The Magic of Finding MoMo

 

On December 15, 2022, our beloved cat Jamie made her transition after a brief illness. As anyone who has ever shared their lives with an animal knows, we were devastated. But she sent us so many signs from across the Rainbow Bridge to ease the ache in our hearts. I have a journal filled with all the things she did to let us know her Spirit and love lived on. I am so glad we documented her time with us in photos. Here are a few fond memories.

Last fall, we debated about whether or not to get a dog. We couldn't get a cat because we'd always be comparing them to Jamie!

We visited the Animal Rescue League and the MSPCA Angell Memorial Animal Shelter several times. There were no dogs with whom we felt a connection. We had trips planned and knew that we had to wait until we were going to be home to bond with each other. 

This summer the urge to open our home to another animal grew stronger and stronger. We went back and forth about whether or not to adopt a dog or a cat. My friend Ang Wills posts about her amazing cat Winston. I missed Jamie even more when I saw her posts but also felt that deep stirring in my soul that we were ready to adopt again.

Last Saturday, 6/29, Ruth Anne asked if she and her dad could 'just look' to see what animals were available for adoption. At the Animal Rescue League, they decided that we are definitely a cat family - 'no dog' Ruth Anne said in a phone call to me on their way home. She said that they were only going to look today, but I heard something in her voice. "Did you see a cat you'd like to adopt today?" I asked. She told me about Bella. When I went to the website to see Bella, the strangest thing happened.  A photo and video of MoMo came up as soon as I clicked on Adopt on the Animal Rescue League website.

"Did you see MoMo?" I asked.

"I think we did," Ruth Anne answered.

Ruth Anne and her dad decided to turn around. Ruth Anne called and asked about MoMo. They said they should hurry back because a lot of people were interested in MoMo.

When they got to the Animal Rescue League, MoMo was in a Level 3 section for shyness and behavioral issues. The person who answered the phone had MoMo confused with another cat who had a lot of humans interested in adopting them. They took Tom and Ruth Anne back to see MoMo. Ruth Anne and MoMo 'knew' as soon as they laid eyes on each other. Because of MoMo's shyness and 'behavioral problems' he required another visit and a consultation with a behaviorist. It would be a few days before he could come home with us.

We returned on Sunday and put out the intention that we would be able to take MoMo home with us although the staff initially were skeptical that we could rush the process. As soon as I saw MoMo, I knew. When the behaviorists came to talk with us, they were shocked (their words) that MoMo was standing at the front of his cage, out of his box and looking at us. They made recommendations to ensure a safe transition for MoMo. We had set up the basement for him after Tom and Ruth Anne stopped at Petco on their way home on Saturday. There was a penny waiting for them on the sidewalk as they walked out of Petco.

We stayed with him in the basement as he began to get acclimated to his furever home.

They suggested we keep MoMo in his own space for as long as he needed to be there and to only have brief visits. But he'd meow when we left him alone. We spent a good amount of time with him while we all bonded with each other. On Sunday, we heard him at the top of the stairs meowing, meowing, meowing. We closed off the rest of house while he explored and continued to bond with us enjoying his new furever home and with us feeling the incredible joy of having MoMo in our home. 

Here he is:

We trusted our gut and opened the entire house. He LOVES sitting on the window sills, jumping on and off the beds and couches and loves being with us. He was born shortly after Jamie made his transition. The last thing Ruth Anne said to Jamie when we were saying goodbye to her was, "If you ever come back, let us know."Is this Jamie reincarnated? Who knows? That's the mystery and the magic of it all but we DO know that Jamie orchestrated this magnificent magical meet up with a little help from my friend Ang and her boy Winston. We are feeling all the feline feels with the magic of finding MoMo.

In health and wellness,

Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page with links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story. My interview with the amazing On the Runs podcast team of Erika Hamel and Eric Knuuttunen is Episode 56. Be sure to subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Proud to BU is a podcast highlighting the illustrious achievements of Boston University Alumni. Here is the link to my episode.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon  My 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is receiving rave reviews and is a selection of the WBZ News Radio Book Club.

