7/25 Tori AMPS 268; +6~212

[Barb and Tori]

Hi everybody. I'm back after being MIA for about a week. I've been having a bit of a hard time lately and must admit I've been indulging in a bit of a pity party but enough is enough.

WCR- Tori has been doing well. She had no adverse effects from her last chemo treatment a week ago. In fact you would never have guessed that she had the drug that is usually the hardest on the kitty. Her appetite has been excellent and all the other P's are accounted for. She even did 4 laps of the backyard the other day which is 2 more than she did the week before. Not bad for a little kitty who is getting chemotherapy lymphoma. Her BGs have been kind of up and down due to the Prednisolone I'm sure. It sure can send her sugar up. It seems like the best time to give it is in the afternoon. That way she spends most of her high time during the night and she gets to spend some time in the blues and greens during the day . I'm really not sure though if the chemo is working or not. Of the two lumps, the small one seems to be almost gone but the larger of the two seems to go up and down in size. We are now at week 5 of treatment and I think Doug was hoping to see more of a result by now. It's not so much what he says as much of what he doesn't say. I've worked closely with Doug since Tori first became a diabetic so I know him pretty well. I'm going to have to pin him down when we go in on Friday for the Vincristine.

WBR- As I said it's been a pretty rough week. I have been receiving a lot of criticism this week. Family and friends have all been jumping in about how I am treating Tori. The general feeling is that I'm not being fair to her and that seeing I don't want to risk surgery on her I should just let her go. Well surgery is far too risky. Where the lump is would mean very possibly cutting either the carotid or the jugular and the facial nerve. Chemo is the only way to go for us and by God I am not going to just let he die without a fight. She's reacting well to the chemo so why on Earth shouldn't I try? Yes it's draining my bank account but it's my bank account not theirs. All that plus my son saying I don't support him enough and that I should never have had children all on my birthday really got me down. But OK I've now kicked myself in the butt and off I go. Sorry I haven't been around.

So now it's time to catch up with what's been happening in LL. Tori is off to the party. You should see the cute little strapless sundress she's wearing.

Have a good night everybody.

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Hi Barb, So sorry to read that you're going through a rough patch. Sometimes other people simply can't imagine that there can be a strong, loving bond between a human being and a being of another species. Not much to do about it except ignore it. Your family and friends have other qualities, and they have their shortcomings. Your situation just happened to expose their shortcomings. You are doing a wonderful job with Tori and she is showing you how much she appreciates it by being alert and active, and by tolerating the chemo so well. It is obvious that Tori loves you very much.
We hope that the chemotherapy will begin to produce some really good results. Don't be disheartened. You are doing what you can. We're continuing to send healing vines to help the chemo do its work. Do send your girl to the parties tonight and tomorrow. She'll have a good time seeing her friends and Stu will look out for her and make sure she's feeling OK.

Many hugs to you both,

Ella & Stu

 

[Libby and Lucy]

if Tori is doing laps in the yard, then it sure doesn't sound to me like it's time to let her go. ((((Barb))))

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

((Barb))

I'm so sorry that your family is being a collective pill. It's paradoxical. You know that here, we're about the cat. We support your decision 100% because you looked at your options and made an informed decision about what was best for Tori medically and regarding quality of life and what was possible for you. I don't know whether your family fully appreciates how much time and emotional energy you put into making that decision. There are certainly people who would find out their cat had FD and would consider PTS because it's just too much trouble. Ella is right - there are many people who regard the 4-legged members of the family as animals whose lives don't have the same value as you and most of us here place on those lives. They don't understand that there is a bond and our cats return the love and affection they are given. Their lives are more than worth fighting for. You shouldn't feel badly because of their words. You should feel sorry for what those members of your family are missing out on. They are worthy of your pity.

I hope seeing Tori tearing around the backyard was proof positive of having made the right decision.

 

[Nina and KB]

Glad to hear Tori is doing well.

I'm sorry you're family doesn't realize that you're doing this for Tori out of your love for her. Should the need ever arise for one of them, they should be so lucky. You would treat them with your whole heart the same way you are taking care of Tori now.