GOOD AND BAD NEWS

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 07:01:39 -0800 (PST), (Renee
Darvin) wrote:

snip
He is 11 years old and has known only love and kindness for his whole
life. (He is the one I found in the dumpster at two weeks old!) We
are going to love him like crazy, take very good care of him, and say a
tearful goodbye when the time comes. It is breaking my heart.

So sorry to hear the terrible news, and am sending prayers for his
remaining days to be filled with love and painfree.

Purrs coming for him and his hoomins
--
Steve Touchstone,
faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky

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http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 18:29:37 GMT, (Arthur
Shapiro) wrote:

In article , (Renee Darvin) wrote:

-- and found that the problem is with his liver
-- --perhaps the Bg C.
--

Well, this is eerily similar to the Lester scenario that I presented the last
several weeks in this newsgroup.

I respect your decision, but will point out a contrary view just for the sake
of discussion. Lester was 16, and I decided to try surgery after the CT scan
and ultrasonic scan revealed the possibiity of treatment. And this very old
cat managed to survive the surgery, without really being forced to suffer. It
turned out that they had to remove too much of the liver in order for him to
survive, and we knew going in that this would be the iffy part, assuming he
survived the surgery.

But as far as the surgery itself, major as it was, he was back to his normal,
happy self after a handful of days. I feel, in retrospect, that taking the
chance was worth it, even if it ultimately failed.

Art

I know this may sound very wishy-washy, but I support both decisions.
The only one who can make the decision is the person who is there.
along that line, when the decision is made the individual cat's
personality would have a great deal to do with it.

I can see myself going to great lengths for Sammy, since she doesn't
seem to mind visits to TED in the least. Little Bit gets stressed out
a little, and sheds for a couple days after any car trip, especially
when she ends up at TED. Rocky totally freaks at the sight of the
carrier, is terrified of car trips, and any strange people, especially
when said people are poking, prodding, or performing strange S&M
rites.
--
Steve Touchstone,
faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky

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http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html

Renee,

First, major purrs coming your way. We had to make this same decision with
Sid (although we ended up helping him find the RB ourselves), and although
tough, we know it was the right one, as he didn't have to suffer through
tests and surgeries that may have only prolonged his life for a short time.

Second... have you looked for a less expensive TED? The one we use is ultra
awesome and great priced.. can't hurt to ask around if you want to.. but
ultimitately, its' your cat and your heart so you do what you feel is right.

Purrs and prayers.

Stacey
"Renee Darvin" wrote in message
...
Hi, guys!

Happy holidays to you all! Our pretty tree sits on a low table, which
is covered by a green cloth, then a decorated tree skirt. But what is
that sticking out from under the green cloth? Can it be a tail? Or is
it a paw? Or paws? The answer to all of the above is YES!

I wish I had better news from TED. Creampuff saw (was seen by!) a
specialist Tuesday, as he continues to lose weight and is so HUNGRY!
They did an UltraSound -- had to shave his beautiful belly for this and
he is mortified! -- and found that the problem is with his liver
--perhaps the Bg C.

The UltraSound, diagnosis and medication cost me $505.00. The
specialist wants to do exploratory surgery (cost estimated at $1400 to
possibly $2120). After much prayer and thought, I have decided not to
put him through this trauma and pain. It is NOT the money, although it
is a very serious consideration.

He is 11 years old and has known only love and kindness for his whole
life. (He is the one I found in the dumpster at two weeks old!) We
are going to love him like crazy, take very good care of him, and say a
tearful goodbye when the time comes. It is breaking my heart.

Comments?

Renee







"Time spent with cats is never wasted." Colette "I've
traveled a long way -- and some of the roads weren't paved!" Anon
"I am too blessed to be stressed" Anon

Dear Renee!
I'm so very sorry Creampuff is not doing well. But I do not think that
everything is lost. It may turn out to be something that would go away by
itself in time or at least something that won't affect his quality of life.
Lots of purrs and best wishes for you and Creampuff to have a lot of time
together,
--
Polonca & Soncek

"Renee Darvin" wrote in message
...
Hi, guys!

