Bella literally came into my life in July 2007 by coming into my backyard while I was gardening. I left a little food and water for her and went to work, hoping that she would be there when I came home. She was about 8 weeks old and she enchanted me. She looked me right in the eye and would follow me everywhere. She came into the house and made herself right at home. She soon became the little prima donna of the house much to the dismay of the other 2 cats.

In May 2008 she didn't look like she felt well and I took her to Desert Vet Clinic in Richland. They drained some fluid off her chest cavity and thought it might be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We went to the WSU Vet School for the doppler echocardiogram and it turned out positive for HCM. Dr. Bordelon prescribed three medications for treatment and we began the regiment.

Bella was a trooper through the twice daily dosage. She still loved to go outside but would come when I called her. She loved to headbutt me in the middle of the night and would crawl under the covers to get warm. She was a loving cat who I miss terribly. She meant the world to me and I want my donation to go towards research on HCM. It is an insidous disease that took my precious Bella away from me at the tender age of a little over 1 year old. I'm looking forward to seeing her on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. Be happy and be at peace. I love you and miss you.

Thanks to Desert Vet Clinic for their donation to the WSU Pet Memorial Program and for their excellent care of Bella during her illness. And thanks to WSU Vet Hospital for their dedication to improving animal health.

Mike H.