Way to go Sydney. Keep up the good work and keep your Momma and all of us happy.
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Way to go Sydney. Keep up the good work and keep your Momma and all of us happy.
Just an update...Sydney had her chemo administration on Friday (the Vincristine) and is doing surprisingly well. She is eating pretty well and she just loves the wet kitten food that I bought her. I am hoping to get her weight up because she lost 4 lbs over that horrible month she wasn't eating. I am so happy that I fattened her up before all of this because she now weighs 9 lbs - which is actually a healthy weight for her. We had one incident that happened the day I brought her home from the vet. When she comes home on chemo days, she is still kind of sedated, and she walks funny and acts loopy. Another side effect is she looses her understanding of what she is allowed to do and not. Friday when I brought her home, she some how jumped on the kitchen counter (which she is never allowed to do)- when I got up to check on her, I saw it in slow motion, her fall side ways from the counter to the floor. I ran to her to check to see if she had hurt herself, and she was laying on her side. I think because her muscles were all relaxed, when she feel she actually didn't hurt anything despite it being a pretty high fall. It was a scary, but she was ok. Things are ok for now, and I will keep everyone posted. Thanks!:love::love::love:
Omg!!! Vincristine is the exact same chemotherapy they gave my daughter. That's a good thing because my daughter has been in remission for 16 years!!!
Way to go Sydney!!! You're in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh Sydney! Don't scare meowmie and us so much doing such acrobatics!!!
Big hugs to you, Katherine, and to sweet Sydney! :love:
Yikes, that would've scared me! I'm sure glad Sydney is ok, sweet girl. She sure does seem to be a lioness.
I'm sending big hugs to Sydney and a kiss on her nose!
Sydney! *kiss* :love:
Eating all that kitten food...having a second kittenhood with your loving meowmie around?
Remember your second kittenhood does not include jumping up on counters! ;)
She is doing so well. Great news!
One treatment down, five to go. :)
KK - how are the finances holding up? Did you get to put cans in the school caf or at that other consignment store? Let us know!
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Originally Posted by Catty1
Finances have been better :rolleyes:, Although I put cans around my school work, and a few stores by my house - they only totaled about $18. Everyone is hurting so badly because of the economy - that there is nothing really left to give. I was able to talk a professor into giving me some more of his unused books and I was able to make $150 off of that. My sweet parents have been trying to help me whenever they can, despite struggling as well. I luckily was able to save some money over that month she didn't go in. I have enough for this treatment and the next, and I am going to keep trying to do what I can. The whole U.S. is hurting in the money department, it is just so hard because we are all being paid less than we need to live - and that excludes the medical emergencies. I am doing what I can to get by, and when Sydney improves it makes all the sacrifices I have made worth it. I would never have done it differently. Thank you so much asking, you have been so wonderful this entire expereince:love::love::love:
KK - a sports centre here was raising money to help build a badly needed other one, and a worker there came up with the idea of collecting 1 million pennies!
Now, if you do the math - say you need $1,000 - you would need 100,000 pennies. (Anyone feel free to correct my math).
If you ask for pennies in the cans - I bet more people would part with them. Just stick a label on them saying "Goal - 100,000 pennies". It's a neat psychological trick that worked GREAT here.
(Ask your bank to donate easy-to-use penny rollers!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
That is a great idea, and i am open to trying anything. I will go around to my cans tomorrow and put the labels on them. Hopefully it will help some! Thanks again!:love::love::love:
That is absolutely wonderful about your daughters remission. I can only hope for the same for little Sydney. It is funny, I was so scared for her to start chemotherapy, and now I am so scared for her to stop. I will be praying that her cancer is in remission for years - so she can be with me longer. I love her so very much. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers!:love::love::love:Quote:
Originally Posted by moosmom
Sydney is due for the really tough chemo drug this week and I am again worried. I hope that she does well and continues to eat. I have to say that this treatment has made me exhausted. I feel like I have been fighting for her forever and I am just not seeing the end of the tunnel. Even though she appears to be acting ok, I really have no idea how long the cancer will stay in remission, if at all. I have been told there is no probability because cats act differently. Even my vet has not been able to give me any certainty. As the last few administrations come closer, I am becoming more and more nervous about stopping the chemo. Every time she goes in, I at least know the drugs are keeping those rapidly dividing cells at bay. but what happens when she stops? It is very nerve wrecking. Her last chemo admin is supposed to be December 3rd if nothing else goes wrong. I hope and pray that all this effort and money and sacrifice has worked. I know that she is here now, because of all the hard work, but I just hope to have her longer. She still acts young and I love her with all my heart. :(
KK, of course your nerves are frazzled by now. Yow - you have been living your life with school and all, and getting your beloved Sydney the care she needs, and the funds...you have been living two or three lives!
