Hope’s bloodwork is back and it doesn’t look good. She has “non-regenerative anemia” which can mean only a few things: chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease or lymphoma.
To narrow the field and try to figure this out would cost us additional hundreds of dollars because they have to rule out things first. To do the short-cut version of a firm diagnosis would mean an ultra-sound- which could run up to $500.00.
It seems like it always boils down to money in the end. Money we don’t have and as I was talking to another friend this morning who does fundraising- it gets tiresome asking for money all the time. But if you don’t have the money, the diagnosis stays in limbo. So what to do? I have decided to start her on B-12 shots weekly and keep the thought of prednisone on the back burner for now (I hate using pred for cats- never a good thing). I will keep her comfortable for as long as she is able to stick through the day and we will go from there. Our vet bill is once again higher than I would like it to be and adding another $500.00 on it for a cat who may or may not be able to be saved doesn’t make sense. The money when it comes will go to help those who I actually can help. The vets are pretty certain this is cancer. Her weight gain is still a puzzle- 2.5 pounds in under a week is pretty unheard of- all I know, is she is inside, she is warm, safe, eating and drinking and that’s pretty good for now.
All you can do sometimes is keep her comfortable and help her enjoy each day. I sent a contribution a few days ago to help. Please don’t feel that you hate to ask for money. You are doing things that alot of us can not, but our hearts are with you and if we can donate even a few dollars we feel like we are helping out in a small way.
As for donations, everyone should remember the story of the child throwing starfish back into the sea. A person said that it would not make a difference due to all of the starfish that were on the beach, but the child said it would make a difference to that one starfish. So even a few dollars to your organization helps.
Thanks Ann,
I just feel bad because the economy is so rough. I was talking to a friend of mine this morning, she lives in a trailer park and she said last night quite late, a truck came creeping into the park (she lives near the entrance) She was doing paperwork but she got up to see what was going on. Two people got out of the truck with a box and just threw it into the bushes, jumped into the truck and took off. She went outside and saw five kittens running for their lives! She said they weren’t even old enough to leave mom yet! People think nothing of discarding cats in this town- She managed to capture two of them and wanted me to take them. I can’t- pure and simple.
I took in a cat last night that had I not taken her, she would have been “taken far far away and dumped!” She is a black cat, older with health issues. I can’t even get her to the vet for treatment yet because the bill is so high. I have her in isolation- I am treating her with antibiotics hoping her sneezing and snottiness is just a cold and nothing sinister. If I didn’t take her- they were seriously just going to toss her in the woods somewhere.
Yes a few dollars always helps- thankfully, the dry food donations are still going strong every week- otherwise, I am not sure what I would do about all of this neglect and apathy that runs through the town.
Tweedledee the calico is not doing well. At her age, she should be bouncing against the roof playing and moving. For now, she sits in one spot most of the day, won’t eat unless she is fed. She seems to not have the wherewithal to find the food or even to play with her sister. I have to wonder if the dog shook her and caused brain damage. I take Hope in today for her first B-12 shot and will talk to Dr. Steve about this gorgeous lethargic kitty. I hope for the best, but I suspect something bad happened to her during that attack.
Sad hearing about babies running scared! UGH! You can only do what you can do. Never be afraid to ask for help. Poor Tweedledee. Keeping you all in prayer!