Sep. 8th, 2006 05:11 pm
Good news, and awful news
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textualdevianceThe good news: thanks to the psych department, I have my schedule figured out, finally. They're going to let me sub that 100-level class (psych of gender--I should sail through that) for one of the ones I was going to have to do for the minor. Add in the online journalism class, and I not only I get to get my minor, but I have 13 credits for fall--two classes of which are very easy.
I just got back from taking my old lady to the vet. She has a baseball-sized tumor in her abdomen. She's going in for an ultrasound Tuesday so they can sort out whether it's attached to her spleen or her liver, but it doesn't look good. She's already pretty frail from the diabetes and kidney problems. If they just need to take her spleen (and the tumor) out, she'll be okay. But if they need to resection her liver, she probably wouldn't survive the surgery. They did say that, at least from the x-ray, it doesn't look like it's malignant--it hasn't invaded her lungs or heart. It's just a big growth. They'd have to do a biopsy to be sure. But I told them to just do the US for now. I'd rather not do the invasive stuff unless we have to. She also got some bloodwork today to see whether she has a thyroid problem, and to see where her kidney and glucose stuff is at. They're also giving her glucosamine for her joints. So at the very least, we can try to keep her comfortable.
If it comes to it, I can let her go. If there's any chance she's going to suffer, I won't let that happen. But as long as she's still active and not in pain, then we just do what we need to do to make her as healthy as possible.
The cost for doing all this is going to be enormous, but I have no problem putting off vacations or whatever to pay for what my furbabies need.
All the same, I really hope she can hang on, and be at least fairly healthy and happy until I'm finished with school. I hate being away from her so much. I don't want to take her with me, because the stress of being in a new place would be worse, and she at least has a bit of company here. If she needed someone to give her meds during the day, I'd have to take her, but as long as that's not needed, I'd rather she be someplace familiar.
She's been with me longer than M has. She showed up on my doorstep begging for food when she was a pregnant teenage runaway. That was early 1991. She killed my cockatiel while I was away on my first honeymoon, and I almost kicked her out, then, but there was something about her--I just couldn't let her go. She was--and is--the friendliest cat I've ever seen. She prefers human company to other cats. She yells at us if we don't sit down in front of the TV so she can cuddle up with us. She's been my constant companion through all sorts of hell, and more loyal than any human, save M. I love my other babies very much, but Kitty Bob is special. There are some animals that just... aren't animals, you know? She communicates. She's attentive. She's even empathic.
I've known for quite a while that we were going to lose her soon. She's very old, and once we found out she's diabetic, well, that just kind of reminded us of that. I've been preparing for the eventuality. But now that it's looming, I just don't want to accept it. I want her to get better. I want her to stay around longer. I want to spend her remaining months at home. The thought that she could die without me around to be with her makes me ill. But I also know I need to do what I have to do for school.
I know some people are blase about their pets. I just can't be. And I really can't be with her. So do forgive me if I'm a wreck for the next several weeks.
I just got back from taking my old lady to the vet. She has a baseball-sized tumor in her abdomen. She's going in for an ultrasound Tuesday so they can sort out whether it's attached to her spleen or her liver, but it doesn't look good. She's already pretty frail from the diabetes and kidney problems. If they just need to take her spleen (and the tumor) out, she'll be okay. But if they need to resection her liver, she probably wouldn't survive the surgery. They did say that, at least from the x-ray, it doesn't look like it's malignant--it hasn't invaded her lungs or heart. It's just a big growth. They'd have to do a biopsy to be sure. But I told them to just do the US for now. I'd rather not do the invasive stuff unless we have to. She also got some bloodwork today to see whether she has a thyroid problem, and to see where her kidney and glucose stuff is at. They're also giving her glucosamine for her joints. So at the very least, we can try to keep her comfortable.
If it comes to it, I can let her go. If there's any chance she's going to suffer, I won't let that happen. But as long as she's still active and not in pain, then we just do what we need to do to make her as healthy as possible.
The cost for doing all this is going to be enormous, but I have no problem putting off vacations or whatever to pay for what my furbabies need.
All the same, I really hope she can hang on, and be at least fairly healthy and happy until I'm finished with school. I hate being away from her so much. I don't want to take her with me, because the stress of being in a new place would be worse, and she at least has a bit of company here. If she needed someone to give her meds during the day, I'd have to take her, but as long as that's not needed, I'd rather she be someplace familiar.
She's been with me longer than M has. She showed up on my doorstep begging for food when she was a pregnant teenage runaway. That was early 1991. She killed my cockatiel while I was away on my first honeymoon, and I almost kicked her out, then, but there was something about her--I just couldn't let her go. She was--and is--the friendliest cat I've ever seen. She prefers human company to other cats. She yells at us if we don't sit down in front of the TV so she can cuddle up with us. She's been my constant companion through all sorts of hell, and more loyal than any human, save M. I love my other babies very much, but Kitty Bob is special. There are some animals that just... aren't animals, you know? She communicates. She's attentive. She's even empathic.
I've known for quite a while that we were going to lose her soon. She's very old, and once we found out she's diabetic, well, that just kind of reminded us of that. I've been preparing for the eventuality. But now that it's looming, I just don't want to accept it. I want her to get better. I want her to stay around longer. I want to spend her remaining months at home. The thought that she could die without me around to be with her makes me ill. But I also know I need to do what I have to do for school.
I know some people are blase about their pets. I just can't be. And I really can't be with her. So do forgive me if I'm a wreck for the next several weeks.
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I am thinking good thoughts about Kittybob
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True! I'll be toting along Kate Bornstein and Anne Fausto-Sterling to thump people over the head with, if necessary. ;)
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For now, though, she's still plenty alert--even playful--and shows no sign of any pain except some stiff joints. Behaviorally, she's no different than she ever was. I won't put her through a ton of painful, scary procedures or drugs just to keep her alive. But if there's something small and relatively painless we can do that helps her live more comfortably, then I'm happy to do that. A laparoscopy wouldn't be terrible, if they can solve the problem that way. But if they need to do something more involved, then no, I won't go there. Recovery alone would be miserable for her, and I don't want to put her through that.
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My Marcy has a very similar personality, as she thinks she is human. She is quite the talker and will meow in the hallway about 10pm for someone to come to bed so she can snuggle.
Pets are family and it is always hard to lose a family member.
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*hugs*