Sad news for Franklin....

[dehlers43]

Franklin has developed a significant heart murmur and since his littermate died unexpectedly a few weeks ago, the vet suspects Franklin has a congenital heart problem. I will be taking him to see a specialist but if it is cardiomyopathy (and it most likely is) there's really nothing that can be done. I will be lucky if he lasts a year....:( He's only 5 years old.......

[cassiesmom]

Oh, sweet Franklin ... I am saying big, BIG prayers for you and your meowmie. :love: :love:

[dehlers43]

Thank you, I'm pretty upset right now...trying to put myself in the "make the most of what time we have left" mode.....

[Catty1]

I hope you have more time with Franklin than anyone thinks. Sending love - please give him hugs and kisses for me. :love:

[phesina]

We are saying our prayers and sending along love and good wishes and warm energies to dear Franklin and you. Please give him some gentle pets and skritchies from us.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[smokey the elder]

Your vet may be able to prescribe meds that will help him. I had a cat with cardiomyopathy and he was on a beta-blocker. Good luck with precious Franklin.

[Pinot's Mom]

Prayers.... please let us know what the vet says! :love:

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear this.:( I sure hope that you'll be able to have more time with him than you think. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.:love:

[Karen]

Prayers on the way that he defy the odds!

[katladyd]

You and Franklin are in my thoughts and prayers.:love:

[dehlers43]

Franklin's appointment with the cardiologist is June 20. He will have an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) so I should know more after that.
Thank you all for your prayers and support...we need them...:love:

[dehlers43]

Well, Franklin has been diagnosed with mild to moderate cardiomyopathy. That's the bad news. The good news is, the vet thinks that with medication to lower his heart rate, he has a good chance of surviving longer. The other good news is, the part of the heart that can cause blood clots when abnormal is perfectly fine. So no blood thinners needed. She was really happy to see a kitty with this condition in the very early stages. If it wasn't for his littermate Norah passing away so suddenly, (which made me take Franklin to the vet ASAP) his condition would probably have gone unnoticed until it was too late. And although I was shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of Norah, I can't help being just a bit grateful since her passing gives Franklin a better shot at a longer life. I hope that doesn't make me sound heartless....

[Catty1]

You don't sound selfish at all. Thank goodness Franklin can be with you for some time yet! :):love::love:

[phesina]

Prayers and love for Franklin and you, Diane, and good news and wishes that Franklin will be around for a long while yet. This is Norah's gift to you.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[Pinot's Mom]

No, honey, it's not heartless. It's just trying to take the best of the situation. There's nothing wrong with that. Prayers.:love:

[Karen]

I have a human friend who eventually (to his surprise) outgrew his heart murmur. He always figured it would keep him from getting drafted if the military ever went back to that method, so was quite surprise when in his late twenties his heart doc told him the murmur was gone! We can hope for this for Franklin, one never knows!

[moosmom]

Dehlers43,

I am so sorry!! There's nothing worse than finding out your cat has HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) and there's nothing that can be done. All you can do is love on him like no one's business, give him anything and everything he wants. You never know, he might surprize you and live a long life. Just let him know how special he is.

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

[Killearn Kitties]

I'm awfully sorry to hear that Franklin has this condition, but his prognosis sounds as good as it can be.
I hope he confounds all the doctors!