In Memory of Kevlar
By Dr. Ann-Marie Schmid

(Editors Note: This story was conveyed to me by Dr. Schmid, the president of WildTalk. As I thought it was touching, I felt I would share it with you on this page.)

I believe all animals have unique personalities and that each can teach us valuable lessons about life. I would like to share with you the story of Kevlar, a scruffy street cat with one of the brightest burning spirits I have ever seen.

Kevlar had been hit by a car, near the veterinary clinic where I work, last August. I was just leaving for the day when I noticed a car pulled off the road. The driver had stopped and moved Kevlar out of traffic, after seeing the cat struck by oncoming vehicles twice as he crossed the road.
I took Kevlar back to my clinic and began emergency procedures on him. He was in shock when I brought him in, and there was evidence of severe trauma to the side of his head and face. In any trauma case, the first 24 hours are a very critical time. Fortunately, Kevlar pulled through much faster than anyone expected. At the end of the 24 hours he was up, eating, and ready to leave the hospital. He looked horrible in those first days: the side of his face was swollen and he was covered in fleas. He had one blind eye and his long yellow and white fur was a mass of knots. Yet, through all of the therapy and rehabilitation he went through, this fellow was always happy, purring and enjoying any attention that we could give him.
We had looked for his original owners without success. Since he was ready to leave the hospital, the time had come to find him a loving adoptive home. He had such a great personality that I had planned to adopt him myself. However, an unexpected twist of fate prevented that from ever happening. A routine test for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) revealed that he was FeLV positive! Since I already had a colony of 9 foster cats, his moving to my house was not an option, as it would have been a death sentence for those other cats. I was forced to find a temporary safe house for poor Kevlar. Kevlar stayed in foster care for several months; this too was a blessing. He was being kept in a no-pet apartment, but the landlord knew of the situation and was kind enough to allow an exception to the rule until a permanent home could be found. During this time, Kevlar healed, his bruises and scars went away, he gained weight, and he always kept his friendly disposition. Friendly enough, in fact, that he was able to charm his way into the home of a loving family who decided to adopt him on the spot. Kevlar had a warm, secure place to sleep and a family who loved him. He settled in nicely, claiming a backpack as his own to sleep in and the hearts of his new family as well. Sadly, his stay with his new family was short. Less than four months after being adopted, Kevlar lost the battle with Feline Leukemia. He went from a healthy, happy cat to a sick and dying one in the span of less than a week. When the end finally came, I held him in my arms as I helped him to ease his final suffering. As I looked into his eyes that final time, I saw in them a great wisdom and peace that is rare to see. Kevlar had touched many lives in his short life. If only we, as humans, were able to deal with life’s hardships as Kevlar had done, the world would be a much better place.
My deepest thanks to the family that opened their hearts (and home) to him and to everyone who kept him in their thoughts and prayers. They say the light that burns the shortest burns the brightest. Kevlar, you will be missed, but never forgotten.