Tribute to GC NW Anona Heartbeat

    The following week after the shows had ended, we noticed Heartbeat was not acting like herself she was very inactive and acted like it hurt to walk.  Our very good friends Barbara Brick and Kristin Sawchuck of JellieBeans Cattery offered to meet us and take her to be checked by their vet who worked in conjunction with the veterinarians from UC Davis near their home.   We went back home and waited for news...The hospital called in 7 specialists led by Dr. Jay Griffiths in Fair Oaks,California  to study her case - as they could not find a logical reason for her sudden lack of movement.       The diagnosis was that she had calcium deposits in almost every part of her body causing paralysis and pain...The doctors concurred that this possibly was caused by an overabundance of vitamin C and other mega doses of vitamins  which her body could not handle.  We had given her a product called Mega C in her food every day and that most likely was the cause. Heartbeat only liked to eat raw beef so I felt she needed the extra boost of vitamins.  The final diagnosis by Dr. Jay Griffiths was that the damage the vitamins had done was irreparable. We are so grateful to Dr. Griffiths for taking the time to give us an answer as to why our beautiful 'Heartbeat'  was sick. We were all totally devastated but had no other choice so Heartbeat was put to sleep on June 7, 1991. As we left for Philadelphia two weeks later to attend our first CFA National Awards, our trip would be bittersweet; but there was no way we would not be there to represent her and accept her beautiful crystal trophy. This was definitely the hardest trip we ever made but we were left with beautiful memories and we will always be thankful for having this wonderful cat in our lives for a short time .... she will forever be in our hearts, and we will always feel her heartbeat, as we continue down the pathway of the Anona Cattery...