Samson going in for Sir-Jury on Tuesday!!

[NoahsMommy]

After a looooonnngggg time of waiting until he was ready, its time for Sami's sir-jury! :eek: (Agenesis of the Eyelid)

I take him in on Monday for one of the vets at work (he does a lot of the more specialty surgeries) to do a pre-surgical exam to make sure he can indeed do Sami's surgery. If all is well, Sami will have it done Tuesday morning.

I feel confident that if this vet feels he can do it, it'll go well. He's been wanting to do the surgery since he first learned about his eyes.

I'll keep you all updated. Please say prayers/good thoughts for our little one.

FYI:
You can kind of see the shape of Sami's eyelids in this one.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db02b3127ccebea2b538d0830000001610
Close up:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db05b3127ccebea956483af00000002610
Him sleeping...his eyes usually remain this open while sleeping:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db05b3127ccebea9561a3aa20000001610
This is a good one of both Phoebe and Sami's eye shape. Phoebe's aren't anywhere as bad as Sami's so she wont need the surgery...
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db10b3127ccebf09b85e58e80000001610
He's missing the upper outer lids in both eyes, including conjuctivi tissue. This is what the surgery will correct.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db10b3127ccebf09bbce99d10000001610
Poor Sami...that last picture is how his eyes look a lot of the time. We have to clean that black stuff out daily, apply either Terrmycin or BNP once daily along with Artificial Tears three times daily. I can't wait till he'll be able to walk around with OPEN eyes and not hurt. :(

Here's a referrence thread, in case some don't know what this is about. Back then, we thought Sami was a GIRL and was named Emma. Its kind of neat seeing the pictures then and now and how time has made his eyes better, but not enough. I'm glad we waited till he was almost done growing.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36888&perpage=15&highlight=eye%20surgery&pagenumber=1

[wolflady]

Awwwww...Sami! Lots of love and prayers on the way from northern Cali!! I sure hope this sir-jury helps, and I'm sure Sami will feel so much better when it is all over. He'll have a whole new perspective of the world, you know? Try not to worry, and do keep us posted about how everything goes.
Sergei and Marius are sending lots of healing purrs for a quick recovery!

**hugs**
Karen

[jenluckenbach]

Good luck Sampson!

[catcrazylady]

Awwwe Samson! You are so grown up now and still such a cutie!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you sweetie. I hope it all goes well and this is the end of the eye problems for you little one. You have dealt with it like such a little trooper. Good luck Samson and make sure your mommie keeps us posted!!

[ChrisH]

Prayers and positive thoughts on the way for Samson.

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

Good luck Sami sweetheart!! Praying for a succesful outcome to your Sir-Jury.

[slick]

Good luck Sammi. You've got Pet Talk on your side so I know everything will be OK.

[Laura's Babies]

Good thoughts and prayers coming your way Samson for tomorrow. I know it is useless to say this but, Mommie, try not to worry, he has they prayers of PT behind him!

[catnapper]

Good Luck Samson! We'll be praying for you!

[catmandu]

The Found Cats,are praying,for Samson,and the Cat Angels.will drop by,while he is recovering,to purr him,back,to health!

[Craftlady]

Will keep good thoughts for Sami :)

[lynnestankard]

Good thoughts and positive vibes coming across the miles Samson - 'sir jury' is never as bad as you think.

{{{{Hugs}}} for Meowmie - I think she's going to need 'em xxxx

Lynne

[NoahsMommy]

Thanks guys. I know PT prayer is amazing and works. :)

[QueenScoopalot]

I've heard of radial agenesis of bones (like my Thumbelina has) but never of eyelids! :eek: What are they doing to Sampson's eyelid? Stretching it out somehow? Poor baby, hope all goes well at the white coats, and he feels 110% after it's over. ;)

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by QueenScoopalot
I've heard of radial agenesis of bones (like my Thumbelina has) but never of eyelids! :eek: What are they doing to Sampson's eyelid? Stretching it out somehow? Poor baby, hope all goes well at the white coats, and he feels 110% after it's over. ;)
They will be cutting a half moon shaped piece of tissue/skin/fur from under his eyes on each side. That will be flipped over and attached somehow to where he's missing his eyelids. They will also have to add some conjuctivi tissue to the new lid, as he's missing that totally.

I'm getting a little nervous now. The vet is just a regular vet, even though he does do a lot of special surgeries. I'm wondering if we should just stick with the eye surgeon?

What would you all do? This vet would be better because of the cost, but also because I'd be there to keep an eye out for him and I'd be able to take care of him. The other vet (eye surgeon) knows exactly what she's doing....and honestly, I feel more confident with that.

