I'd never had a cat - grew up with a dog. But my apartment wouldn't allow dogs and I needed a furry friend, so I decided to go to a shelter and rescue a feline. I told a few friends that I really wanted a black or grey cat, but I knew in my heart I'd fall for the first kitten I saw. That weekend, a friend having dinner with her in-laws called, saying that during dinner, they'd heard a tiny MEOW and found a very hungry, very sick, black kitten on the patio. They couldn't keep her and wanted to know if I would. "Of course!!!" said I. Her in-laws brought the kitten to a vet and other than extreme malnutrition and a few fleas, she was fine and adoptable.

She's been my best friend ever since. I've never known an animal as communicative as Daisy Serendipity.

And then, she saved my life.

I'd just had surgery to remove multiple kidney stones and was back at work, when I started to feel horrible. As the day wore on, I began to think I had the flu. I felt crummy, and the pain that had started in my head was working its way down my neck and shoulders. I skipped dinner and went to bed with an ice pack behind my neck. A few hours later, I was awakened by Daisy. She was "push-pawing" on my cheekbone (not her normal spot), and it really hurt!

When I opened my eyes, I could see Daisy's mouth moving. But I could hear nothing. I turned on the TV. Again, nothing. Starting to worry, I called 911, hoping someone could hear me. Luckily, the operator sent an ambulance. I remember very little from that point on, but the ER doctor came to visit me in the ICU. He told me my BP had been 30/20. I had Sepsis. And if Daisy Serendipity (aptly named, don't you think?) hadn't woken me up, I would have died in my sleep. She's my hero!

I saved her. She saved me. We are incredibly connected. Pure Love.