Owner's Name
Caryl Blank

Please include a short paragraph that tells voters something fun or interesting about the cat(s) and other animals in the photo. Which cat is diabetic? Is one or more a DCIN rescue? How long have the animals been a part of your family? Give some interesting information about the animal(s) in the photo that will encourage others to vote for your photo.
I adopted Alex and his litter mate Jackson when they were nearly 6 months old on Oct. 4, 1997. Alex picked me out, the way it usually happens...one way or another. When I had my boys, I had it "perfect". There was not a mean bone in either of their bodies. In Sept. of 2009, Alex was diagnosed with diabetes. The year before he had been diagnosed with hyper-T. The fact that he already had hyperthyroidism made it hard to recognize the signs of diabetes, along with other factors. From that point on Alex's health went downhill, but never his spirt. Alex suffered multiple health issues. Diabetes, heart disease, hyper-t, episodes of DKA, neuropathy which never went away and I'm sure was painful coupled with arthritis and interstitial cystitis which was chronic and he never did more than maybe cry a little when his bladder was irritated. He handled everything with dignity and grace. If he had not developed diabetes I don't know if I would have realized what a wonderful and heroic 'being' he was. I thought losing Jackson would kill him. I was terrified for a month. But he survived that too. He survived everything that life threw at him (well maybe not Jake and Dylan so much, he wasn't real crazy about them but I kept them away from him). Alex was a happy sweet and easygoing mamma's boy who loved cuddling and being brushed and being told how much he was loved and what a handsome lad he was. He loved when I picked him up and sang "My Guy" while rocking him in my arms. He was always protective of me and Jackson. He was complex. He was so very special and I told him that every night before we went to sleep and every morning when we woke up. Alex was my hero, my heart, MY GUY. I miss him every day and will until I die. I almost feel guilty about competing with myself but Alex deserves his place here too. It's all for a good cause, right :)