Chandra, never worry about writing. We especially like hearing good news anyway. Long may Buddha enjoy his food, health and life! Kerry ----- Original Message ----- From: "chandra simms" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 2:14 PM Subject: Re: Buddha
> I was a little hesitant to post anything this morning. > I am a bit afraid that you might all be getting > irritated by me posting so many LONG emails about > Buddha everyday, but I am just so happy and really > wanted to share a our good news, since I am POSITIVE > we wouldn't have this good news without all of the > happy thoughts, positive energy and healing prayers > that have come from this group. > > Yesterday after I posted my last email, Buddha walked > over to his food dish and ate almost the entire bowl > of his hard cat food. The vet put him on special > kitten food because he refuses to eat soft canned cat > food (don't know why, but he always has his whole > life) and she said that he needed high protein food > because Carbs. feed tumors. He didn't really take to > it last week and then he stopped eating all together, > but now he can't get enough of it. I was actually > worried at one point that he might make himself sick > he was eating so fast. > > Later in the evening he walked into our bedroom where > I was reading and sat on the floor next to the bed > until I picked him up and put him on the bed next to > me. He laid on my chest and stomach purring and > sleeping for almost 2 hours. Then when he finally > woke up and wanted down, he walked to his water bowl > in our bedroom and drank for 5 solid minutes. I guess > it might seem excessive but I have 4 water bowls > placed around our house for him because after starting > his Prednisone 2 weeks ago he was ALWAYS thirsty and I > didn't want him to have to walk all the way to the > kitchen just to get a drink of water. By the end of > the night he had finished off his bowl of food and ate > another 48cc of the liquid food from the syringe. > > I called the vet tech. this morning and she said that > since he had consumed so much water and food on his > own that he didn't need to come in for fluids, which > is so nice because that saves us a 2 1/2 hour round > trip in the car, which he hates and really stresses > him out. > > His cough sounds horrible, but it doesn't seem to be > getting any worse or bother him too much and he is > breathing through his nose again. > > There is a vet who will be taking over at my vet's > office 3 times a week starting on Monday. I can only > assume that this vet has the same philosophy as my vet > so I will give them a call on Monday. > > I didn't know this until recently, but Dr. Ballard has > a sort of FeLV hospice in her home. She cares for > anywhere from 10-15 cats at a time. Some of them she > even gives blood transfusions to, when the cancer > spreads to their bones. Learning that made me feel a > lot better about trusting her suggestion not to give > Buddha chemo. Evidently it would be somewhat similar > to giving chemo. to a 85-90 year old human diagnosed > with cancer. I have been told that the side effects > would be harsh and make what little time he has left > miserable. > > Thank you again for your words of support and good > thoughts. > > Chandra, Julian and Buddha > > > --- wendy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Good morning Chandra, > > > > I hope Buddha is feeling well this morning. You > > might > > be feeling a little lost without your vet for two > > weeks during this crucial time. And right now, two > > weeks is too long to be without a vet. Can your vet > > or the tech recommend another vet to care for Buddha > > while your regular vet is away? You really need a > > vet > > available as Buddha needs the constant care. > > Cricket > > had two vets the month he was sick. Depending on > > the > > procedure, I went with the one I was most > > comfortable > > with. I wish I could recommend one for you by > > personal experience, but unfortunately, I don't know > > one that I would actually recommend. I do know > > there > > is an excellent oncology clinic at 12101 Greenville > > Avenue, I think close to the Forest Ln. > > intersection, > > called the Animal Cancer Center. The number is > > 214-437-9499. I would NOT wait until your regular > > vet > > comes back. Two weeks is a lifetime where Buddha's > > health is concerned. I like to call and talk > > directly > > to the vet so that I can get a feel for whether I > > like > > them, get a feel for their regular course of > > treatment > > for the particular illness, and also to find out if > > they are open to alternate or unorthodox care before > > I > > spend money on an office exam. Since this is > > Saturday, you may want to just take Buddha's records > > in because they most likely will be really busy like > > most vets are on Saturday. Although I am not sure > > if > > they are open on Saturdays at all. I've never been > > there; just heard great things about it. > > > > I'm glad to hear Buddha is eating better. I can't > > believe he was taking the food from a syringe! > > That's > > not force-feeding, which is what a lot of people > > have > > to do with sick kitties. That's true > > assist-feeding, > > which is so much less stressful on both of you! > > > > It's such a blessing that you both are able to be > > there for him right now at all times. When Cricket > > was sick, I had to go to work during the day, and it > > just killed me to be there while he was at home. > > All > > I could think about was him. > > > > All you can do is your best Chandra, so try not to > > second guess yourself. Hindsight is 20/20, so you > > just have to do what your heart and mind are telling > > you to do, keeping in mind all the information you > > have gathered and what the experts are telling you, > > although many of us second-guess our own vets > > sometimes. There are so many different combinations > > of care that you could do for Buddha, so many > > different avenues to take and you can never know > > which > > one is right. It's just not possible. If you > > believe > > in a higher power, go to that source for guidance > > and > > peace as well. > > > > I know that you feel lost. I did too when Cricket > > was > > ill. But try to keep hope, as many here have had > > success stories. Kitties who have lived much longer > > than expected, or even just a little longer. Like > > you > > said, every minute that you have with Buddha, you > > cherish. And Buddha will pick up on your positive > > vibes. > > > > :) > > Wendy > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Do You Yahoo!? > > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > > protection around > > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > > > > > Love is not necessary to life, but it is what makes life worth living. > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com >
