The cat disappeared gradually until nothing was left but its grin

The cat disappeared gradually until nothing was left but its grin. Lewis Carroll.
Lil had her thyroid gland removed on February 5th. We all had our digits crossed for her... She developed an ulcer on her right eye two days after her operation. So she can’t see properly and she went deaf years ago. And just when I thought Lil had 'disappeared gradually until nothing was left but her grin' she had a gum infection, and they removed her teeth.
Yesterday her unsteadiness on her legs grew worse... Today, this morning, Susan was making coffee in the kitchen, Lil followed her, dragging herself along with her front legs – her back legs a useless twisted weight.
On Wednesday Susan made an appointment with the vet. Now it’s Friday 11.20 am. Unlike Lewis Carroll's grinning cat, she doesn’t believe Lil will reappear, after all she has no teeth – nothing to see. Lil’s appointment is at 2.20.