Grayson & Lu
Member Since 2012
Thank you all for your kind words of support when Grayson was at the ER two weeks ago. I know a lot of you have been wondering how he’s doing, and I’m sorry I haven’t done an update recently (either pre- or post- ER event). I had been holding off, as I was hoping that after his dental, he would have gone OTJ (off the juice, off insulin, into remission). But the dental was postponed. He came through the ER visit a little sore, but the treatment was successful. The week before, we had had a blood panel done, something we do about every six months to make sure all is well, to determine if we need to adjust his thyroid medicine or add something else, and it was expected to indicate he was okay to be sedated (in addition to his heart condition, acro-kitties need additional provisions when anesthetized).
What the blood work indicated was extremely high levels of white blood cells, which the antibiotics didn’t seem to impact. I was worried it was sepsis from an intestinal tear – potentially fatal. After a consult with the vet school at NC State (and with one of the leading acro researchers in the world), Grayson’s vet ran tests for Addison’s Disease. This seemed like a reasonable explanation, as his adrenal gland may have been affected when his pituitary gland was irradiated two years ago. But the test came back normal. Thursday we went to NC State for additional tests and an ultrasound. A large mass, which was not evident in March x-rays or ultrasound, showed up on his x-ray from two weeks ago and was examined from every angle via ultrasound. It’s big, appears to be a lymph node, and has numerous blood vessels running through it. Samples of it, his blood, liver, and spleen were taken. They all showed massive quantities of eosinophils – cells that travel in the blood and throughout all the tissues in the body; and a large amount of them are markedly abnormal. Not what I expected or wanted to hear.
The extreme elevations may indicate an underlying cancer such as eosinophilic leukemia, or hypereosinophilic syndrome. Option 1: A bone marrow core. Option 2: a resection of the mass (surgical removal). Both would put him at great risk due to prolonged anesthesia and other health conditions, so they are off the table. Option 3 (the one we’re going with): Tonight he started two drugs: an aggressive chemotherapy drug (hydroxyurea) and a steroid (prednisolone). For my diabetic cat friends, yes, the pred will affect his blood glucose, but fortunately we have been able to manage that for more than 2 of the past 2¾ years, so not to worry if we see “yellow or pink” again. This chemo treatment is his best hope. After a week or two, blood work will indicate if the meds are having any effect. At that point, (or before, if necessary) we’ll re-evaluate and determine if we continue treatment, or keep him comfortable until we say good-bye. He will not suffer. This has been an extremely difficult decision.
For a kitty that has triumphed over Acromegaly, he is now facing a much bigger challenge, and we don’t know how much time we will have together. Those of us who have treated our “extra sweet” and “super-sized” kitties understand the special love we share with our furry babies. We have bonded in a way most “normal” people can’t grasp. Losing him will be difficult; but seeing him suffer is not an option. I know Grayson better than anyone else on earth. Decisions about his treatment are between him, God and me. I ask you to support the choices we are making, and keep him in your thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks to come.
Thank you,
Lu-Ann
What the blood work indicated was extremely high levels of white blood cells, which the antibiotics didn’t seem to impact. I was worried it was sepsis from an intestinal tear – potentially fatal. After a consult with the vet school at NC State (and with one of the leading acro researchers in the world), Grayson’s vet ran tests for Addison’s Disease. This seemed like a reasonable explanation, as his adrenal gland may have been affected when his pituitary gland was irradiated two years ago. But the test came back normal. Thursday we went to NC State for additional tests and an ultrasound. A large mass, which was not evident in March x-rays or ultrasound, showed up on his x-ray from two weeks ago and was examined from every angle via ultrasound. It’s big, appears to be a lymph node, and has numerous blood vessels running through it. Samples of it, his blood, liver, and spleen were taken. They all showed massive quantities of eosinophils – cells that travel in the blood and throughout all the tissues in the body; and a large amount of them are markedly abnormal. Not what I expected or wanted to hear.
The extreme elevations may indicate an underlying cancer such as eosinophilic leukemia, or hypereosinophilic syndrome. Option 1: A bone marrow core. Option 2: a resection of the mass (surgical removal). Both would put him at great risk due to prolonged anesthesia and other health conditions, so they are off the table. Option 3 (the one we’re going with): Tonight he started two drugs: an aggressive chemotherapy drug (hydroxyurea) and a steroid (prednisolone). For my diabetic cat friends, yes, the pred will affect his blood glucose, but fortunately we have been able to manage that for more than 2 of the past 2¾ years, so not to worry if we see “yellow or pink” again. This chemo treatment is his best hope. After a week or two, blood work will indicate if the meds are having any effect. At that point, (or before, if necessary) we’ll re-evaluate and determine if we continue treatment, or keep him comfortable until we say good-bye. He will not suffer. This has been an extremely difficult decision.
For a kitty that has triumphed over Acromegaly, he is now facing a much bigger challenge, and we don’t know how much time we will have together. Those of us who have treated our “extra sweet” and “super-sized” kitties understand the special love we share with our furry babies. We have bonded in a way most “normal” people can’t grasp. Losing him will be difficult; but seeing him suffer is not an option. I know Grayson better than anyone else on earth. Decisions about his treatment are between him, God and me. I ask you to support the choices we are making, and keep him in your thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks to come.
Thank you,
Lu-Ann