 

A Joy Shared...

 Last Thursday morning was the first time in 7 weeks that we went on an early morning run and Ruth Anne was home from the hospital. She stayed at home to do strength training and went on a run later in the day. I felt joy and gratitude swell from deep within my heart and soul as I saw the sunrise over the Reservoir.

Tom and I reflected on the past 7 weeks and all the people who prayed, sent emails, texts and commented on Facebook posts just when we needed an extra boost of support and faith. Our friends were incredibly in tune with our journey. We rejoiced in knowing that Ruth Anne was safe at home doing her strength training. I expressed my gratitude that I was able to share miles with Ruth Anne after she was discharged on Tuesday.

 It's truly incredible how the things we so often take for granted like going out on a run with a loved one becomes a sacred experience. We weren't sure about the outcome of the hospitalization. We held onto faith and hope. 

There was an incredible outpouring of joy in social media when Ruth Anne announced her homecoming. The joy was multiplied as we responded to all of the comments that reflected how much love surrounds Team McManus. During those very dark times, the grief was divided and diminished in the light of others hearts that poured out love and support.

On Saturday, we had our first run together in 8 weeks as Team McManus. Ruth Anne was so supportive and encouraging of my training for the Bermuda Triangle Challenge 10K. It was as though we picked up where we left off yet so much had changed. The love that we share was rekindled. We talked about compassion and forgiveness for the treatment team and how everything happened as only it could because that's how it happened. We took a lot of photos to celebrate healing and appreciating the healing power of nature:

On the run, Ruth Anne decided that she wasn't going to travel to Bermuda with us. She feels it would be too much to experience the excitement of travel right now, is getting ready to finish her Masters Certificate next semester at Boston College and wants to get a dog sooner rather than later. We planned to get a dog after we returned from Bermuda since we wouldn't want to leave so soon after bringing new pet into our home. Ruth Anne said she will be thrilled to have the time to bond with our newest family member. Wonderful conversations and clarity come during 5 fabulous miles!

Tom and Ruth Anne are fired up to run the Bay State Half Marathon on October 15th. They are going to run with their heart as Ruth Anne wraps up her Trilogy of Half Marathons for Victory Programs. She raised $10,500 during this amazing fundraising campaign.

This is a photo from Ruth Anne's 3 mile tempo run on Thursday.

It is a magnificent miracle to be in the brilliant sunshine after 7 weeks of stormy tumultuous times. Running and the amazing friends we have met through running along with family helped us to weather one of the most challenging times in the life of Team McManus. My heart went from being broken to full and overflowing with gratitude. The grief diminished as people touched our hearts with an outpouring of love and prayers, neighbors stopping by with hugs and encouraging words during Ruth Anne's hospitalization. Our dear 86 year old neighbor kept saying, "This will all happen in God's timing." The joy of Ruth Anne's homecoming was multiplied sharing it with our neighbors, and through social media posts. Here's to many many more blessed miles of health and well-being for Team McManus.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon

Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series to inspire others.

Be sure to subscribe to the On The Runs podcast for stories of individuals who are fierce and determined to overcome challenges, set goals and crush them. Here is the link to my Episode 56.

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A Tribute to Jamie, Our Beloved Cat

 

In October of 2011, our lives were changed forever when we adopted Jamie from the Animal Rescue League of Boston:

There was a post on Facebook from radio personality Mauzy Stafford that it was free cat adoption day at the ARL Boston. Our cat before Jamie, Alex,, was only 3 years old when he became ill and crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. We vowed that was it! No more cats. Tom and I had cats before we met and knew both the love they bring into our lives and the heartbreak when they leave.

But there was something about the Free Adoption Day and the photos posted on Facebook that gave us 'pause' to at least see what animals were there for adoption. 

