Michelle,
You have brought tears to my eyes, I am so hoping this is not a last rally and actually, that he is working his way back to you, but then again I would not want to get my hopes up. If simon was under my roof, I would just watch him very carefully and give him all the love and attention that you have been for a day or two and then, if he still seems good, who knows maybe another does of steroids so he does not get as bad as he was, these are just my thought but I have to say I am so happy for you right now....You should actually take a nap right now for an hour or two, you need to keep your strength up also. I am keeping you guys always in my thoughts.
Cherie
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Simon woke up in the middle of the night last night, walked on his own to the litterbox without wobbling, drank a ton of water, and then asked for food. I gave him a selection of about 10 different things and he ate big hungry bites from each of them. He did the same 3 times this morning. It is hard to quantify, but I think he has eaten at least the equivalent of half a large can of cat food. He just ate about 10 pieces of dry food an a handful of tender vittles as I started writing this, and is now washing himself, something he has not done in days (he had not eaten in days either, or gotten any food at all). He has been so long without food that he has visibly lost a lot of weight. He was almost 12 pounds on Friday and looked almost chubby still, and now he looks bony ! and thin.
I realize that this could be a final rally before an imminent death, but I also wonder if perhaps the large doses of steroids he got on Friday, Sat, and Sun are starting to have some effect on him. He is on no supports other than love and prayer at this point-- no force feeding, no sub q fluids, and not even any anti-nausea meds. Right now he is giving his face a good washing, and washed hi sletgs and shoulder.
He is still weak in that he does not try to walk often or far (more than 10 or 20 steps or so) and is still a bit wobbly. Maybe he is just adjusting to living at a lower hematocrit for a while. My two cats who died of lymphoma two years ago lives for weeks on a lower hematocrit than what Simon had on Friday. His was 15 on Friday, but had fallen so fast that I assumed it was continuing to fall fast, epsecially given his trouble walking.
I have not worked, have cancelled all meetings, and have hardly slept ! in days. I have given my other animals little attention, and have my negative cat, Quincy, locked in a room because Simon wanted to be in his part of the house and I thought he was dying, which he very well still might be (I have seen first hand such rallies the day before a death, as Kathy had described, in both cats and humans). I am not sure whether to try to get back to some normal routines, or to assume he still has very little time left. I of course hope that he has more time now, but am afraid to hope too strongly for that or to take action accordingly.
Even if this is just a final rally, it is so good to see him eat. My partner, Gray, said that while I was sleeping for a few hours and he was watching Simon, Simon sat up and looked carefully at each of the pictures of Buddhas that my partner has hanging on the walls here (he is Buddhist). Gray told Simon all their names and that they are his friends, and he said Simon seemed interested.&n! bsp; I too have seen Simon stare at things very intently since the middle of last night. It is hard to tell what he is looking at, but it seemed like the ceiling fan, then our dog Fern, then Gray sleeping. Simon is not sleeping very much at all since the middle of last night.
I wanted to share this with you. If you have thoughts on what it might mean and what I should do (more steroids? any supports he is not now getting? just lots of love and no expectations?) I would appreciate it.
Thanks for all the support,
Michelle
