Friends, I am sorry, but I've got some horribly sad news to share with you. Tiny little Bernadette quietly passed away around nine o'clock last night. We knew she was frail, and developmentally she was so far behind her siblings, but still, we were hopeful and her passing was unexpected.
She was a special little girl, and I know many of you fell for her the moment you first saw her. Thank you for loving her so much.
We're all very sad, of course. We miss her dearly, but are so grateful for the time we had with the precious one.
Even though she only she weighed only five ounces, she sure left a deep impression.
Goodbye brave little bear.
Oh dear, how sad. I can't imagine what that must feel like for you. Safe passage little one.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, though not terribly surprised. It's always very sad when a little one dies, but I'm so glad she had so much love in her short life. Kudos to you for all you did for her.
ReplyDeleteI cried when I read this. What a beautiful special little girl. We are all better for having known her.
ReplyDeleteit is so unfair.... my heart is broken.. i'm sure yours, as the foster family, is more so. thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBye bye precious baby bear. You were a sweet treat for my eyes and a testament to everything the IBKC is about... Enjoy the land of milk and honey, little love.
ReplyDelete:*(
Sorry for your loss, IBKC folk. She was a dear little angel.
ReplyDeleteThat makes me so sad:(
ReplyDeleteShe was such a sweet little thing...
-Sarah and Ramona
So upsetting. I fell in love with her from her bath time photos. Thank you for all your love and care. She was blessed to know love in her short life.
ReplyDeletegood grief, i am being so hormonal! i couldn't stop going over all the previous entries about this lovely furbaby. and of course, that just made me ball my eyes out! good thing hubby is not here. but i think a number of you can relate (i hope so, or i'm going literally insane). bernadette's passing is to me, a reflection of other losses - real or imagined - and a reminder to love, love, love and give, give, give, just as you guys have time and again with every new batch of kitties.
ReplyDeleteOh, no. {{Bernadette}}
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that Bernadette had a little time with the IBKC before she left this world.
ReplyDeleteThank you for creating such a loving, lasting tribute to the little bear with all of the beautiful pictures you took of her.
Words cannot express how sad I am. She will be dearly missed. She touched many in her short life. Thank you for allowing us to meet her.
ReplyDelete~Rachel
I am sorry to hear that. I so loved her big ears and the stories of her bravery. Thank you for giving her a loving safe place to be.
ReplyDeletePoor Bernadette, she was such a good girl.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteShe was my favorite of this new batch if IBK's and I will miss her. I know she is in a better place.
Such a shame!
ReplyDeleteShe was a dear little thing, and I actually showed your photos of her to my parents, I was so taken with her.
I'm sure you did all you could for her, and she was happy while she was with you!
Oh, no. I'm crying right now. I fell in love with teeny tiny Bernadette even before I knew her name. Lordy, but I'm going to miss her!
ReplyDeleteShe was in the best hands possible and got lots of love in her short life, more than some kitties get over many years. I'm glad I got to meet her and spend some time with the sweet little kitty that will be missed by so many.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brave, dear itty bitty kitty. My heart goes out to you. You do wonderful work caring for the itty-bitties. Dear, dear little Bernadette. How she blessed us while she was here.
ReplyDeleteBernadette touched so many in her short time with us. My wife and I and our three IBKs of our own want you to know our thoughts are with you right now.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. My lucky little lion Blondie/Little One, is a rescue that was the runt of her litter, and my little panther Rosie at 5 lbs (all grown up) must have been the runt of her litter. Both survived to grow up to be sweet little beauties. I'm sure your baby would have turned out the same.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that my great big Maine coon cat Allison who recently passed on must be looking after her now (she really had a soft spot for runts).
Oh, Laurie! I haven't cried like this since before my mother died five years ago and I've lost, not only my mom but also five beloved, mostly old, pets. I've been so sad about all of that, and so worn out that I thought I'd never cry like this again. shbarthelemy said it so well, this is a reflection of other losses. Precious little Bernadette. Thank you for your tiny beautiful life.
ReplyDelete*tears*
ReplyDelete: (
Some fur-babies are just too good for this world. I am so glad for what you did for her in her short time on this earth.