Even with humans, cancer isn't "cured" until remission has lasted 5 years. Ask your vet what the follow-up will be with Sydney. x-rays/ultrasound at 3 months? If you know what the follow-up is, maybe you will feel better.
I thought she had had the really tough chemo treatment already.
PT Prayers for Sydney...hope she is eating a little extra to tide her through in case her appetite slows down for a day or two.
Remember this from August 18 - about a MONTH and a HALF ago:
We're all with you, KK. We're rooting for you and Sydney with all our hearts. :love::love::love: {{{hugs}}}Quote:
You are not going to believe this, but just as I posted my last post, pleaing for prayers, the vet called. The results where in and they were all GREAT! Her heart is not enlarged and the ventricles and valves all looked good. Also the dark shading on her kidney and the lesion on her liver all turned out to be scar tissue from where tumors where destroyed. There appears to be no additional tumor growth. So the Chemo is WORKING! She is going to get her scheduled chemo this Wednesday, which is only five days later than expected. I am just so exsctatic! I am going to celebrate by giving her favorite canned food. Thanks for the prayers!
I've not had to go through cancer treatments w/any of my Fur Posse, thank goodness, so I can't say that I know what you're going through except that when our beloved furkids are sick we all worry in the same manner. It's tough enough going to school and trying to keep up w/life in general. Add a kitty w/cancer to the mix and you've got some major stress, Katherine. The fears that are racing through your mind are understandable. Probably the best stress reliever is a good heart-to-heart w/your vet. Tell him/her your fears and try not to let the 'no guarantee' clause frighten you. As we all know, life offers no guarantees but you can offer one to Sydney and that's to be strong and do your absolute best for her, which is what you've been doing all along. You're doing a fantastic job. My prayers for you and Sydney have never stopped. Keep the faythe.
What do you think about this: I came home after an eleven hour work day to find I had a message on my answer machine stating I had missed blood tests for Sydney. Once again I NEVER miss anything. If there is anything I am good at it is being organized and taking care of Sydney. I watch her health care like a hawk. So, I called the vet this morning and they stated it is was another glitch in the computer system (this is the second time they have done this). It frigtens me because this states to me they are not looking at her chart and are relying on their computer system, which is glitching. I hope to God they aren't messing up her meds like they have messed up her other stuff (called twice regarding wrong treatments, left a cathetar in where she bled all over the car, messed up on billing resulting in additional $1500). These are MAJOR mistakes. It terrifies me. Especially when she goes in to have the Doxorubicin - which if administered incorrectly causes vast tissue death which usually results in amputation of the limb or death all together. I hate to say this, but I am afraid to talk to the vet - this is the only vet in town that can do this chemo treatment, so I cant upset her. But at the same time I am worrying to death everythime she goes in for treatment. What would you do?
On another note, thank you so much for the uplifting messages Mary and Candice. You both have been through this with me from the begining, and your support, information, prayers, etc. have made all the difference. You both are so very wonderful and I consider you guys Sydney's little guardian angels watching over her. I know this wouldnt have been as good as it has without your help. I mean, words cannot properly express my greatitude and appreication. You both have proved to me there are still kind people, wonderful people in the world. Thank you! :love::love::love:
KK - ask to meet with the vet at the office about your concerns. A lot of these goof-ups are done at the front desk, not in the OR. They are separate from the vet herself.
