The day we brought ollie home we were planning to share many years with him.  My son was two and very excited to meet him.  "ahee"  he always called him. It was his best attepmt at saying "Ollie". He was the tiniest orange ball of fur we had ever seen.  The first free kitten add of the new year. From the beginning  he seemed to have a bad/weak leg.  An occasional jump from the couch would throw him off balance for a few minutes.  One day, when Ollie was only 5 months old, he hurt his leg very badly from playing and jumping around on the stairs.  It was a Saturday night and the leg was quite obviously broken.  His right hind leg at the joint that i suppose would have been his knee. We called the vet and were told to wait until monday to bring him in to be looked at.  We financially expected an exray and a cast of sorts would fix the problem, and we were sadly not expecting any worse.  Upon exray it was clear that the leg was in very bad shape.  Little Ollie needed a surgery and a number of pins to hold his leg together.  A surgery costing nearly $1000.  Clearly more then we could ever afford,  with two children to think about first.   The next option was amputation  costing nearly $500.  Oliver was the nicest kitten i've ever had and my children adored him.  After a lot of grief we had to put him down.  Financially we were in no position to be able to help him.  I feel guilt every day since then for not being able to take care of him.  He was just a baby and he was loved so much.  I wish we had had more time to spend with him.  He was a wonderful friend.  I loved his determination and fiestiness.  If we ever so much as lifted a toe , he would attack and never give up.  If we tried to swat him away he'd only turn and attack the hand trying to swat.  I loved him for that.  



          OLIVER,        I am so sorry little man.  We should have been able to take care of you.  we love you so much and miss you everyday.  Little Ryan still loves his "Ahee".  I am sorry your live was cut so short.  You didn't deserve this, and it will be a long time before i can forgive myself, if ever.  May peace be with you.  I know god has a special place in his garden for you.  Your family loves and misses you so much, but we will see you again someday.