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Finding Comfort in Feline Companionship: Lisa's Story of Love and Resilience
Matthew Russell
Through Lisa's experiences and the challenges she has faced, some incredible bonds have been formed. These bonds are inspiring and touching hearts on Instagram and Tik Tok. Now, Lisa has shared her story with the Animal Rescue Site, as well.
A Journey of Love and Loss
Lisa's love for animals started early, and her bond with her son, Trey, was inseparable. Trey was with Lisa when they brought Honey home from an ad on Craigslist in 2016, and Chloe from the Nebraska Humane Society the following year.
However, their lives took an unexpected turn when Trey was diagnosed with stage 4 chronic kidney disease at the age of 10.
Lisa's unwavering support and love led her to donate her kidney to him at age 12, and the transplant brought a glimmer of hope to their lives. Unfortunately, the kidney's function began to decline when Trey turned 21, and he had to go back on dialysis. Tragically, Trey passed away about nine months later due to complications from the disease.
"Every 10 minutes another person is added to the transplant waiting list," Lisa says. "I am a big advocate of organ donation."
The loss of her only child left Lisa devastated and in a state of profound grief.
"That first year after losing Trey was a complete blur," she says. "I was angry, and it just didn’t feel real. We were never told that he could suddenly pass away, so we never planned for or expected it."
Lisa was facing major depression and was on several prescriptions. Amid the darkness, she felt a void that could only be filled with love and companionship. That's why in 2018, she adopted a Siamese kitten named Bentley, hoping that a new furry friend would bring joy and life back into her home.
"I thought a dose of kitten energy is just what we needed to liven up the house again," she says.
Finding Joy in Feline Companionship
As Lisa embarked on her journey to heal, she found solace in her feline companions. The bond with her Siamese cat, Bentley, brought a glimmer of light back into her life. In 2019, Lisa received a promotion that led her to move to California, where her beloved cats became her source of strength and comfort.
"This new job location kept me so busy, and California is so beautiful, so it was a great distraction," Lisa says. "My mom came with me for support, and we had just rescued a kitten for her from the Nebraska Humane Society, whom she named TJ – a play off of Trey Junior."
But life had more surprises in store for Lisa and her feline family. In 2020, during the pandemic, she adopted a Sphynx cat, who she named Kylo, after Kylo Ren, one of her son’s favorite Star Wars characters. The bond they shared was incomparable. The affection and intelligence of the Sphynx breed impressed Lisa, and she quickly fell in love.
"This is also when I got into making videos of my cats for TikTok. Or, as I like to say, making , saving, and sharing memories," Lisa says. "While off work, I decided to wean myself off of all my depression medications. My feline companions continually enrich my life with joy and provide a source of profound support, enhancing my well-being on a daily basis, so I credit them to making that possible. The love I feel and receive from my cats heals my heart."
Overcoming Adversity: The Fire and Miracles
In 2021, Lisa faced another shock.
"My mom called me when I was on my way home from work, and said our home was on fire," she says. "When I arrived on scene, I was frantic, trying to see which cat or cats they were able to locate and save."
The devastating fire that broke out at Lisa's home resulted in the loss of about 85% of their belongings, but spared her son’s urn and the memorial she set up for him.
In the midst of the chaos, she faced the unimaginable fear of losing her beloved cats. With Honey, Chloe, Bentley, TJ, and Kylo inside the house during the fire, Lisa was frantic to find them. The firefighters managed to rescue Honey and Bentley, but the other three cold not be located.
That night, the American Red Cross arranged a hotel room for Lisa, but she could not sleep. At 2am, she asked her mother to take her back to the house to continue to look for the 3 missing cats.
"We eventually saw Chloe outside in the backyard, near the neighbor’s house, and she wouldn’t come to me," Lisa says. "