Sunday, December 16, 2018

A Wondrous Reason to Be Grateful



Back in 2014, Maggie, one of the three cats with whom I live, was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. The vet’s attitude suggested that this was just par for the course. She didn’t suggest any medication, so I simply brought Maggie home.

In 2017, when that same vet missed a fracture Maggie had, I took her to another vet who prescribed a pill for Maggie to take which would help make her heart beat more regularly. At home once again, she refused to swallow the crushed pill in her canned food.

Flummoxed, I simply stopped giving the medication to her. I thought there was only one medication available, so why return to the vet. Moreover, because I’ve never talked at any depth with anyone with heart problems, I didn’t know the implications of an enlarged heart; I’d asked no questions of either vet. So foolish. So very foolish of me.

Several months passed with me being unaware of the severity of the condition or the availability of another medication. Maggie became more and more listless. Less curious. She stopped jumping up on the vanity counter to drink water from the faucet. She stopped jumping up on my bed to sleep. She ate less and less. In a human, I’d say she became apathetic.

Finally, this past June, when her eyes became lackluster, I took her back to the second vet. This time I felt real fear for her life and asked the crucial questions I should have asked nearly four years before. In truth, I became the advocate for Maggie that I’ve always been for myself when I was ill.

When I took Maggie in, my news that she hadn’t taken the pills and I’d done nothing about that obviously upset the vet. It was then I learned that because Maggie’s heart is enlarged, it has to work harder to pump the same amount of blood. So the heart is less efficient. The most alarming news was that an enlarged heart could lead to heart failure and early death. The truth came out—most cats live only about 3 years after diagnosis.

At the time of the initial diagnosis, Maggie was 6 years old. By the time I saw the second vet in 2017, she was 9 years old. By June 2018 when I took her to that vet the second time, she was 10 years old. That’s when the vet prescribed a second medication—a crème—and asked me to bring Maggie back in six months.

So for six months, I’ve applied the crème each morning to the inside smooth part of one of Maggie’s ears. (The blood vessels there are close to the surface, so the medication is quickly absorbed.) While nothing can make the heart shrink to its normal size, the medication can keep the heart from enlarging farther. It can also help keep the heartbeat regular.

Last week, Maggie and I went to the vet who listened to her heart and joyfully announced, “Her heartbeat is as regular as clock work! She’s doing fine! No murmur! No skips or misses!”

Then the vet weighed Maggie. “She’s the same weight as before,” she said, then added, “We don’t want her to gain weight. That would be hard on her heart.”

She handed Maggie back to me. Then the vet—her eyes shining—said, “Dee, she’s doing really well. The fact that she’s still alive—and over 10 years old—is amazing in itself. But the way her heart is beating is truly astounding. Just keep giving her the medication and come back in six months unless you get concerned.”

By this time, I’m grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat. “How much time does she have?” I ask.
“I can’t say. All I know is that she’s doing wonderfully well.”

With that, Maggie and I came home. Her being alive at 10 ½ and doing so well has put everything in perspective for me. As a sage said, “Don’t sweat the small things.” The success of my books is a small thing; the writing is the large thing. The writing and the cat lying here on the desk, snoozing and inspiring me to keep going.

Maggie is my Christmas miracle. My inspiration.


Peace.

24 comments:

  1. Maggie is a miracle. I watch a live kitten cam and the foster is very savvy on taking care of sick cats. When they need to take a pill, she wraps it in tuna. They all just gulp them down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll remember the tuna tip. thanks for sharing it. And yes, I too, feel that Maggie is a miracle. Peace.

      Delete
  2. Glad Maggie is doing so well! I didn't know they have pet medications that can be rubbed inside the ear! I'll be filing that one away, with hope that's I'll never need it. When my vet gives medications, I always get a follow-up call in a week or so to see if there's been any issues giving it, etc. Too bad your second vet doesn't have a similar policy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Jean, I wish that my vet did the same and has asked me to come back after a week. I truly got the impression that there was only one medication for this problem and so I never even called to ask, "What's next." I wonder sometimes about where my commonsense flees in times of stress! Peace.