ReplyDeleteThe weensie one could not have been in better hands - literally and figuratively. She had so much love in her tiny little life. She's out there romping and playing and shouting to the angels about the wonderful humans she had. She's a happy girl.
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry and I feel so sad because I really enjoyed reading bath time with Bernadette !
ReplyDeleteAnnebryant said it "She was in the best hands possible and got lots of love in her short life, more than some kitties get over many years"
ReplyDeleteThough Bernadette's passing breaks my heart, it is somewhat tempered by thinking about all the love you showered on her Laurie.
My thoughts are with you.
Oh, how sad... It's so good she was so well loved, though.
ReplyDeleteLaurie, I am so sad to read of sweet Bernadette's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteAs you told me, when I shared with you about our little foster babe, Neville passing, she was lucky to have found you. I know you surrounded her with safety and love and warmth and care!
I really thought she was going to make it. I have tears in my eyes. I'm glad she was able to know so much love in her short time on earth.
ReplyDeleteOh, no. :*( I was worried she wouldn't make it, but since she sounded to be growing quickly, I hoped...
ReplyDeleteI think we all take comfort in the fact that you gave her a warm, happy home full of love. :}
Goodbye, dear little one.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we just don't get to love them long enough.
Laurie and Craig, I hope that you (and the other cats and kittens) don't miss her too much. If it was a short life, it was one filled with love and good things. You gave that to her.
Ann F.
thank you everyone for all the kind words.
ReplyDeletejust to clarify,, i'm not the only one raising these babies. there's craig and kim too. we're all feeling the loss.
RIP sweet little girl, you were much loved while you were here.
ReplyDeleteI just read this post and cried and cried and cried. Your work you and your friends do with these precious little creatures is absolutely incredible, it really is, and I know that she spent her last days as comfortable and happy as any kitty could.
ReplyDeleteWe are so sad to hear about Bernadette's passing. We fell in love with her the minute we saw pictures of her. She was very lucky to have someone as caring as you love and care for her. She will be missed.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry. She won a place in my heart. Big Internet hugs.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for y'all loss. May she now know the loving hands of God. Prayers to you.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI sent the link to her bath pictures to everyone I knew, she was so cute and so little.
I'm glad she was safe and warm during her last few days.
Oh gosh, how sad. Poor little bubby. ... I don't know what to wrie next it all sounds stupid. Rest in peace little bub, thanks for sharing your spirit with us, you made a lot of people happy. Rest easy now honey.
ReplyDeleteJenny
Oh, no. I'm so sorry to hear that. Thank you for taking care of her while you had her. She was such a sweet thing.
ReplyDeleteVery sad for you three and the rest of the kittens in that bunch! I've loved reading about her and now I know that we will find joy in reading about all the rest of the babes. Thanks for sharing your sad news.
ReplyDeleteI just came back to say - thank you to ALL OF YOU who take care of these babies - such kind warm people.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you are sad right now. The world is a hard place sometimes but your photos and the love you show and share with us really take the edge of.
Thank you.
Jenny
The poor little girl :(. She was loved in the short time she was a part of our lives. She is surely in a better place and spared of any pain being born so little can bring.
ReplyDeleteDear Laurie and Craig and Kim:
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking such good care of Bernadette. It's so hard to lose our little friends, regardless of their age.
I am so sorry for your loss, and so appreciate your sharing it with us.
Kind regards,
Diane
Thank you all for loving her. Oh goodness, I can't stop the tears now.
ReplyDelete*hugs*
I just can´t stop crying...
ReplyDeleteOh, little Bernadette, I know you guys will miss her so much. All I have to do is think of her content face while she was being blowdried to know that she had a big, happy life with her people, her siblings and Charlene.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest sympathies to you and the Mayfields. We had so short a time to know Bernadette but I miss her already :'(
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear this, Laurie & the IBKC. At the least - she crossed the rainbow bridge in the arms of a loving human.
