Kitty Update

The good doctor and I had another long chat yesterday evening after Niamh's exam.  Kitty is feeling so much better (I'm a little jealous that she's on a big schedule of prednisone - I love that stuff).  Because the swelling is down, Doctor got a better look in Niamh's mouth.

Her face told me the story before her words did.  There is a growth that does not appear to be tooth-related, and Doctor is "getting the feeling" that we're looking at a tumor.  She declines to speculate on malignancy at this point.  The plan:  continue with the antibiotic and prednisone therapy for two more weeks, then do another blood work up to look at the white cell count.

Meds are administered twice a day

And so.  So we wait and wonder and will, I hope, use this two week stretch to gain a closer, more empathetic understanding of people who wait for a dreadful diagnosis.  I'll use the time to remember that even without the specter of bad news, all we really have is these two weeks, or these two days, or even these next two hours.  We have right now and nothing more.  Right now, Niamh keeps trying to walk across my computer keyboard, making a real pest of herself.  I love it!  She jumps on top of my desk because that is where I keep her drinking water, and I do that just because she prefers it.  Why not?  My cats have always been some of my best teachers, and no doubt some good lessons are ahead.  

Oh Kitty

Our kitty, Niamh, saw her vet in Fresno last May, about a month before our cross-county trip.  She had one last check up from Dr. Gary and got a clean bill of health, considering her blind eye and the tic in her tail that's left over damage from being hit by a car in kittenhood.  "A little gingivitis," said the doc, "but nothing to get excited about."  He updated her shots and gave us a prescription for travel tranqs and we were set to go.

Look at her cute mouth!

We hadn't made finding a new vet a priority here in the New World, thinking it would be a while before we needed to renew those shots.  That changed  last Tuesday evening, one week ago today, when I stroked Niamh's face and she growled at me.  She growled at me!  Now, Niamh is not the snuggliest kitty in the world and doesn't seek out physical affection, but she doesn't growl at me.  I made a mental note to pet her again the same way in the morning to see if her reaction would be the same.  It was.

Immediately I found the number for the vet just down the road from us and put it in my phone so I could make an appointment as soon as they opened.  Then, when Niamh tried to eat her breakfast, she took a bite and cried out, then hid.  Oh my.  I was on the phone at 8am and we were in the vet's office by 10.

Diagnosis:  growth in the mouth, likely an abscess, bad gingivitis . . . something looks a little funny, but it's probably just dental problems, she needs oral surgery.  Big breath.  Okay.  Schedule it for next Wednesday and in the meantime give her this antibiotic and this painkiller.  She should be feeling great by Friday and if not, call right away.

Friday morning:  the cat is not better at all and we go back to the vet.  The first doctor is out today and we see the doctor who will be doing the surgery.  She orders a blood test and prescribes a different antibiotic.  A look in the kitty's mouth brought a very worried look to the doctor's face.  "We may," she said, "be looking at more than dental problems.  I'll call you with blood test results."

Friday night:  blood test results show a very low white blood cell count and low platelet levels.  The doctor is alarmed and wants the tests redone in the morning.

Saturday morning:  the weekend doc is in, redoes the test and we wait for results.  They are the same, and that is bad news.  Surgery is canceled because of the low platelet count (it's a bleeding problem).  This doctor also examines Niamh's mouth, calls the surgeon to confer, then adds prednisone to her pharmacopeia. Instructions are to talk to the surgeon on Monday.

Monday:  long, long talk on the phone.  The great news is that the platelet count problem has been cleared up - the test was misread or something, and so surgery can be rescheduled.  The bad news is the white cell count.  It's dangerously, frighteningly low.  Best case scenario is a suppressed cell count because the mouth infection is so severe.  Worst case is cancer.  As our conversation continues through all possibilities of treatments and outcomes, from biopsies to bone marrow aspirations to 'wait and see,' I'm thinking of my 18 year old kitty, Myla, who had oral cancer, and who, in the end, we had to put to sleep.

Curl up and get better, kitty

Today:  we ponder.  I'll see the surgeon tomorrow to make a decision, at least the decision for now.  Niamh has responded well to her medicines - she's eating like a champ, grooming herself, no apparent pain.  She is such a trooper and such a survivor, and although I want to give her every chance, I can't imagine putting her through treatments that may not extend her life but would only prolong her dying.  If her problem is nothing more than dental in nature, her medications will raise that white cell count after a time, we'll feel sure that there is no cancer and then we'll schedule the dental surgery.  If the white count does not come up, then we'll know our focus will be palliative care.  We'd know sooner with a biopsy, but I just don't want to put her through that much when we don't really  have to.  At least that's the direction I'm thinking right now.  The doctor and I will figure out the next step tomorrow.

Inauguration Day

Thanks to our friend George for this pic of Asaka and Dwight

Wow!!  We had a great day at the National mall with 800,00 of our best friends.  Up at 2:45am to be out the door at 3:30 to catch the 4:00 Metro to get there before 5am - and yes, there were lots and lots of people already there.  We staked out a spot and settled in for the long wait until 11:30 when the ceremony began, then watched it all happen on the big jumbotron set up for all of us who did not have tickets that would get us close enough to see it.  Even though we watched the inauguration on the screen, it was remarkable to be there.  The excitement and energy of the crowd infused me with hope for our country.

 

 

 

Pre-dawn at the Capital on Inauguration Day

The Jumbotron

We're in there somewhere!

                                                                                

Glad to have you in office, Mr. President