WOW Patti!!! It is so great to hear from you!! I was hoping you would get back to us.I don't know if you remember me,I started a year ago when I lost my beautiful Maizee Grace.You were one of the first to respond to me with your kind words,I still have it in Maizees file.i now have 4 big beautiful boys from the sanctuary that I volunteer at.My fourth Tristan after being there for over a year and a half ended up testing negative for felv!! I instantly took him home with me.my other 3 boys,Rafferty,CousCous and Xander are fiv+.tHey are all the best!! I sure wish you all the best in your recovery.I know you are a strong woman for what you do for animals,it takes a lot of love and courage to do that.I am finding out just how hard it is as we lose our beautiful sanctuary babies.you take care of yourself and try to keep us updated.Hugs and prayers to you and healing thoughts. Sherry
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It's me - the insomniac (had THAT problem prior to MVA, but now, on top of everything else...., it is much worse!) First off, thanks to all of you who sent me cards (belatedly, sorry). And Terrie, as I am not on computer much, AOL just deletes e-mails after "what-ever" time frame they go by...... In fact, I did get on computer earlier this week (?), memory's shot so I could be wrong.... I did write a post about "Thank-You's", condolences, the cat-jacking episode (what a WONDERFUL ending), and shelters w/ Felv and FIV cats. But that is when my computer crashed, and I couldn't send it. It's on a file somewhere, but guess what? YEP!!! The memory thing - can NOT remember where I filed it..... But, I had my roomie print a copy and I will get to it when he is available...... Things are NOT going good for me post MVA injuries. I am seeing WAAAYYY TOO many Dr.s/specialists (probably a good thing - They aren't giving up!), having a zillion diff. tests done. And, all of the Dr.s can not agree on prognosis! Some say one thing, another says something diff., and the rest all have their own "guesses". My neurologist did tell me that in all probability I'll never be the same as I was. But, he couldn't/wouldn't tell me just "what" will stay damaged. Guess he doesn't know either.... Or maybe he does and just doesn't want to worsen my depression! I have battled w/ depression for many years. And when I saw my (new) psychiatrist (old one retired....), he diagnosed me w/ Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (among other things!) SURPRISE! SURPRISE! (NOT!!!) My other psych said I suffered Post Traumatic Stress due to all the years I've been in rescue, what I have seen, what I can't control...blah,blah, blah... You get the picture, I'm sure.... Anyway, this new Dr. gave me a pamphlet on PTS, to explain his diagnosis,and guess what ranks in the top 3???? SEVERE MOTOR VEHICHLE ACCIDENTS!!!!! And, yes, this MVA has had a very severe impact on me, physically & mentally, so I can see where he's coming from..... (Now I have DOUBLE (or more) PTSD!!!! Yippee! Just what I (don't) need!) My major problem is w/ my vision. I saw a neuro-opthamologist last week and until he gets all my hosp. records, MRI's, Cat-Scans, the works, he CAN'T answer my questions either! He did say that my eyes are mis-alighned .(If that's not word, it means that they aren't working together....) My right eye is really bad, and when he tested me for looking to the side, well, that eye isn't moving! I have to wear a patch to cover it, but, even that makes seeing/reading very difficult, to say the least. I used a magnifying glass when I finally got on-line tonight, or I should say, early morning..... Anyway, I DID clean out my mail box, so I do intend to get back on, and sooner than I wasn't.... Ok, enough about me. Want to hear some GOOD news? You all know that (feral) Charity is Timmy's (My darling angel!!) mom. And I think I mentioned Black Bart, the neighborhood HUGE tom. Who is also Charity's constant companion....must be love, huh? In fact, now that Timmy has grown, I really believe that Bart is his Dad!!! Anyway, animals do have a special sense about people, and I really, really believe that both Charity & Bart know that somehow I am different. Not that I was ever a threat, but I did trap Charity for spaying/exam. (At which time, she bit me so hard, my fault, I ended up in ER! Not once, but twice!) And Bart is one of those cats that would never go in trap! So, I had planned on "netting" him for neuter, but heck, now I couldn't even net a butterfly - Not that I ever would! Ok, the good news.....Both cats are ecstatic that their meal ticket is home! (My roommate took excellent care of all my indoor furbabies, dogs & cats. But he did NOT feed the ferals. He DID check barn for any "newborn" kittens, at my request, and there were none. Guess I did a great job spaying the female ferals/strays. I'd give myself a pat on the back, but, well, that's just another thing I can't do now...... The barn/feeding station is all the way at the back of my yard. And, walking is, let's say "delicate", so I do leave out large bowls of dry food, but was only giving wet every 2-3 days.(Which the dry should be plenty 'cause prior to MVA I was able to gather all the ferals/strays, vet them, and find them homes.....(Still have 4...any takers? J/K!!! They ARE with their family(me) now). Well, my dear Charity has started talking to me, and NOT in that scared tone. Very soothing & gentle. Music to my ears! Although the other night she was on my neighbor's back porch when I was walking the dogs!!! I think she was giving me he__, in a nice way, and wanted her wet food! Which, as soon as I had the dogs in, I obliged..... She really got to me and I figured if I can hardly see during daylight, what's the diff w/ night? And, she always knows when I go out to barn, 'cause she is always there! Cats do have a "special sense"....... And, she NEVER runs away when she sees me coming! In fact, she comes out to greet me!!! Just today she even sniffed my hand! And, with our history, I did not try to touch her. I think she respected me for that too. No hissing, just her "sweet, gentle" vocalizations. Who knows? Maybe one day....all good things take time, and boy, I have plenty of time!!! Maybe she'll be my next house cat? And Bart, who is super feral & non-trusting, also does not run away when I am outside! They know I am NOT a threat.......They are so smart. Too bad people can't be that way. I do have some very bad news though... I lost my Cornelius the other day. and he had NEVER been ill..... He was up on the counter eating, and, BOOM!, he fell on the floor and that was it. He passed immediately.........I rescued him when I was working at vet & owner came in to have him euthanized. "Improper urination" was the reason. His records showed he did have a history of UTI's (Poor food I suppose, also a de-claw). Now get this, he was a pure bred Maine Coon ($$$$$'s) and the owner wouldn't even pay the lousy dollars for a urinary test So I got the ok from the vets to talk to her and offer to take him, and she signed him over. Turns out he DID have a UTI, was treated, and I took him home. Never a problem either, in fact, a joy. What a loss.....just what I didn't need..... So Belinda, would you add my Cornelius to there next CLS??? He passed on November 21. I will send a request, that is, if I remember, to you personally....... MORE bad news.....my Puma, 17, was diagnosed w/ toxo AND FIP (VERY high titre).... For those that remember, I did have FIP in my home when I was fostering. Lost Dusty & Oden....and did have it confirmed thru necropsies.... Dusty was an "older" reformed feral from streets of Baltimore, but Oden was just 2, and I had him since I "fostered" his whole litter w/ bottle-feeding. At that time, I had all my fosters tested w/ the ELISA FIP test, but since all cats are exposed to FECV, I did not have my "personal" clan tested...... So Belinda, can you add my Puma to the Prayer List? I guess I should have put the "Bad News" first, then ended w/ my "Good News". Just blame it on the brain thingy...... ( At least now I have an excuse, though I'd rather NOT have this one!) Boy, I just about wrote a book, and there is so much more I want to contribute. But, I PROMISE I will get to that another time. For all those that read this, "Thanks". This is a very wonderful group!!!! Guess I'll go & put on some coffee......... Much love to everyone, Patti --------------------------------- Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.