MommaOfMuse said:
(Pssst it's official you can hit the OTJ button now)
Just as well you reminded me to put the OTJ icon up - Saoirse has definitely earned it. She has been such a good little patient and I love her beyond my powers to verbalise. cat_pet_icon
I'm so happy for her that her little pancreas is working again, and doubly so because of the pancreatitis (although I'm still of the opinion that IBD induced by the sh*te ingredients in her prescription dry diets is at the root of all her problems :evil:
). Saoirse is such a quiet and gentle little soul, and I'm so grateful that I wasn't too late to help her, and that I was thankfully in a good enough financial position to provide her with all she needed (gotta love pet insurance). I'm also very grateful to the universe for moving in such a way as to finally allow me to provide her with a better home, too. I wish you could all witness first-hand the transformation in her! She deserves so much more than I've been able to give her for the last number of years and it was eating me alive. :YMSIGH:
It is vital to acknowledge that we didn't get to this point by ourselves. I am so thankful for the fantastic support that
both of us received from our current vets (even if it took them a while to get their heads round how often I tested, or that I kept her on insulin as long as I did). It makes such a positive difference when vets and caregivers work in partnership to get the best results for our furry children. I am also completely indebted to everyone who has made FDMB the wonderful community and education centre that it is. Without FDMB I would never have known that there were better insulins than Caninsulin, and that a low carbohydrate, species-appropriate, wet diet would be so beneficial to Saoirse - and not just for her diabetes. Without the people here, I might still be following the Hills w/d Dry Keep-Kitty-Diabetic protocol that was first inflicted on Saoirse and thus condemning her to a life of injections without even the chance of remission.
I can't put into words how much it has meant to us not to be alone on this white knuckle ride. We would have been completely lost without all of your warmth and wisdom. I would like to mention a few names:
- Sue (& Oliver), Phoebe (... _Tiggy_Norton), BJ(M), and Deb (& Wink) for coming to our aid in the early days when the recommended Caninsulin doses were too high, Saoirse's blood glucose was very low, and I was struggling to stay awake.
- Eliz (... abeth & Bertie) for the invaluable advice about how to go about getting a Lantus prescription under UK drug cascade rules, and for suggesting I contact the Royal Veterinary College.
- Long overdue but deeply heartfelt thanks to Elise (tiffmaxee), Hellen (Shadowsmom), BJ, Diane (BaileyUK) and Larry (and Kitties) for all of your support and your advice on feeding and medication when Saoirse was dreadfully ill during her pancreatitis flare-up. I found the pancreatitis flare-up the most frightening and toughest thing to deal with, and the memory of it still haunts me. (I was praying to everything and anything that I would not lose her.)
Cassandra (SweetAngel) for helping me to find a food that really agrees with Saoirse that she likes to eat (pivotal after the pancreatitis issues), and also for recommending I speak with Ruth at the RVC.
And last but by no means least, Mel (MommaOfMuse), who does so much for so many people here - especially for those of us using L insulins who, for diverse reasons, are unable to follow the full Tight Regulation protocol. Mel, you have my profound gratitude for your mentoring and valildation of my treatment choices, for watching over us, for teaching me to how to feed Saoirse's curves, and also for lending me some of your strength to help me keep my baby safe at low numbers when my own body was giving out on me - especially on the night when her pancreas really came back to life. I will never forget it to you.
This has taken me a long time to write - the happy, relieved tears keep getting in the way. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
(((((((((((((((( FDMB ))))))))))))))))
