladies face on it. I gasped and asked mam “who is this lady? that’s her.. that’s her”. She said “Yvonne! why that’s Saint Therese, have you not seen a real picture of her before?” I said “what, no, I only have my prayer picture with the cross and roses”. With that, I fell apart, Saint Therese had come to me, to tell me to wake up, Lucky was passing. To this day, I thank Saint Therese for giving us that moment to say goodbye.

Lucky, you were an amazing cat, found at the front door of a church with a broken leg,
and a big heart, only 12 weeks old. You loved your neighborhood and everyone knew you.
You shocked us all and died before Guinness. The week prior Guinness was so poor we
thought he was going only to rally like he knew you were going instead. Guinness waited
five additional months until we were then ready. Lucky, I will never forget your purr and your
spot on my bed is still there, you can come and join us anytime. We miss you and love you always!

St. Therese of Lisieux Prayer Booklet Painting

St. Therese of Lisieux Real Life Photograph

Sign from St. Therese