Wed. 3/31 - c.c. was diagnosed with an infection and given antibiotics.
Fri. 4/2 - Her situation worsened and she was taken to a big animal hospital for emergency surgery. They drained dozens of small but painful abscesses and removed a lot of dead tissue. She came through the surgery okay considering her weak condition, and she was put on intravenous pain killers and antibiotics. We were given an initial estimate of $1500-$2200.
Sat. 4/3 - Her blood glucose suddenly dropped, causing her to have a seizure. The medical staff was right on top of it, and she is okay in that respect; they added sugar to the iv fluids. But her white blood cells are not rebounding sufficiently to fight off the remaining infection. They are giving her transfusions to help her white cells rebuild. But they were running out of feline plasma.
They found more plasma at a hospital 50 miles away, and the Husband and Wife volunteered to pick up the needed supplies and deliver them (it was 25 miles from them). When they delivered it to the doctor, it was discovered to be canine plasma instead of feline plasma.
The hospital staff began calling every hospital they knew of to find more plasma. The Husband and Wife were permitted to visit c.c. and she was happy to see them and began meowing her appreciation. She had a large protective bandage around her middle and several tubes attached to her front leg. She was still weak, but she was awake and held her head up.
The staff found some feline plasma in Asbury Park (25 miles away and some 70 miles from the first hospital). The Husband and Wife again volunteered to be couriers and made the 50-mile round trip in just over an hour and c.c. was given a fresh transfusion. For the moment she is stable.
Sun. 4/4 - The hospital called to say that c.c. was showing some improvement, but there was a new complication - her legs were swollen and painful, possibly cellulitis (a complication of serious infections) making the regeneration of her white cells that much more important. They treated her with hydrotherapy (cold water running over her legs to reduce swelling) and she responded favorably.
On the plus side, she is more alert and complaining (a good sign) and her readings are gradually improving. We visited her for about a half hour. She was awake but very weak. She meowed when she saw the Wife, and she rested comfortably the whole time we were there, the Wife petting her the whole time. The doctor assured us she was not getting any worse, and if she pulls through she will be her old self again without any lasting damage. Did you ever notice how big that word "if" is?
As of this day, the cost so far is at $2300 and climbing. It will be another $300/day while she's there, and there's still no indication how long that may be.
Mon. 4/5 - The Complication du jour is lowered blood pressure and temperature, brought on by all the painkillers they've been pumping into her. They readjusted her medications and put a heater in her cage, and another complication was adjusted, but a feeding tube has become necessary. We visited her again this night to offer her words of encouragement. And while her recovery is slow, they have told us that there is no reason to despair at this time. A faint bit of optimism.
Tues. 4/6 - This roller coaster ride took another plunge this morning when the hospital called wanting to do more surgery to drain the fluid build-up. They also want to do a biopsy to rule out Lymphoma (a form of Cancer that might possibly be impeding her recovery). The head doctor called back in the evening to say that they shaved more of her fur and found more abscesses and drained them, and that she seemed to be feeling better. Her vital signs are improving very gradually, and he expressed the opinion that he thought she was going to make it, although he was quick to add that she was not yet home free and complications could still be serious. Still, it was the first bit of encouragement offered all week. He never mentioned the biopsy and we forgot to ask. We are assuming it was negative or he would have said something. He thought it was going to be at least another week of recovery.
With the additional surgery, the bill is now $3500, and by next week will top $5000. Today was the first day we hadn't visited her (not permitted after surgery).
During a staff meeting at the hospital today, one of the technicians held c.c. in her lap, petting her thoughout the meeting. She is in good hands.
Wed. 4/7 - The hospital called early this morning to tell us that c.c. had suffered a blood clot to the lungs and couldn't breathe. They had put in a breathing tube, but the prognosis was not good. While they were on the phone, she suffered another blood clot to the brain, and the staff neurosurgeon said she wouldn't recover, and that she was suffering. We had to let her go. The doctor who was on the phone was sobbing as she related the incidents to the Wife - they had really gotten attached to her while she was there. They didn't just leave her in a cage and check on her periodically - they would constantly talk to her and pet her. We can't say enough nice things about this place.
vsds.netWe do have the satisfaction of knowing that we (and the hospital) did everything possible for c.c.
The Husband does the cryptogram puzzle in the newspaper every day. Ironically last night's puzzle was "God answers all our prayers; it's just that sometimes the answer is no."
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