Oh my Julie, you and hubby certainly have been through it! I'm so
pleased to hear he's back at work and doing so much better. So very,
very scary. The scene you painted of him in bed surrounded by furry
loved ones reminded me of when my husband was bed-bound recovering from
an auto accident. Aren't our kids wonderful? Rehabilitative love works
both ways!
I remember Brownie and what a trooper he is and has been. I'm pleased
to hear he's not in any pain and enjoying his life more. Poor little
Tator Tot. Try not to dwell on what the vet says about "it not looking
good". "Looks" can be deceiving! I'm pulling for him. Have you spoken
about him before? I'm sorry I can't remember. I know you have an IBD
kitty too. How is he doing? Welcome back Julie!
Nina
Julie Johnson wrote:
Dear Friends,
I tried to get thru my overflowing (months!) of email and it just
wasn't going to happen. I can see that we have suffered some terrible
losses and my heart goes out to everyone who has lost a beloved
companion; I hope your memories will comfort you. It also seems that
we have new members; the reason for finding this group is always sad,
but you will never find a group of more loving, caring friends.
Some of you might remember that last winter my husband was diagnosed
with multiple aneurysms; the most serious was in his abdomen and after
weeks of tests and referrals, he was scheduled for surgery because the
abdominal aneurysm was felt to be in danger of rupture. He had that
surgery and came through it well. He was home for about a week and
one morning we were up having coffee and he suddenly got this really
strange look on his face; I asked if he needed pain medication and he
said, "no; I'm blind". OK; bit of a heart-stopper there. He was rushed
to the ER and it was finally determined that his left carotid artery
was completely blocked and he'd actually had blood flow stop
temporarily. He was transferred by ambulance back to the hospital in
Hartford where he had his prior surgery (we live about 30 miles east)
and had emergency surgery to clean out the artery. I repeatedly asked
how this could have been missed after all the screening that was done
pre-surgery since he is a high-risk patient (diabetic and known
cardiac blockage). I really got no answers and I am angry to this day
that he could easily have died or been left permanently impaired. His
sight did return and we feel fortunate, but once again, I feel my
trust in the medical community erode a bit further. We absolutely did
not intend to sue anyone; we simply wanted to be sure that absolutely
everything that he SHOULD be screened for (how can you ask for it if
you don't know about it?) he was screened for. He's left with some
numbness on one side of his face that primarily bothers him when he
trims his beard (says it feels weird), and a big scar from behind his
ear to his collar bone; big deal, right? I told him it just makes him
look tough! I was out of work for a bit caring for him (he's now back
to work, too) and came back to a nightmare of project deadlines,
office moves, a new boss, and a generally toxic workplace!
On the kitty front, Brownie (FIV+) had both his eyes removed and he is
like a different cat! He rubs his head all over now; it obviously
hurt too much to do it before. I will never use the vet who initially
screened him again.
Tater Tot is in the hospital on an IV and being evaluated. He had a
mild cold about 2 weeks ago and I took him in and we decided to give
sub-q fluids and Lysine since he does have herpes and it just seemed
to be a particularly bad flare-up (I was given a sample of a new
veterinary lysine gel to try and evaluate; thumbs down! It was way
too think and 500mg worth was a really big blob that he was having no
part of; so stick to the capsules until they reformulate, is my
advice!). Since then, I've observed him straining to poop and passing
tiny little stools and by this weekend it was obvious that fluid was
collecting in his belly. The aspirate didn't look like typical FIP
fluid, but it's being sent out and bloodwork and many other tests are
being done. My heart is just breaking for him; he's only six years
old and been sick so much of his life. They've already warned me that
whatever is going on is not good but I just pray that it's treatable.
Please think good thoughts for him.
It's been a hot, muggy and miserable summer here in the Northeast and
I am having a terrible flea outbreak; I swear that I have some mutant
strain of super-fleas that nothing will kill! I've used Borax
successfully for years, and at one point (in a room I have sealed
off) they were jumping out of it! I'd left an absurd amount on the
floor (like half an inch; thinking, "I WILL kill you") and I went in
to check and vacuum it up after a few DAYS and they were leaping out
of it biting me! I swear they were bigger and stronger than before I
put the Borax down! I've had to use Frontline on everyone (Program
for the ferals because I can slip it into their food) which I hate to
do because I think it's so dangerous (it takes fingernail polish
off!!!) but I have 3 cats who get terrible dermatitis from flea bites
and I couldn't let them be miserable, but I really, really don't like
using it.
So, that's what I've been up to! 2005 officially sucks!
A big, group hug to everyone and headbutts to all the kitties!
Love, Julie
"I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is
to protection by man from the cruelty of man. "
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged
by the way its animals are treated."
Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948)
Paws Come WITH Claws!!!
If you're thinking about de-clawing your cat, you need to re-think
your decision to acquire a pet.
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