Happy holidays to you all! Our pretty tree sits on a low table, which
is covered by a green cloth, then a decorated tree skirt. But what is
that sticking out from under the green cloth? Can it be a tail? Or is
it a paw? Or paws? The answer to all of the above is YES!

I wish I had better news from TED. Creampuff saw (was seen by!) a
specialist Tuesday, as he continues to lose weight and is so HUNGRY!
They did an UltraSound -- had to shave his beautiful belly for this and
he is mortified! -- and found that the problem is with his liver
--perhaps the Bg C.
snip

polonca12000 wrote:

Dear Renee!
I'm so very sorry Creampuff is not doing well. But I do not think that
everything is lost. It may turn out to be something that would go away by
itself in time or at least something that won't affect his quality of life.
Lots of purrs and best wishes for you and Creampuff to have a lot of time
together,
--
Polonca & Soncek

"Renee Darvin" wrote in message
...
Hi, guys!

Happy holidays to you all! Our pretty tree sits on a low table, which
is covered by a green cloth, then a decorated tree skirt. But what is
that sticking out from under the green cloth? Can it be a tail? Or is
it a paw? Or paws? The answer to all of the above is YES!

I wish I had better news from TED. Creampuff saw (was seen by!) a
specialist Tuesday, as he continues to lose weight and is so HUNGRY!
They did an UltraSound -- had to shave his beautiful belly for this and
he is mortified! -- and found that the problem is with his liver
--perhaps the Bg C.
snip

It is so hard for you Renee. My opinion, and I stress this is only
what I would do - I would get the surgery done because you can only
guess at what is really wrong. It need not be cancer, perhaps a benign
cyst or whatever. Eleven is not that old for a cat although a lot of
mine have died at that age mostly with kidney disease. I would
certainly try other Teds just in case you get a better price and also it
is a bit like getting a second opinion for a human. In the meantime
lots of love and purrs for you and Cream puff.

Bev
--
God may have created man before woman but there is always a rough draft
before the masterpiece.

I think your doing the right thing ReneeI worked
in geriatricwards and nursing homes when I was
younger and I wondered why they were keeping
these old and tired people alive by force feeding
them when some of them never even had any visitors
and no possible cure some of them looked like they
werejust out of Belson.Let him go peacefully his last
days filled with your unwavering love. Hugs and Purrs
to to Creampuff for a loving departure to RB and Huggs
and Purrs to his family for loving him for so long Jean P.


Renee Darvin wrote in message
...
Hi, guys!

Happy holidays to you all! Our pretty tree sits on a low table, which
is covered by a green cloth, then a decorated tree skirt. But what is
that sticking out from under the green cloth? Can it be a tail? Or is
it a paw? Or paws? The answer to all of the above is YES!

I wish I had better news from TED. Creampuff saw (was seen by!) a
specialist Tuesday, as he continues to lose weight and is so HUNGRY!
They did an UltraSound -- had to shave his beautiful belly for this and
he is mortified! -- and found that the problem is with his liver
--perhaps the Bg C.

The UltraSound, diagnosis and medication cost me $505.00. The
specialist wants to do exploratory surgery (cost estimated at $1400 to
possibly $2120). After much prayer and thought, I have decided not to
put him through this trauma and pain. It is NOT the money, although it
is a very serious consideration.

He is 11 years old and has known only love and kindness for his whole
life. (He is the one I found in the dumpster at two weeks old!) We
are going to love him like crazy, take very good care of him, and say a
tearful goodbye when the time comes. It is breaking my heart.

Comments?

Renee







"Time spent with cats is never wasted." Colette "I've
traveled a long way -- and some of the roads weren't paved!" Anon
"I am too blessed to be stressed" Anon

Arthur Shapiro wrote in on 12 Dec
2003:

I feel, in retrospect, that taking the
chance was worth it, even if it ultimately failed.

