This is not the sort of update that I ever hope to have to make.
Over the past few years, many of you have come to know and love Evelyn, my kitty who loved to make her presence known in my videos. She has been part of my life for three and a half years, and moved with me halfway across the country when I first came to Wisconsin. From the moment I met her, she wanted to be the center of attention, and her friendly and vocal nature quickly won her the spotlight in any room she walked into. She had a particular fondness for interrupting my videos and streams to announce her arrival.
Early on the morning of January 2nd, Evelyn began showing signs of distress, and had to be rushed to an emergency vet. There, an x ray revealed the presence of a significant and previously unknown abnormality on her lungs which had progressed to a critical point. This diagnosis came completely without warning, as it had never caused prior complications or become evident in routine checkups or bloodwork, however due to the placement and nature of the abnormality, there was little that could be done to treat it. Evelyn passed away at around 6am on January 2nd. I was with her until the end.
As many of you know, Evelyn invited herself into my life in the summer of 2021, when she turned up in my backyard and refused to leave. Her arrival came less than two months after my last childhood cat Shadow had passed away, and she quickly became a light in one of the darkest seasons of my life. When our attempts at locating an owner made it clear that she was a stray, I adopted her, and she became my constant companion through the years in which I first ventured out on my own. She accompanied me through three separate moves-- one of which took us across multiple states, and the most recent of which occurred just a few months ago toward the end of 2024, into a place I hope I'll be able to stay long term. Her loud voice and communicative nature filled all of my homes with so much life.
In the past I have been open about my struggles with mental health and depression. At the advice of my therapist, Evelyn became my emotional support animal, and she has been a source of stability and comfort through these past years of change. Although she was never thrilled with car rides (especially ones that entailed a cross country road trip), she was always quick to make herself at home when we reached our destination, and that helped me feel at home too. She wasn't shy about communicating her needs, and her confidence and clarity in using her voice helped me grow in confidence in using my own. She was always content with the simple life we shared, and while she loved a good meal or a good round of pouncing on a stick under a rug, her favorite way to pass the day was to curl up somewhere near me to nap while I worked.
Over the past few days I have been absolutely overwhelmed with support from family and friends. Although saying goodbye this suddenly was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, I have been so loved by those around me as I've struggled through it. I am being mindful of my mental health and will be taking a break from my typical routine for as long as I need to, and I appreciate your patience and understanding through this time. I'm not sure exactly what this will look like for the channel-- I intend to put videos on a pause until I have had the chance to catch my breath, but if I feel the need to return to that normalcy I may come back to them sooner. I'm taking it one day at a time and will weigh where I'm at in the moment.
As Evelyn was an emotional support animal, I will most likely be looking to welcome a new member to the pack sooner rather than later. No animal could ever replace her, nor would I want them to, but I recognize that I do much better when I have a companion, and Evelyn herself was instrumental in my healing as I grieved the loss of Shadow. I'm taking time to weigh my options and seek a companion who will be a good fit for me and my lifestyle, but don't be surprised if my return is accompanied by the introduction of a new four legged friend. I will always carry Evelyn with me in my heart, but I need a new voice to break the silence her absence leaves behind.
Evelyn was truly one of the most incredible animals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Though our time together was all too brief, the moments we had are some of the ones I hold most precious to me. She helped me find my courage, and now every time I call upon it I will think of her. I know the pain I feel now at her absence will pale looking back upon the joy we shared as the days go by, and I thank God every day for bringing her into my life at a time when I needed her most. She was my miracle.
May you run free in a land without pain or disease, my sweet baby girl.
JayPlays
Hey Pack,
This is not the sort of update that I ever hope to have to make.
Over the past few years, many of you have come to know and love Evelyn, my kitty who loved to make her presence known in my videos. She has been part of my life for three and a half years, and moved with me halfway across the country when I first came to Wisconsin. From the moment I met her, she wanted to be the center of attention, and her friendly and vocal nature quickly won her the spotlight in any room she walked into. She had a particular fondness for interrupting my videos and streams to announce her arrival.
Early on the morning of January 2nd, Evelyn began showing signs of distress, and had to be rushed to an emergency vet. There, an x ray revealed the presence of a significant and previously unknown abnormality on her lungs which had progressed to a critical point. This diagnosis came completely without warning, as it had never caused prior complications or become evident in routine checkups or bloodwork, however due to the placement and nature of the abnormality, there was little that could be done to treat it. Evelyn passed away at around 6am on January 2nd. I was with her until the end.
As many of you know, Evelyn invited herself into my life in the summer of 2021, when she turned up in my backyard and refused to leave. Her arrival came less than two months after my last childhood cat Shadow had passed away, and she quickly became a light in one of the darkest seasons of my life. When our attempts at locating an owner made it clear that she was a stray, I adopted her, and she became my constant companion through the years in which I first ventured out on my own. She accompanied me through three separate moves-- one of which took us across multiple states, and the most recent of which occurred just a few months ago toward the end of 2024, into a place I hope I'll be able to stay long term. Her loud voice and communicative nature filled all of my homes with so much life.
In the past I have been open about my struggles with mental health and depression. At the advice of my therapist, Evelyn became my emotional support animal, and she has been a source of stability and comfort through these past years of change. Although she was never thrilled with car rides (especially ones that entailed a cross country road trip), she was always quick to make herself at home when we reached our destination, and that helped me feel at home too. She wasn't shy about communicating her needs, and her confidence and clarity in using her voice helped me grow in confidence in using my own. She was always content with the simple life we shared, and while she loved a good meal or a good round of pouncing on a stick under a rug, her favorite way to pass the day was to curl up somewhere near me to nap while I worked.
Over the past few days I have been absolutely overwhelmed with support from family and friends. Although saying goodbye this suddenly was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, I have been so loved by those around me as I've struggled through it. I am being mindful of my mental health and will be taking a break from my typical routine for as long as I need to, and I appreciate your patience and understanding through this time. I'm not sure exactly what this will look like for the channel-- I intend to put videos on a pause until I have had the chance to catch my breath, but if I feel the need to return to that normalcy I may come back to them sooner. I'm taking it one day at a time and will weigh where I'm at in the moment.
As Evelyn was an emotional support animal, I will most likely be looking to welcome a new member to the pack sooner rather than later. No animal could ever replace her, nor would I want them to, but I recognize that I do much better when I have a companion, and Evelyn herself was instrumental in my healing as I grieved the loss of Shadow. I'm taking time to weigh my options and seek a companion who will be a good fit for me and my lifestyle, but don't be surprised if my return is accompanied by the introduction of a new four legged friend. I will always carry Evelyn with me in my heart, but I need a new voice to break the silence her absence leaves behind.
Evelyn was truly one of the most incredible animals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Though our time together was all too brief, the moments we had are some of the ones I hold most precious to me. She helped me find my courage, and now every time I call upon it I will think of her. I know the pain I feel now at her absence will pale looking back upon the joy we shared as the days go by, and I thank God every day for bringing her into my life at a time when I needed her most. She was my miracle.
May you run free in a land without pain or disease, my sweet baby girl.
8 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 997