posted March 23, 2003 06:31 PM         

I was hoping that maybe in your prayers tonight you could say a prayer for my beloved kitty, Spanky, who is my best-friend in the whole world and who needs a Miracle right now to save his life.

And so, knowing how much love abounds from all of you ... if maybe all of us can "Expect a Miracle" together we might be able to save his life.

I believe in the power of Love and Light and I believe that together we can make miracles happen because that's what Linda taught me.

posted March 26, 2003 03:35 AM         

Spanky is home now ... less fur on three of his legs and with some staples in his tummy but he is going to recover.

Randall in answer to your question, Spanky started to get sick a few weeks ago and couldn't eat. After all kinds of treatment, biopsies and exploratory surgery they determined that he had something called IBD. The problem was that they couldn't get him to eat and he was having complications from the surgery.

Yesterday ... suddenly, he started eating and his fever dropped. The vets were suprised because they didn't think he was going to recover but now they have told me that with medication and lots of TLC he should be able to live a happy and healthy kitty life.

Once again, I thank all of you for helping me to manifest a miracle! And for anyone who
has ever wondered if miracles can come true ... please KNOW ... yes, they really do!!!

Much love and light to all of you,

posted March 27, 2003 12:52 AM         

See miracles DO happen guys!

posted April 21, 2003 07:48 AM         

Unfortunately Spanky is not doing well. Although the vets said that they could treat him for his IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease), he is not improving. He vomits all the time. He has lost so much weight. He has to go to the vet hospital twice a week to have intravenous fluids.

He hates me because I have to medicate him all the time and hides when he sees me coming now. This is a cat who has been my best friend for the last 12 years.

Cats can't tell you if they are suffering. At what point do you tell yourself that his quality of life has become so poor that the kindest thing you can do is to put him down? I asked the vets and they said they couldn't answer that for me. Am I being selfish keeping him alive? I don't know if I could bring myself to have him put down. He is like my child.

This is torturing me and I really don't know what to do. It is killing me to watch him so sick and yet the thought of losing him is even more painful.

Advice anyone? I am lost and heartbroken.

posted April 21, 2003 01:56 PM         

I've also got a feline familiar who I love madly. I think that only if you're sure there is _no_ way to heal Spanky and improve his life, then letting him go would be a kindness.

When my cat had to have surgery (loooonnng story!) he started to avoid us too -- post-op, besides the medications, we actually had to forcefeed him with a big plastic syringe and watered down catfood-- this is the worst thing that you can ever do to a cat, it seemed so wrong, but necessary to save his life. Boy he hated us at the time. At least there were two of us to share the "blame". Please consider asking a friend or room mate or relative to help you out with the meds sometimes; that might help ease the desperate feelings about the Heidi-Spanky relationship!

Have you investigated IBS online, or gotten another vet's opinion? Maybe you can find important information on an animal-lover message board. Maybe there are other things you can try.

Just called my sister because her cat had a similar problem. She says that a high-fibre diet saved her cat. Apparently cats have two stomachs, and a high-fibre diet enables the food to pass properly to the second, as a mush; low-fibre doesn't digest properly, gets stuck at the first stomach, then vomited up. She used a brand called WD feline. Her vet told her to handle the transition to the new food this way (to help the cat adjust, and so she would be getting some nourishment): buy chicken baby food, add a bit of water to it, and feed it from your fingers.

Doing something like that might also make Spanky and you feel better emotionally.

When my kitty was having such a hard time, and avoiding us, I tried to do extra nice things for him, like therapeutic massage, rubbing Bach flower Rescue remedy on his ears, just so he might understand (later!) that his human friend/"torturers" really loved him, and that every time he saw us did not mean something awful going down his throat!!! It added a little ray of light to the things we had to do to save him.

I'm sure you're doing all you can for your friend. I hope these suggestions help, rather than make you feel weary or sadder, even if I mention stuff you've been doing all along.

I am sending Light to you and Spanky, so that you can act in compassion and wisdom to do whatever's best.

posted April 21, 2003 02:43 PM         

Sending love and light to you both.

posted April 21, 2003 08:59 PM         

Do you know...other than the IBS problem, is your kitty healthy? I mean such as: his heart, kidneys, blood, etc.?
If so, then I think Lunargirl's suggestions sound good; I would explore every possible option leaving no stone unturned to try and save him.

I've had all kinds of pets in my life since I was a little girl and can't imagine NOT having one. I've also been in the situation several times now where I had to make the decision to put a beloved pet down, and heart-wrenching doesn't begin to describe it. How does one know "when"? I can only tell you how/when I made the decision. When I knew I'd done everything, everything...possible to help them get well and was up against the wall with no options left; when the quality of life was to the point that things would not improve (usually confirmed by the vet)...when the look in their eyes somehow let me know they were in pain and ready...then.

I'm crying now as I write this, because it was a year ago this month that we had to put our wonderful 20-year-old cat (who showed up at the door a stray in 1982!) down. My daughters had known him their entire lives and he was one of the MOST LOVING kitties I'd ever been blessed with, our Herbie. We cried and cried for 5 days, then we went to the local shelter and adopted a tiny little new kitty, naming him Arthur. No one will ever take Herbie's place in our hearts -- ever -- but having Arthur around to take care of, play with and just watch his antics has helped us deal with our loss while giving us someone to shower our love on as we had with Herbie. This may sound silly, but somehow I KNOW we've got his blessing, and I believe he's around, whispering in Arthur's ear now and then.

Well, I hope with all my heart that your sweet Spanky gets well again; 12 is not so old for a kitty. Please keep us posted and I assure you, you will both be in my prayers.

Take care

posted April 22, 2003 04:26 AM         

Lunargirl,

I am going to look into getting a second opinion from another vet. I also just switched his food (a few days ago)to a Prescription I/D diet which is specifically for cats with intestinal disease. Unfortunately Spanky will not eat anything except dry food ... I tried the baby food but he is as finicky as they get. He has not vomitted in 24 hours which is a good sign. I am keeping my fingers crossed that maybe the food was part of his problem.

Twin Lady,

I had a good cry reading about your Herbie. God Bless his sweet little kitty soul. I can imagine how much you miss him. I had never experienced the true meaning of unconditional love until my cat came into my life. In one of the lines from Goobers, Linda says "kitties are the only good things." Sometimes I honestly feel that way. I wish I felt as much compassion for humans as I do for animals, but for some reason I can not.

Thank you all again, I honestly don't know what I would do without you.

Much Love,

Heidi

posted April 22, 2003 04:42 AM         

http://groups.msn.com/Lindalandjoints/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=228

Love,