I agree with your post and also think each situation is different. When
Marley had megacolon and nothing could get him to poop, he was having
enimas on a regular basis while the vet tried to find something to help
him. It finally came down to exploratory surgery and the possiblity of
losing some of his colon, and with what he was already going through, I
couldn't put him through that with the prognosis that was given. I hear
"exploratory" and think, ok that isn't going to fix it.

Even with what Shadow went through last year, it was very hard to go
through for both of us. Sometimes I think in retrospect that I won't go
through that again, nor put another cat through that again. He survived it
but the stress on us both was awful. He's just a fighter and I don't think
all cats would have made it through what he did. Even the vet tech said she
had a cat with fatty liver who needed a feeding tube and didn't do it. I
suppose they see a lot more than those of us who are just hoping to cheat
death.

--
Cheryl

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I
can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."
- Helen Keller

Worldwide Candle Lighting in Memory of all Children, Dec 14, 2003 7pm in
all time zones
http://thecompassionatefriends.org/2...L/2003_wcl.htm
http://thecompassionatefriends.org/2003_WWCL/senres.htm

Oh no. I am sorry to hear this about Creampuff. How devastating. If
there's anything I can do feel free to write me.

Hugs,

fuga

After much prayer and thought, I have decided not to
put him through this trauma and pain. It is NOT the money, although it
is a very serious consideration.

He is 11 years old and has known only love and kindness for his whole
life. (He is the one I found in the dumpster at two weeks old!) We
are going to love him like crazy, take very good care of him, and say a
tearful goodbye when the time comes. It is breaking my heart.

Comments?

My Boots was hungry but didn't want to eat because he had stoumach and liver
cancer. He'd eat then puke. First they told me he just had a tummy ache but he
continued to be ill. They did an xray then an ultrasound to comfirm. They told
me that exploratory would be a waste of money as it was very obvious. He was
ten years old but had a rough beginning on the streets and in the wild. I wish
the doctors could have diagnosed him sooner so I could have spent some more
time spoiling him then let him go to sleep sooner in my home. I actually
spoiled him every day so I don't know if I could have spoiled him more but I
sure would have tried. I'm glad I gave him his xmas present early because he
didn't make it to xmas. I will keep you both in my prayers.

"Renee Darvin" wrote in message
...
Hi, guys!

Happy holidays to you all! Our pretty tree sits on a low table, which
is covered by a green cloth, then a decorated tree skirt. But what is
that sticking out from under the green cloth? Can it be a tail? Or is
it a paw? Or paws? The answer to all of the above is YES!

I wish I had better news from TED. Creampuff saw (was seen by!) a
specialist Tuesday, as he continues to lose weight and is so HUNGRY!
They did an UltraSound -- had to shave his beautiful belly for this and
he is mortified! -- and found that the problem is with his
liver --perhaps the Bg C.

The UltraSound, diagnosis and medication cost me $505.00. The
specialist wants to do exploratory surgery (cost estimated at $1400 to
possibly $2120). After much prayer and thought, I have decided not to
put him through this trauma and pain. It is NOT the money, although it
is a very serious consideration.

He is 11 years old and has known only love and kindness for his whole
life. (He is the one I found in the dumpster at two weeks old!) We
are going to love him like crazy, take very good care of him, and say a
tearful goodbye when the time comes. It is breaking my heart.

Comments?

Renee

this sounds so much like what happened to my beloved Bunter - in his case,
it was cancer. Surgery was not an option (he wouldn't have survived it),
and I opted against chemo as it wouldn't have cured the cancer anyway.

I kept him comfortable and well loved for the time he had left. It was
heartbreaking to watch him lose weight, stop grooming, and move more slowly.
I promised I wouldn't let him suffer. When the time came, I cried a lot. I
still miss him terribly.

My heart goes out to you.

Brenda