We filled out the pre-adoption survey and then visited with the cats. There were kittens that were too feisty for us. As we let the staff know what we needed, they led us to Jamie. She was a 2 1/2 year old cat who was very shy. She wouldn't let staff pick her up. One of the volunteers made the bed for Jamie to bring her comfort. She was found on the streets in Medford but apparently had come from a home because she was spayed. She was in ill health but the ARL nursed her back to her health and she was ready to find a furever home. Because of her shyness, it was hard to find a furever home for her. We just knew she was the cat for us. 

It took Jamie 3 weeks to have any interaction with us. We knew she was okay because her food dish would be empty and her kitty litter box had waste in it. We gave her the space she needed to adjust to our home and once she did, she would sit in our lap. She would not let us pick her up which of course was a challenge when she had to go to the vet but she loved to snuggle and have her belly rubbed on the kitchen floor.

She did not like any toys or to play in the way many cats like to play but she had a sense of play watching animals through the window as she perched on the top of 'her' sofa. She loved running up and down the stairs from the 2nd floor all the way to the basement. One of her favorite times of day, besides meal time was to meditate with me. Whenever she heard Dr. David Hamilton's voice come on for a meditation, she would come bounding up the stairs to meditate next to me. She loved just being around us. She would often meow or do the "call of the wild" as we liked to call it for us to come downstairs just to be with her. She'd 'watch' shows on the computer with us by coming in between Tom and me to have a good view of the "West Wing" or a movie we'd be watching.

As we rescued her, she rescued us by infusing our home and our lives with a love that only an animal can bring.

Here are some of our favorite Jamie moments:

Her favorite blanket year round.

During meditation, she held my hand.

 During a Sunday strength training workout. She loved to be in the middle of where the action was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I got up from my chair, she'd hop right up and make herself at home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of my favs. I wonder what she was thinking about!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here she is with my book Hope is a Garden:Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic. She was reading about herself in several essays and poems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her favorite spot in the sun on her favorite 'blankie' - our comforter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Tuesday, Jamie had a sudden weight loss and stopped eating and drinking. She has had other episodes where she couldn't eat or drink for a few days and we thought she was ready to transition but then she would suddenly bounce back after we sat with her and played Dr. David's meditations, the Heal Documentary soundtrack and sent her lots of love and healing energy.

By Thursday we knew this was not meant to be this time. We explored what to do if she transitioned at home and also called our vets to see about helping her make her transition. Tom was in his office and Ruth Anne and I were at the table doing our work when all 3 of us heard her jump off the couch... only she hadn't! She was fast asleep. When she went downstairs a short while later and lay down in her kitty litter box we knew we needed to take her to the vet to help her along. When she was well she never let us carry her but during the three days she would let us hug her and carry her up and down stairs. There was one moment on Wednesday when she was lying on our bed that her eyes sparkled and her head was on her paw and she looked healthy again. Such a great memory to cherish of those final days.

 

They have a beautiful living room set up at the vets where animals and families can experience a loving and peaceful transition. The doctor who cared for her was an angel as was everyone we met. We sensed she was gone before they even administered the medication but they gave it to her anyway to ensure her comfort. It was a beautiful way to say goodbye. 

 

She is sending lots of signs to let us know she is still with us although we do miss her physical presence. I couldn't meditate yesterday because it was too painful so I honored those feelings. Ruth Anne and I went through pictures and I started this blog post as a tribute. Thank goodness we have so many wonderful photos of her life with us and Facebook reminds me daily of moments we shared.

 

Thursday evening after dinner we did what we always would do when Jamie was alive; we'd vacuum to make sure she didn't 'snack' on any crumbs that we may have dropped. We have a cordless vacuum that Jamie hated although as time went on, at times, she could tolerate being in the same room with it. It was fully charged and we had not used it during the day. Ruth Anne was with me and when we got to the part of the kitchen where Jamie's tray with her food dish and water dish had been, the vacuum stopped. It.just.stopped. I started it up again after moving from that spot and it started flashing low battery. When I put it back on the charger all the lights started flashing AND it was going on and off. I tried to turn it off and couldn't! I took it off the charger and waited a few minutes before I placed it back on the charger.

