It has been a difficult month. After just getting over bronchitis myself, and after my husband was getting over it, I had a sick cat. I thought it was a cold or allergies, so I took him to the vet on the 30th of June. He was given antibiotics. He did not get better and began having trouble breathing thought his nose so I took him back to the vet. He was given more shots. Later he got worse. I took him again on last Thursday, and was told to take him to the pet hospital. The vet at the hospital found a mass in his nose and did a biopsy. My cat was at the hospital for two days. About 5 days later we were called and told it wasn't cancer, but it was a fungal infection called cryptococcus neoformans. He is on an anti-fungal, steroid, and antibiotic. He can't breath through his nose. He has bloody noses every day. He isn't eating much. He is pretty miserable. Last Thursday I had to take him to the pet er because he was panting and breathing fast. He has no interest in wet food, fresh beef, or tuna. He sleeps a lot. He will be okay but we have a long road ahead of us. Complications of the medication and illness include nausea, anorexia, sores on and in face, blindness, ulcers, and if it affects his nervous system if could cause seizures, disorientation, balance issues, paralysis, and possibly death.
So why am I sharing all of this? Because sometimes thing get in the way of the plans we make. Sick loved ones, sick pets, being sick ourselves, it all affects the things we do and the things we are working on. One can't write a lot of death scenes if one is worried about the death of a pet.
Another reason I am writing this? Because life is hard. It is so much harder to live than it is to die. I'm not saying that dying is easy, but living when you lose someone is so much harder. When you live every day with the memory of someone who is no longer around, you almost feel like a part of you is gone, but it isn't. It's difficult to know you can never just pick up a phone and call, or take a drive and visit. It's hard to think about the fun times and the things that person often said, or how that pet often brought you their favorite toy. It's hard when you realize they no longer share the world with you, and often it makes the world seem a little bit darker.
So, animal or human, cherish them. Remember plans change. You may have to go to work tomorrow thinking about that sick cat you are leaving at home, but you have to do it, and you can.
I've written a couple of posts about death, maybe I need to write a post about life.
As for my cat, I hope he will be okay. Nothing is promised. Tomorrow is not promised, and neither is the next minute.
So why am I sharing all of this? Because sometimes thing get in the way of the plans we make. Sick loved ones, sick pets, being sick ourselves, it all affects the things we do and the things we are working on. One can't write a lot of death scenes if one is worried about the death of a pet.
Another reason I am writing this? Because life is hard. It is so much harder to live than it is to die. I'm not saying that dying is easy, but living when you lose someone is so much harder. When you live every day with the memory of someone who is no longer around, you almost feel like a part of you is gone, but it isn't. It's difficult to know you can never just pick up a phone and call, or take a drive and visit. It's hard to think about the fun times and the things that person often said, or how that pet often brought you their favorite toy. It's hard when you realize they no longer share the world with you, and often it makes the world seem a little bit darker.
So, animal or human, cherish them. Remember plans change. You may have to go to work tomorrow thinking about that sick cat you are leaving at home, but you have to do it, and you can.
I've written a couple of posts about death, maybe I need to write a post about life.
As for my cat, I hope he will be okay. Nothing is promised. Tomorrow is not promised, and neither is the next minute.
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