ReplyDeleteJenni & 5 cats
Goodbye little kitty. *sends love and snuggles*
ReplyDeleteI am saddened for your loss, but so grateful she (and her siblings) were lucky enough to come stay with you and the IBKC.
I am so very sorry to hear this, and I know just how difficult it is for you. It's always hard to lose them at any age, but it seems especially difficult when they are so very very young.
ReplyDeleteYou gave her comfort, warmth and love in her last days - - we should all be so lucky.
Rest in peace, little one. And thank you, Laurie and everyone at IBKC for everything you've done for the ones who came before her, for what you continue to do for her siblings,and for what you'll do in the future.
You're in my thoughts.
So sad and unexpected, though she was frail, she seemed so full of life. But that the way life goes... Hopefully her sibblings will do well, and Charlene is so proud to have them.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Poor little bear :(
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I got tiny glimpse into her short but happy life. Thanks for being there for her!
I only knew her from a piccie and am in tears.
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine how you feel.
xo
I'm so sorry that she had to go over the rainbow bridge. Will be keeping you guys and the rest of the itty-bitties in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAnne
I'm so very sorry for your loss *hugs* I'm sure that the kindness and affection you showed to Bernadette was very appreciated. Thank you for all that you do to help these kittens.
ReplyDeletePoor little tiny baby Bernadette. She will be missed!
ReplyDeletedammit! poor little Bernadette! She was my very favourite Mayfield, already! Many hugs to everyone.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye, little Bernadette.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were warm and fed and well-loved while you lived.
this breaks my heart...
ReplyDeleteI am so sad for you, Laurie & Craig & Kim.
It is even more amazing to see how one tiny brave little kitten has so deeply touched the hearts of so many people & that, only through some pics and words. I think it's a testament to the power of love and tenderness that is much more real than so many other things we see and hear about.
Thanks to the three of you for your compassion & love for the IBKs - Bernadette's life was made sweet and safe by your love and yours, mine and all of the IBK fans, was so enriched by hers.
Blessings to everyone.
Her little life was full of love, kindness and a blow-dryer on her belly.
ReplyDeleteLindy
oh god, that's so sad. i hope you and the kitties are holding up. she was, indeed, a special little girl. I really feel like she's become the guardian of the other Mayfields. If you see little Auggie or Pork Chop running around like someone is chasing them, it's probably a good bet that it's itty bitty Bernie. Godspeed, little one.
ReplyDeletesleep peacefully little one.
ReplyDeletebe well, strong and free.
Of course this happens - I agree with shbarthelemy and Anne Boleyn; I can draw a little comfort by the thought that she is with other kitties and strong and happy now. But yes, my tears are falling too - at least she went borne off on adoration of all of us all over the world.
ReplyDeleteso very sorry!
ReplyDeletehugs to ibkc and all teh kittys
Poor Poor Bernadette. She was my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry for your loss - I know how attached you must have become even it such a short time! :(
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so sorry. She was a dear little girl, wasn't she? The photos of her getting her bath will never not be hilarious!
ReplyDeleteWhen we had to put our kitty down a few years back, the vet told us he was convinced that the one thing animals sense more readily than anything else is how much love they're getting, especially near the end.
Bernadette was full up when she went, no doubt about it. I'm sure she was sad to leave such a wonderful place. <3
Oh no. :o( All I could think was how happy she looked after her first bath. She was loved in the time she had.
ReplyDeleteHow incredibly sad....
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving her so much love in the little bit of time she had.
That is sad, to have to go to rainbow bridge so early in her life.
ReplyDeleteGod so loved this baby, that he called her back home to keep him company. I'm so sorry!
ReplyDelete<3 <3 Lots of love and sympathy to you, Craig, Kim, Charlene, and the itty bittys... Bernadette really was a lucky bitty to have such a loved life and, as shown by all of the comments, was very adored. Thank you for all you do to make such wonderful lives for these itty bitty kitties, so that when they do not make it, they did know love. >^_^<
ReplyDeleteat least she had some one who loved her for the bit of time she had, i was not crying before i started to type and now it makes me so sad, but she passed happy and safe and you gave her the best chance she could have had... bye sweet baby bear!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read of the passing of this sweet little girl. Thank you for doing what you do. You are a hero.