      Delete
  3. Happy tears for you and Maggie here. That is truly WONDERFUL news.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Der Sue, oh, yes, it is wonderful. She has her listless days still, but I think they are times when she needs to truly rest and go inward. Then she will surprise me by gobbling down her food and turning on the floor so that I can rub her belly and purring loudly and most importantly, jumping up on the vanity counter! That is a real clue as to how well she's doing. Peace.

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Dear Sandi, thanks for being excited for Maggie and me! Peace.

      Delete
    2. Dee, thank you for your comment on my post! It really touched me in a way I find difficult to put into words. I responded over there. I want to say that even though you and I see things differently, you are always welcome at my blog. I wrote from my heart. Peace be with you. Blessings.

      Delete
    3. Dear Sandi, I went to your blog and left a response there. Thank you for all the respect you show so generously to my comments. Peace.

      Delete
  5. I was so glad your post had a happy ending, for you and for Maggie. A very happy Christmas present!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Cynthia, yes, a lovely Christmas gift. I know that at some point she will die, but then all of the cats with whom I have lived have gone before me. So I simply treasure the days we have together. Life is good. Peace.

      Delete
  6. Wonderful news about Maggie. Keep on writing. It is a catharsis for your soul & a joy to your readers!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Fishducky, a friend encouraged me today to give up writing as I will--in 3 months--be 83 and she feels I need to have a simpler life with no pressure to produce manuscripts. I do not think she understands that the writing is a joy for me. To craft a good sentence, once with cadence and rhythm, is a wonder. It isn't the writing that brings stress. NO, it's the creating of unrealistic deadlines for myself and the unrealistic expectations about how well the book will do among the reading public.

      I need to remember that the writing is the buttered bread of sustenance. The being published and being read is simply the extra slathering!!!!! Peace and happy Hanukkah.

      Delete
  7. That's great news about Maggie. I also didn't know about cream that can be applied to a pet's ears. How great is that? BTW, I have been enjoying the Advent calendar very much. I look forward to it every day. Thank you so much! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear DJan, yes, the cream is so easy to apply as it comes out of the tip of the plunger. I simply hold one of Maggie's ear and rub the tip against the bare skin of the outer, unfurred, part of her ear and the creme disappears in the skin.

      I"m so glad you are enjoying the Advent Calendar. I, too. I did today's matching game--one time--in 13 seconds. But most of the time it's longer! The elf game I get 2 out of 10! Peace.

      Delete
  8. I also have a Maggie. I had no idea medication could be applied on the skin and do such a great job. Merry Christmas, Maggie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Judy, I hope your Maggie is well. Is she like this Maggie--that is, a former CIA agent who finds all the hidey-holes in the house and snoops on the two other cats!!! I'll wish her merry christmas from you and Maggie! Peace.

      Delete
  9. Such happy news about Maggie. She has a beautiful coat, by the way. -sort of a marmalade-tabby-calico motif. Happy Christmas to you both.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Bea, when I got Maggie from the animal shelter, I found out that a tortoiseshell chat has two colors: black and orange/red--or the marmalade. A calico has those two colors plus white. And calicos can be either long or short-haired. Maggie is truly a beautiful long-haired calico!!!! And may you, too, Bea, have a happy Christmas. I wish you peace, and Maggie meows you contentment!

      Delete
  10. I'm so glad you found a good and caring vet. We have one too and he has made all the difference in Samson's health, Samson not going blind, the right kind of food and medicine for his stomach issues, and on and on. I'm so happy for Maggie. Now with the right medicine she may be around for a long time to come.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Inger, vets make all the difference I've found. I first found that out when Dulcy was so sick. My vet wanted to euthanize her immediately. I found another vet who worked with me until the day that Dulcy let me know it was time to let her go.

      I do so hope that she'll be with me and Ellie and Matthew for a long time to come. Peace.

      Delete