Hi Wendy! I'm trying to catch up on posts (I read everything I can...just haven't had much time to post!)...I just wanted to drop you a quick note and let you know that I hear ya about the financial situation!! I've already broken down and used those damn checks that credit card companies send you (they've obviously become savvy to the fact that I've cut up a few cards after paying them off! :) ) to help pay for Ewok's chemo treatments...but I agree very much with Michelle...steroids are an inexpensive way to help shrink the tumor (one dex shot that lasted about a week for Ewok was $17).
Stretch, you and your nephew will certainly be in my thoughts! I know how it feels to lose two babies so close together (as many on this list do)...We had to say goodbye to two of Ewok's brothers within a week of each other (one to mediastinal lymphoma and one to anemia) a few years ago. I'm sure Stretch knows that you are doing everything you can (it's all any of us truly know what to do when it comes to this damn virus). Perhaps sit quietly with Stretch for awhile and ask him what he wishes to do...I know how frustrated you probably feel...it absolutely sucks that we have to make these kinds of decisions based on money (our Sleepypants--Ewok's brother--hasn't been feeling well these past few days...he's been throwing up his food with *alot* of hair...fortunately, he's been able to keep his food down for the past 24 hours...so I'm hoping he's just passing a "hair clog"...but with abdominal cancer in the back of my mind, I had to think ahead and wonder what I would do if we found out that he did have cancer...and the thought was grim...we just can't possibly afford to treat two cats with cancer...I guess I just have to keep the faith that everything will work out as it should and that I can avoid therapy, if at all possible... :) ). Anyhoo, this has turned into my own rant! :) My long way of letting you know I'm there with ya! Take care and keep us posted! Jen **************************************************** "But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world; You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed..." --Antoine de Saint-Exupéry "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them, and what you do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys." --Chief Dan George ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2006 10:49 pm Subject: Re: Need your help with Stretch > I know. When Simon needed to go into the hospital, they would not > admit him > without me paying half the estimate, and there was not enough room > on our > credit card for it. Luckily my mom was able and willing to give me > her credit > card number for it. It was very scary feeling, though, until she > did. I wanted > to shoot the damn receptionist in the head, me standing there with > my sick > baby and her saying if I did not have a credit card to put it on > they would not > even see him. What about someone who had no relative with a > working credit > card they were willing to lend? > > If it is lymphoma, I am not sure there is anything that can make > him go 6 > months without chemo. But the vet who told me about the steroid > combo I am > always recommending (1/2 cc dexamethasone and 1/2 depomedrol, given > periodically > when they go downhill) said that she had some cats with lymphoma go > 6 months on > these shots alone, with good quality of life. If nothing else > seems to help, > you might want to try this. Did the dex shot help at all? If it > did, you > might want to try the combo shot. It is not expensive, though you > will probably > need to go to the vet to get it. The shots can be given sub-q, but > most vets > will not give clients the shots to take home. > > But it might not be lymphoma. > > Michelle > > > In a message dated 1/3/2006 10:58:15 PM Eastern Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > >Hi Michelle, > > > >Thank you for the info. I am going to give another > >day or two to see how things go before taking Stretch > >back to the doc. Frankly, we are tapped out on money. > > We are not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, > >and after spending hundreds of dollars trying to save > >Cricket, and with Christmas just passed, we are a bit > >broke. I had to put the $85 visit to the vet > >yesterday on a credit card that didn't have $85 > >dollars on it. I will do all I can for Stretch, but > >if it's cancer, I am not going to draw it out. We > >just can't afford the treatments. I feel so > >frustrated right now. I don't want Stretch to go > >through this. I don't want my nephew to go through > >losing his cat; he's been through so much as it is. > >And my attitude isn't it's normal hopeful self after > >losing Cricket. I feel it's too soon after Cricket; I > >don't think I can go through this again. I am praying > >for a miracle right now. If Stretch can just pull > >through this, and give us a little time, we will be > >better able to afford treatments in six months. I > >hope that some of you understand being in this place. > >How do you guys afford expensive treatments when you > >just don't have the money? > > > >Thanks, > >Wendy > > >