On Friday afternoon, we heard what sounded like a plastic cap dropping on the floor in the kitchen. Ruth  Anne and I looked at one another; Tom asked from his office, "What was that?" We all shrugged. A little while later, I went in the kitchen to stir the chili on the stove and was stopped in my tracks. In the middle of the cooktop was a green bottle cap from Tom's salad dressing bottle that was in the sink to be washed out. She loved jumping on the counter and playing with whatever was in the sink!

Ruth Anne and I ran an errand yesterday. As I went to pick up my keys, one of the pendants I have hanging from it was separated from the rest of the key ring. There was no opening on any of the rings nor on the "Broadway" pendant.

We looked at each other and said "Whoa."

 

Tom and I woke up at 6am this morning feeling chilly. We 'accused' each other of 'stealing' the comforter. Jamie would wake us up early morning to get fed or even if she had food left in her dish, to have company. Neither Tom nor I had the comforter on our side of the bed. There was one corner of the comforter on the corner of the bed; the rest of the comforter was in a kind of 'nest' on the floor in front of the bureau. I remembered we had taken a photo of her on the blanket in front of the bureau. I found this photo from February of 2021:

We are heartbroken that we no longer experience the precious gift of her physical presence but she is letting us know she is still with us from the other side.

Oh how we miss you Jamie but you sure are sending us a lot of signs to help bring us comfort.

As my friend Jenn Solomon said, "Grief is love with nowhere to go."

We are wrapping ourselves in the blessing of love you left in our hearts to heal the ache of the absence of your physical presence.

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon 

The Magic of Gratitude

 

In the midst of challenging times, when anxiety overtakes the mind and body, it can be difficult to shift the focus to gratitude. And yet that is just the time we need to focus on gratitude. When I look back over the past several years, it is easy to feel anger and outrage at how my daughter's condition was misdiagnosed and mistreated but instead, I focus on the earth angels who finally came into our lives to help Ruth Anne to heal.

As I waited for Ruth Anne at Spaulding Rehab while she had her appointment with Erin,  her earth angel Occupational Therapist, my heart opened with gratitude for her healing and recovery. 

As I saw the plexiglass partitions on the Constitution Cafe's tables, the signs about Infection Control, the need for all staff to be vaccinated by October 15th, the therapeutic pool devoid of aquatics classes and the empty gift shop, I felt the sadness and grief that hung in the silence. The Front Desk Ambassador, Margaret, who we have known from when I took aquatics at Spaulding and then going to appointments with Ruth Anne told us that they were hoping to open the pool in September but now, "Who knows?"

There's hand sanitizer and masks when you first enter the building and there is no more public access to the cafeteria or the pool. The hustle and bustle of staff gathering in the cafeteria, patients and family members moving out and about the first floor and garden area and the sense of Spaulding's community is noticeably absent.

It's so easy to focus on all that is missing in our lives right now, especially after our sense of freedom and ease in the early days post-vaccination. But focusing on what's missing drains me of my energy and tends to turn on the biochemistry of negative "what if's."

I sat down near the lobby of the hospital since it was raining outside, took a few deep, cleansing breaths and this poem flowed out of me:

Magic of Gratitude

Like a magic wand
gratitude whisks away all fear
conjuring a delicious recipe for life
open heart
bubbling over with joy
salty tears trickle
eyes feasting on simple pleasures
sunrises and sunsets
lingering luscious scent of summer
rippling of waves an aural delight
sun’s warmth from Source kisses skin
a taste of heaven

Grateful for precious gift of life
Love greater than fear
sprinkle sparkling eyes everywhere I go
reflecting blessings
kindle kindness and compassion
pass the torch of thankfulness
spread seeds of hope
let the magic begin! 

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

My books to uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon.

Visit my website to learn more about my journey of transformation in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond.

Be sure to visit my News and Events tab on my website to hear interviews that will open your heart and mind to a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities.