Sick little kitty

My little tabby cat, Asha, is very sick and in the hospital. She's been battling chronic renal failure (CRF) since her diagnosis in early April '08, but has been doing exceptionally well with sub-q fluid treatments, herbal supplements, and steroids. The last few days I noticed her behaviors were different as were her eating habits and the big clue was the ammonia smell to her breath, which is a tell-tale sign that her creatinine levels are elevated. I took her to the vet today and as I suspected her kidney levels (BUN and creatinine) were off the charts, so the vet recommended admitting her to the hospital for IV fluids to flush her system. The vet informed me that if her kidney levels improve even slightly that is a sign that we'll get them back to a manageable level, but if they don't improve this means that she's in end-stage renal failure. I can't bare to think about the latter.
Asha is particularly fond of me. I like to think it's because I rescued her from homelessness. Asha wandered into my life in '99 when I was going to grad school at UGA. One night while I was taking the trash out I saw a tiny tabby cat hanging around the garbage can and being the cat lover I am I called her over. She immediately came to me and rubbed up against my legs while purring louder than you'd expect such a little cat to be able to do. It was instant love and at that moment she became my little princess and ten years later Asha still has ahold of my heart.

I am one of those people who consider my pets to be members of our family. Both of my cats give us unconditional love and we give them love in return. I don't want this to sound strange or to give you the impression that I think my cats can replace a child because I don't, but they do give us a live, being to care for and nurture. After Myles's died Asha was there to console me. She would sit on my lap constantly during the long days and nights that followed. Whenenver I needed someone she was there purring like a little motor. Every night she sits with me on the couch as I read, comment, and blog. So, as I sit here tonight typing this I can't help but notice how sad and lonely it is not having my little Asha here on my lap purring and rubbing her cute little face on my hand begging me to pet her.