ReplyDeleteOh poor little thing. You gave her a good life while you had her, though, and that's the most important thing. I'm so sorry.
ReplyDeleteI so admire your open hearts and home, and the work you do with these precious little babies. thank you for sharing with us. may there be peace in your home after this sad passing.
ReplyDelete::hugs you and the kitties::
ReplyDeleteMy condolences.
Bernadette was a sweet little girl. :(
awwwww - I am so sad by the news. Thank you for sharing her with us and as we are all in tears over reading we can only imagine how you must feel after holding and hugging and kissing her.
ReplyDeleteThank you for what you do for these kitties.
Lori and Alice and Dude
Poor little sister. Bernadette will surely live on in our memories as one of the tiniest IBKC members. Thank you for sharing so much of the IBKC with us, even the sad bits.
ReplyDeleteMelissa's cat, Absinthe, died the same day. I hope they're romping around in kitty heaven together. And Zoe, too. My thoughts are with you all. . .
ReplyDeleteWe are so sorry adout Bernadette. Sending you purrs and hugs.
ReplyDeleteI've been lurking here for a while now, but I wanted to come out of hiding to say goodbye to Bernadette. I'm sad that we won't be able to see her grow up. She was definitely a special little girl.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing an amazing thing. I know if I fostered kittens, my three-cat household would not remain that way for long!
I'll miss seeing her grow up and frolic, but I know she was happy with you in your short time together.
ReplyDeleteGo w/the angels little girl. We'll see you on the other side. When we meet, we'll snorgle.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you IBKC humans. My heart is with you.
*tears*
ReplyDelete*commisserations*
...*hugs*
Such a tiny kitty, yet she captured so many hearts in just a few days! I fell in love with her from the first...and I will always remember the bliss she showed in her after-bath picture.
ReplyDeleteShe would have been a great cat!
Thank you for filling her life with love, and for the tremendous work you do to help IBKs and share the experiences with us through your words and pictures. You've inspired many to open their homes and lives.
Thank God she was with you in the time she was here.
ReplyDeleteHow sad. You gave her the best days of her very short life.
ReplyDeleteDear, sweet little Bernadette...I am so saddened to by this news. I am in tears, and at a loss for words. I am heartened by the fact that she knew what it was to be loved and enjoy the warmth of a home.
ReplyDelete*hugs*
ReplyDeleteI'm so very sorry that dear little Bernadette didn't make it. Farewell, delightful little bear xx
ReplyDeleteI am so saddened by your loss. I'm new to IBKC and have enjoyed many hours reading about your babies. Seeing this new batch of kitties was so exciting and now to hear that sweet Bernadette has crossed the Rainbow Bridge is heart wrenching. Love and prayers to you and all the kitties during this sad time.
ReplyDeleteRainbow Bridge - Author Unknown
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Bernadette had such a wonderful life - tho way too short.
ReplyDeleteSo much personality in such a tiny body!
Hugs to all the humans who helped make her time so warm and loved adn little ear-skritches to her litter mates.
-- KatboxJanitor (with the spaced password today!)
I am very sad but I am grateful that you loved her the best. She had the greatest healing anyone could ever hope for: she found people who loved her. That is the brilliance of animals. She is now a bright star.
ReplyDeleteI was so sad to read about Bernadettes's passing. She was so sweet and I could tell from your photos and words what a special itty bitty kitty she was.
ReplyDeleteShe was so blessed to have had you to care for her. The rainbow bridge is blessed to have her in there as well. She was so little and made such a big impression. so very sad...
ReplyDeletemany blessings to the surviving itty bitties. May they live strong and happy in her memory.
I'm so sorry this happened, it's so unfair that a little life was cut so short. I'm sure you'll meet her again on the Rainbow Bridge.
ReplyDeleteI really hope the other IBK are safe and warm and cozy.
ReplyDeleteOh, we're so sorry. Each kitty is special and losing one is hard.
ReplyDeleteHugs, JFF
Bye bye, Little Sweetie.
ReplyDelete