I want to piggy back on what Nina wrote. She is right that what happens with Kisa is not up to us. We should all remember that it's up to Kisa and Cassandra what happens next. I remember reading some posts when Cricket was dying urging me to do this or that. Ultimately, it was Cricket's and my decision and I felt a bit isolated for fear that what I did decide to do or not do would offend someone. This group should offer suggestions in the spirit of helping, as it usually does. Members of this group should not tell someone what they should or should not do. Please respect Cassandra's decision-making when it comes to Kisa's welfare. She is making her decisions out of her personal beliefs and love for Kisa and whatever she decides we should respect.
:) Wendy --- Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > My dear Cassandra, > Please take a look at the archives about my Spencer. > When we got to the > point that you are now, I decided to stop trying to > force feed and > medicate beyond his daily dex shot and in his case, > occasional nose > drops to help his congestion and breathing. I don't > know if the dex > shots would help Kisa the way they did Spence, but > for him, it gave us > another month of quality life and love together. He > perked up almost > immediately and while I still had to have a vet come > to the house to > help him cross, I wouldn't have given up that last > month with him for > anything. It gave us time to say goodbye and helped > ease the transition > for both of us. I'm so sorry you guys are suffering > so, you have my > sympathy and understanding. There is nothing worse > than watching a > loved one suffer and wishing that you had the power > to change things. > Acceptance is always difficult. Sometimes even with > all the > intervention money can buy, even with access to a > specialist, even if > you were inclined to continue with force feedings, > medications and subq > fluids, it doesn't change the sad outcome and we end > up regretting the > intervention that did nothing but make them > miserable for the time they > had left. There are times when we have to just let > go of the struggle > to control outcomes and instead BE with them, love > them and concentrate > on making them as comfortable as possible. > Sometimes we are left with > no other alternatives than to accept and respect > their journey. The > folks on the list are urging you to do what they > think is best. As well > intentioned as the advice you are getting is, it's > not up to us. You > are there, you know your limitations and what may or > may not be > possible. It is obvious how much you love her and > how difficult this > last 3 months have been for you. I'm sending you > and Kisa love and > strength, listen to her, together you'll decide what > to do. > Nina > > C & J wrote: > > Kisa isn't doing very well so far. Over the > last week, she's been > > getting more lethargic day by day. And now she's > at the point where > > all she does is hide/sleep. When we bring her out > of her hiding spot, > > she vomits almost immediately. The > Chloropromazine didn't help the > > vomiting, so I stopped giving it. > > > > The vomiting makes the syringe feeding all the > more difficult because > > if we feed her every four-five hours, she vomits > up a fair bit of the > > prior feeding. I'm going to have to feed her a > couple of times a day, > > and leave it at that. I think food may be the > least of her worries > > right now. She's probably getting dehydrated from > all the vomiting, > > though I don't know how to tell that for sure. > Her "third eyelid" is > > very noticeable now. She shows very little > interest in drinking, > > mainly just sticks her paws in the water and > sniffs it. > > > > Plus, even though i've been syringe feeding her > since wednesday, I > > seriously doubt she's pooped at all. I'm not sure > where the food is > > going after it goes in. > > > > She's not very responsive either, anymore. She > will purr a bit when I > > pet her, but that's about it. > > > > I've been trying to find an oncologist, but i'm > not sure she's even > > strong enough to handle an anesthetic and a liver > biopsy, or feeding > > tube insertion anymore. Considering the vet > clinics i've called don't > > know of an oncologist, i'm doubting I can find one > anywhere nearby. > > > > This is just so frustrating, but I guess I need to > remember that even > > in people, once cancer gets into the liver, > there's usually not much > > more that can be done. I know someone right now > who has cancer, and > > since the cancer went into her liver, the doctors > have stopped > > aggressive treatment. She has only painkillers > and 6 months to live. > > > > Everytime I think of how full of life and mischief > Kisa was only a > > week ago, I begin a new batch of tears. She was > absolutely fearless, > > I could vacuum her off, nothing would scare her. > Everytime I had an > > empty box or bag out, she would be in it. She > carried a little > > stuffed panda around all the time, and would > proudly announce she had > > something special in her mouth. No matter where I > hid that panda, she > > would find it. She could break into anything, > including the closets. > > > > She's always been so loving and gentle too. I > could pet her belly, > > the only cat that would let me do that. And when > she played, she > > would be so gentle when chewing on your fingers, I > always thought she > > would make the perfect kitty for a child to play > with. > > > > It's so depressing to lose the special kitties, > the ones that can > > cheer you up after a long day at work. It's going > to take me a long > > time to get over the last 3 months, going through > this process 3 > > times. And I know at any time, Tomi could get > sick again. > > > > I'm sorry for being so long-winded, I just can't > seem to focus on > > anything else other than my kitties these days. > > > > Cassandra > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "wendy" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> > > Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 2:00 PM > > Subject: To Cassandra Re: Kisa > > > > > >> Cassandra, > >> > >> I agree with what everyone says here, but am > keeping > >> in mind that you are limited to location and > funding. > >> That being said, even if Kisa does not get chemo, > she > >> does need the combo dexamethasone/depomedrol > shots. > >> They will not cure anything, but will keep her > very > >> comfortable up to her passing if you choose not > to do > >> chemo. They are steroids, but much stronger than > >> prednisone. I am so sorry Kisa is having to go > >> through this (and you as well). Prayers going > out for > >> both of you. Please keep us posted. > >> > >> :) > >> Wendy > >> > >> --- wendy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >>> Cassandra, > >>> > >>> I just read this email. How is Kisa doing > today? I > >>> am not caught up yet. I hope she's better. > Prayers > >>> going out for both of you. > >>> > >>> :) > >>> Wendy > >>> > >>> --- C & J <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >>> > >>> > Well, after going to the vet today, it's not > === message truncated === "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" ~~~ Margaret Meade ~~~ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time with the Yahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#news
