I met Selena several years prior to actually adopting her.  She, along with her siblings, was rescued from Little Rock Animal Services in the spring of 2003.  They were not in good health and a couple of her siblings did not survive.  One of her siblings was adopted but Selena, along with her brother Jack remained in foster care.   My husband and I fostered Jack and quickly fell in love with him.  We knew we could not part from him.  In 2007, Jack disappeared from our yard one early morning, never to be seen again.  We were devastated.  I had remained in constant contact with Selena’s foster mom and visited her home frequently to visit Selena and her fellow fosters.  After careful thought and consideration, my husband and I decided that we would adopt Selena.  A second chance for us and an opportunity for Selena to have a home to call her very own.  So in March 2008, we brought Selena home to live with us. 

Adopting Selena healed our hearts in so many ways.  She had all of Jack's sweet little personality traits, looked just like him, and unfortunately shared his chronic sinusitis problem.  Selena was a dainty girl, who enjoyed her naps, her chicken flavored Fancy Feast, basking in the sunlight, and momma's fluffy pink robe.  She had these beautiful brown highlights in her fur and a gap in her teeth that resulted in her tongue always sticking out.  I always told her how intellectual she looked with her tongue hanging out.  She of course agreed.  Despite her chronic sinusitis, Selena was such a spirited cat, never letting a little snorkiness get in the way of her daily activities.  She had known no other life.   

The holidays were extra special for Selena.  She enjoyed grandma’s turkey at Thanksgiving and got her own specially monogrammed stocking full of goodies at Christmas time.  Life could not be more perfect for us and for Selena. 

The last few weeks of her life seemed like a blur. Things declined so quickly and irreversibly.   It seems unthinkable and so unfair to have lost her only a little over a year of welcoming her into our family.  Of course, forever would have seemed all too soon.  Selena was a survivor.  Despite all her medical issues throughout her life, she never missed a beat and never stopped being that loving, sweet, adorable little girl. Our hearts are broken and life seems so hard right now without her.  I know she is still with us in spirit, and I know one day we will be reunited again. Until that day comes, our beautiful memories together will remain etched in my mind, and the warmth of her love will forever endure in my heart. Thank you Selena, for sharing your life with us. You will never be forgotten.

I would like to thank Dr Cole Bierbaum for his tireless efforts in trying to save Selena’s life and being so supportive right until the very end.  You went above and beyond on so many levels.  I can never thank you enough.