Ack...advice?? :confused: :confused:

[QueenScoopalot]

If you are more comfortable with the eye specialist (even though it's more $$) I'd go with that vet if I were in your position I think. You only have one Sampson, and it's probably a do it right or else type of operation. Go with who you feel most secure with. ;)

[shais_mom]

good luck Sami!!
will be thinking of you!!!

[Barbara]

Sami, I was wondering when it would be time. I keep all my fingers crossed that this vet will be doing it- and then you'll be even happier than you are now:)

[NoahsMommy]

OK, so I think I'll bring Sami to work on Monday and make CERTAIN my vet is able to do it. I don't think he'll say he will if he can't, as he'll have to see me everyday and is well aware of my crazy cat lady tendancies.

Gosh, I hope this week goes by quick, I just want him all better.

[Cataholic]

Prayers for you, Sami! And, Kelly, you just have to go with your heart, and know that things will be okay.

[Uabassoon]

Good luck Samson!

[sirrahbed]

Will be hoping and praying that all goes well for Samson (and Meowmie, too)

[krazyaboutkatz]

Good luck with your surgery Samson. PT prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way. I'm sure everything will work out fine Kelly.:)

[NoahsMommy]

Just got back from school and the hospital...off to take Sami to the vet....cross your fingers for the best solution.

:eek: :eek:

[NoahsMommy]

Just got back from work and the vets with Sami. Before my vet says he'll do the surgery, he wants to talk with Sami's eye specialist.

So, we're waiting at this point.

:)

[QueenScoopalot]

I hope all works out 100% for Sami! ;)

[Miss Meow]

Sending lots of good wishes to Samson.

Hope it all works out OK and you have him home soon :)

[catlover4ever]

Sending my best wishes, positive thoughts and prayers to Samson. I hope you feel better soon.

[wolflady]

Any news on Sami??

[Mandy-Lee]

The poor sweetheart. That's a shame he's gone with this for so long. I hope he gets better and is able to see everything so much clearly very soon! Good luck,Sami!

[sirrahbed]

Popping in for news on Samson. Hoping that all is well, Kelly.

[AmberLee]

Adding our prayers for Samson, his Meowmy and PawPaw and his white coat team!!

~~~ healthy vibes ~~~

[NoahsMommy]

Actually, yes, there is an update.

The vet (Dr. Thomas) that I work with that was going to attempt the surgery is not allowed to anymore....

He approached me today and said he talked to "Dr. DaSilva" regarding Samson's eyes and that there were a few ways to approach this surgery. Dr. DaSilva is the eye specialist we normally refer patients to, but her office gave me a lot of attitude when I tried to get Sami in, I wrote them off.

When I said, "No, his doctor is Dr. Hoffman at the Eye Clinic for Animals (a much larger company with practices in many different states) in Pasadena, didn't you call her?" he dismissed me, arogantly (not unusual for him) and said that regardless of which avenue we went with, there'd only be a 50% chance that it'd work how he wanted it. He said to schedule it on a day he'd be there and it was slow. He's notorious for "forgetting" to see staff pets. Yea, at this rate, Sami will wait another year. No thanks...

Funny, my vet (Dr. Hanser) and Dr. Hoffman never had any doubt that it would correct his eyes. :rolleyes:

I should have never ignored my gut feeling....

So, I'll make a pre-surgical appointment on Tuesday for Sami and plan his surgery for mid-October.

[NoahsMommy]

I'm still annoyed...but really confident in Dr. Hoffman.

On Monday evening, he was looking through a vet manual and I walked in. I asked what he thought about Sami's eyes and he said he was just looking stuff up and that he'd call Dr. Hoffman in the morning. He said he was unsure as to how to approach it, so I told him what Dr. Hoffman planned to do. (That means he didn't even LOOK at the chart, because Dr. Hanser wrote all that in the chart and included a copy of Dr. Hoffman's report. What an idiot!!! :mad: )

When I got to the part where he'd have to move and graft/regrow the conjuctivi, his eyebrows went up and said that was hard to do. Hmmm....Dr. Hoffman didn't say that. :rolleyes:

Then today, he was saying that the way "YOUR" doctor wants to do it would make hair grow into the eye. I didn't bother telling him that after he transplanted the new lid to Sami's missing areas, he'd have to freeze the hair follicals.

How come I know more about feline eye surgery than he does???

Thank God I didn't let him do it...thank God he's an idiot when it comes to his employee's pets.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[catcrazylady]

Wow Kelly I think you have certainly made the right decision in not letting him do the surgery. Geesh, he sounds like he doesn't have a clue about what he is doing. Keep us posted on what happens with the "REAL" doctor!;) :D