Sunday, May 16, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Hopes dashed
Falling from the top of the world hurts. UGA called back, on further examination, it is cancer. Hemangiosarcoma which has spread to the liver. We're devastated. He apologized for having to call back and give me a different diagnosis. I think I'm most upset about the liver. We have an appointment on Tuesday with the oncologist. I still believe in God's power and mercy. I need, we need the strength and the wisdom to handle this.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
God is good! & Willy's results are too!
It's day 12, biopsy results were supposed to be back within 3-5 days. I'm getting anxious, but ignorance is bliss. I have prayed and have asked everyone I know and even strangers to pray for Willy, my 12 year old cat.
1 mass the size of an orange, with a smaller mass attached to it
1 small mass in the omentum
2 spots on his liver
2 skin lesions
... and one known chondrosarcoma on his toe.
He has been recovering well, I'm happy with his progress. I have prayed and prayed, and prayed some more. I told a co-worker (who has a strong faith) just yesterday that it must be taking so long because it must be something odd. We laughed and agreed that it would have to be something odd because he was *my* cat.
The phone rang today, the caller ID said blocked - which is what it says when they call me from UGA. My stomach tightened up in a knot. It was the surgeon. He was calling to give me results.
The big mass, the one the size of a softball he calls it today - is odd. Yep, he said it, odd. He said they can't classify it. That it is mostly necrosis. They surmise that it was a previous mass of some sort that had a blood supply and lost that supply. He said, we can't call it cancer, so we have to call it benign. Thank you Jesus!
He said he the margins are clean and that they completely removed the mass. They will continue to try to classify and identify the mass, and will update me if they come up with anything, but consider it benign. It seems we stumped 'em.
1 small mass in the omentum -- a blood clot, benign.
2 spots on the liver -- benign
2 skin lesions -- benign, ulcerated skin resulting from clipper burn when they shaved him for the ultrasound.
Our God is a God of mercy, and I am so thankful to be one of his children.
The diabetes turned out to be transient, and is now gone.
His anemia is gone.
He's on the road to recovery.
We still have the toe to deal with, and while I hate that he has to go through one more thing, I know it is the right thing to do for him.
The thoughts that kept recurring during the waiting of the past 12 days were that we got him to the vet minutes before he would have died on April 19th. We again got him to the vet minutes before he would have died on April 23rd. That's the day we found out about the mass. That was also his 12th birthday.
The week he was at UGA, God blessed me with the funds to cover the vet bill, so treatment costs weren't a factor. I was able to cover the bill in full with some left over.
So, back to the thoughts -- why would he have survived those two very close brushes with death just the week before to have to battle a horrible disease? Why would the funds just appear for me to be able to get him the care he needed without having to worry about the cost only to find out it was something bad?
Those thoughts gave me reason for hope. My hope turned into joy today. Again, thank you God, and thank you to everyone who prayed for my little boy.
1 mass the size of an orange, with a smaller mass attached to it
1 small mass in the omentum
2 spots on his liver
2 skin lesions
... and one known chondrosarcoma on his toe.
He has been recovering well, I'm happy with his progress. I have prayed and prayed, and prayed some more. I told a co-worker (who has a strong faith) just yesterday that it must be taking so long because it must be something odd. We laughed and agreed that it would have to be something odd because he was *my* cat.
The phone rang today, the caller ID said blocked - which is what it says when they call me from UGA. My stomach tightened up in a knot. It was the surgeon. He was calling to give me results.
The big mass, the one the size of a softball he calls it today - is odd. Yep, he said it, odd. He said they can't classify it. That it is mostly necrosis. They surmise that it was a previous mass of some sort that had a blood supply and lost that supply. He said, we can't call it cancer, so we have to call it benign. Thank you Jesus!
He said he the margins are clean and that they completely removed the mass. They will continue to try to classify and identify the mass, and will update me if they come up with anything, but consider it benign. It seems we stumped 'em.
1 small mass in the omentum -- a blood clot, benign.
2 spots on the liver -- benign
2 skin lesions -- benign, ulcerated skin resulting from clipper burn when they shaved him for the ultrasound.
Our God is a God of mercy, and I am so thankful to be one of his children.
The diabetes turned out to be transient, and is now gone.
His anemia is gone.
He's on the road to recovery.
We still have the toe to deal with, and while I hate that he has to go through one more thing, I know it is the right thing to do for him.
The thoughts that kept recurring during the waiting of the past 12 days were that we got him to the vet minutes before he would have died on April 19th. We again got him to the vet minutes before he would have died on April 23rd. That's the day we found out about the mass. That was also his 12th birthday.
The week he was at UGA, God blessed me with the funds to cover the vet bill, so treatment costs weren't a factor. I was able to cover the bill in full with some left over.
So, back to the thoughts -- why would he have survived those two very close brushes with death just the week before to have to battle a horrible disease? Why would the funds just appear for me to be able to get him the care he needed without having to worry about the cost only to find out it was something bad?
Those thoughts gave me reason for hope. My hope turned into joy today. Again, thank you God, and thank you to everyone who prayed for my little boy.
Willy photos
How many ways can you lie on a bench?
According to Willy, at least 3...
All of the above shots were pre-surgery.
This is Willy's first post op day, I was amazed at how good he looked and was getting around, and I was a bit shocked by his new hair style.
This next one is on post op day 2. Chris went with me. I love the way Willy is looking up at him. (Hey Dude, can you get me outta here?)
Another one of his rock star hair style
First day home from the UGA Small Animal Teaching Hospital.
Feeling better... enjoying the swing on the screened in back porch.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Willy's story
So, we've been having quite a time with Willy on a medical front. I've had Willy since he was only a few weeks old. He fit in the palm of my hand. Right from the start, he was my baby. My baby is 12 years old now, and he weighs 14 lbs.
He's currently in ICU at the University of Georgia Small Animal Teaching Hospital.
He had surgery on Thursday to remove a mass the size of an orange out of his abdomen. They had to remove part of his colon, and they removed two other masses and took some biopsies of his liver. We are waiting on pathology results. We are praying, we are believing, we know that healing is available. I am claiming healing for Willy.
The skill of those caring for him at the hospital has been nothing short of excellent. We have been very pleased with their care. I thank God for giving those skills, and caring hearts and hands.
Thank you to the staff of the UGA Small Animal Teaching Hospital for taking such good care of my little boy. Thank you for being so kind to me and letting me visit.
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