So good to hear from you Patty. You have been in my prayers. I hope the
doctors get things squared away and get you at least much better than you are
right now. I can't believe all you've been doing with the cats while you're
still trying to recover! Good for you!
And of course I'm so sorry for your loss and hope Puma recovers.
take care,
tonya
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
It's me - the insomniac (had THAT problem prior to MVA, but now, on top
of everything else...., it is much worse!)
First off, thanks to all of you who sent me cards (belatedly, sorry).
And Terrie, as I am not on computer much, AOL just deletes e-mails after
"what-ever" time frame they go by......
In fact, I did get on computer earlier this week (?), memory's shot so I
could be wrong....
I did write a post about "Thank-You's", condolences, the cat-jacking episode
(what a WONDERFUL ending), and shelters w/ Felv and FIV cats.
But that is when my computer crashed, and I couldn't send it. It's on a file
somewhere, but guess what? YEP!!! The memory thing - can NOT remember where I
filed it..... But, I had my roomie print a copy and I will get to it when he is
available......
Things are NOT going good for me post MVA injuries. I am seeing WAAAYYY TOO
many Dr.s/specialists (probably a good thing - They aren't giving up!), having
a zillion diff. tests done.
And, all of the Dr.s can not agree on prognosis! Some say one thing, another
says something diff., and the rest all have their own "guesses". My
neurologist did tell me that in all probability I'll never be the same as I
was. But, he couldn't/wouldn't tell me just "what" will stay damaged. Guess
he doesn't know either.... Or maybe he does and just doesn't want to worsen my
depression! I have battled w/ depression for many years.
And when I saw my (new) psychiatrist (old one retired....), he diagnosed me
w/ Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (among other things!)
SURPRISE! SURPRISE! (NOT!!!)
My other psych said I suffered Post Traumatic Stress due to all the years
I've been in rescue, what I have seen, what I can't control...blah,blah,
blah... You get the picture, I'm sure....
Anyway, this new Dr. gave me a pamphlet on PTS, to explain his diagnosis,and
guess what ranks in the top 3????
SEVERE MOTOR VEHICHLE ACCIDENTS!!!!!
And, yes, this MVA has had a very severe impact on me, physically & mentally,
so I can see where he's coming from..... (Now I have DOUBLE (or more) PTSD!!!!
Yippee! Just what I (don't) need!)
My major problem is w/ my vision. I saw a neuro-opthamologist last week and
until he gets all my hosp. records, MRI's, Cat-Scans, the works, he CAN'T
answer my questions either! He did say that my eyes are mis-alighned .(If
that's not word, it means that they aren't working together....) My right eye
is really bad, and when he tested me for looking to the side, well, that eye
isn't moving! I have to wear a patch to cover it, but, even that makes
seeing/reading very difficult, to say the least. I used a magnifying glass
when I finally got on-line tonight, or I should say, early morning.....
Anyway, I DID clean out my mail box, so I do intend to get back on, and
sooner than I wasn't....
Ok, enough about me. Want to hear some GOOD news? You all know that (feral)
Charity is Timmy's (My darling angel!!) mom. And I think I mentioned Black
Bart, the neighborhood HUGE tom. Who is also Charity's constant
companion....must be love, huh? In fact, now that Timmy has grown, I really
believe that Bart is his Dad!!!
Anyway, animals do have a special sense about people, and I really, really
believe that both Charity & Bart know that somehow I am different. Not that I
was ever a threat, but I did trap Charity for spaying/exam. (At which time, she
bit me so hard, my fault, I ended up in ER! Not once, but twice!) And Bart is
one of those cats that would never go in trap! So, I had planned on "netting"
him for neuter, but heck, now I couldn't even net a butterfly - Not that I ever
would!
Ok, the good news.....Both cats are ecstatic that their meal ticket is home!
(My roommate took excellent care of all my indoor furbabies, dogs & cats. But
he did NOT feed the ferals. He DID check barn for any "newborn" kittens, at my
request, and there were none. Guess I did a great job spaying the female
ferals/strays. I'd give myself a pat on the back, but, well, that's just
another thing I can't do now......
The barn/feeding station is all the way at the back of my yard. And, walking
is, let's say "delicate", so I do leave out large bowls of dry food, but was
only giving wet every 2-3 days.(Which the dry should be plenty 'cause prior to
MVA I was able to gather all the ferals/strays, vet them, and find them
homes.....(Still have 4...any takers? J/K!!! They ARE with their family(me)
now).
Well, my dear Charity has started talking to me, and NOT in that scared tone.
Very soothing & gentle. Music to my ears! Although the other night she was on
my neighbor's back porch when I was walking the dogs!!! I think she was giving
me he__, in a nice way, and wanted her wet food! Which, as soon as I had the
dogs in, I obliged..... She really got to me and I figured if I can hardly see
during daylight, what's the diff w/ night?
And, she always knows when I go out to barn, 'cause she is always there!
Cats do have a "special sense".......
And, she NEVER runs away when she sees me coming! In fact, she comes out to
greet me!!!
Just today she even sniffed my hand! And, with our history, I did not try to
touch her. I think she respected me for that too. No hissing, just her "sweet,
gentle" vocalizations. Who knows? Maybe one day....all good things take time,
and boy, I have plenty of time!!!
Maybe she'll be my next house cat?
And Bart, who is super feral & non-trusting, also does not run away when I am
outside!
They know I am NOT a threat.......They are so smart. Too bad people can't
be that way.
I do have some very bad news though... I lost my Cornelius the other day. and
he had NEVER been ill..... He was up on the counter eating, and, BOOM!, he fell
on the floor and that was it. He passed immediately.........I rescued him when
I was working at vet & owner came in to have him euthanized. "Improper
urination" was the reason. His records showed he did have a history of UTI's
(Poor food I suppose, also a de-claw). Now get this, he was a pure bred Maine
Coon ($$$$$'s) and the owner wouldn't even pay the lousy dollars for a urinary
test So I got the ok from the vets to talk to her and offer to take him, and
she signed him over. Turns out he DID have a UTI, was treated, and I took him
home. Never a problem either, in fact, a joy. What a loss.....just what I
didn't need.....
So Belinda, would you add my Cornelius to there next CLS??? He passed on
November 21.
I will send a request, that is, if I remember, to you personally.......
MORE bad news.....my Puma, 17, was diagnosed w/ toxo AND FIP (VERY high
titre)....
For those that remember, I did have FIP in my home when I was fostering.
Lost Dusty & Oden....and did have it confirmed thru necropsies.... Dusty was an
"older" reformed feral from streets of Baltimore, but Oden was just 2, and I
had him since I "fostered" his whole litter w/ bottle-feeding. At that time, I
had all my fosters tested w/ the ELISA FIP test, but since all cats are exposed
to FECV, I did not have my "personal" clan tested......
So Belinda, can you add my Puma to the Prayer List?
I guess I should have put the "Bad News" first, then ended w/ my "Good News".
Just blame it on the brain thingy...... ( At least now I have an excuse,
though I'd rather NOT have this one!)
Boy, I just about wrote a book, and there is so much more I want to
contribute. But, I PROMISE I will get to that another time.
For all those that read this, "Thanks". This is a very wonderful group!!!!
Guess I'll go & put on some coffee.........
Much love to everyone,
Patti