Please write down the dates, and what happened. You don't have to blame anyone. Even print out a statement, and just state what happened on those dates - no names needed, the vet will be able to figure that out. Remind her how worried you are about Sydney - AND how happy you are that her treatments have gone so well (praise the vet a bit!;) ) - and ask her what her advice to you is now that she has seen the list? (You put the ball in her court).
AND - who knows if there are goof-ups with OTHER people's pets, and they have never complained. You doing this could save a couple of lives, maybe.
{{{{HUGS}}}}
What Candace said. :)
I don't blame you for being worried and it does make sense to contact the vet about it. If it were just one mistake then it might not be so much of a concern but there are so many and some fairly serious. Things are being missed and it must be so frustrating that it seems to keep happening.
It would be a good idea to list all the mix ups for the vet because having them all together will really highlight how much has been overlooked and it is unacceptable. And as you mentioned, the Doxorubicin can cause serious damage if done incorrectly and with all these mistakes, the vet will surely understand how it has created unnecessary stress and worry, especially when the consequences could be so devastating. Sydney obviously means the world to you and they should be providing the best care possible. It may be that it's a different person each time making an error and no one is totally aware of all the mistakes that have been made. I wouldn't be surprised if it was discussed in great detail at their next staff meeting!
I would hope that your vet will make sure from that point on that there isn't so much as a spelling error on Sydney's paperwork. ;) She deserves good care and so do you. :)
How are you and Mz Sydney doing?
Im praying for the best =]
how are you and sydney doing?
Thinking of you and beautiful Sydney. Hope all is well after he recent treatment.
You are a BIZZY person, so I know you will check in when you can.
{{{{hugs}}}}
Sydney is doing well. She is still eating really well which is very surprising. We haven't really had too many issues with vomiting, although she will do it once every few days. I have her on a anti-nausea medicine, so that seems to be working pretty well. Sydney has to go in this Friday for blood tests. I called and asked if it was possible they could take her blood without sedating her, and it was a big no. I know that she gets really mean, but I could do it no problem and just bring the sample in. I was trained how to take blood in people, so I don't understand the huge leap in faith for an animal. Sydney would let me do it, I just think they are worried about liabilities. Well, Sydney only has three more chemo administrations left (WooHoo!). She has the Vincristine next week, then we skip a month (she will get on take home pill two weeks into that month), and then she will get another administration of Vinctistine and the last (and most powerful) the Doxorubicin. After the Doxorubicin, she has another restaging (where they do an ultrasound, some blood test, and a ECG). Although I was wondering, what is the point of the restaging? She is not able to have any more Doxorubicin after her last time, because of the cardiotoxicity, and that is the most powerful drug for her type of cancer. I mean, I feel the restaging is just going to be a $500+ price tag for the vet telling me her approximation of time left. I had to drop down to half time at school, live with my parents, discontinue my old cell phone, and a bunch of other sacrifices to pay for her treatment (and I would definitely do it again in a heart beat) - I just wonder what is the purpose of the restaging, it seems to be a really expensive opinion on longevity. If it was a treatment, I would give it to them in a second, but it is not. What do you think?
movie of Sydney!
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...t=MVI_2045.flv
I'm so glad she is doing well. :) I'm not familiar with chemo and re-staging but if it is as you say, just a test to see how long she has and there is no further treatment available anyway, I would ask if you could skip it. 500.00 is alot of money and you've already spent so much. She of course is worth every penny!! :D
movie of Sydney - I thought she looked cute as ever! She has come so far since she had that large bump in her head...
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...t=MVI_2013.flv
I love her so much! :love::love::love:
Another thought.
How soon does the restaging have to be done after the last treatment? Can you have a bit of time to save up? Will she take a payment plan for that relatively small amount?
Maybe you didn't mean it to sound fatalistic, 'seeing how much time Sydney has left' - but I think the restaging is to see how much more cancer has vanished...maybe it all has. Remember her first checkup where two tumours had GONE, and that was quite a few treatments and weeks ago. :)
It's like in humans....you don't say it's cured til a certain amount of time goes by without a recurrence.
But cancer all gone is a definite possibility!
How is our girl doing?
{{{{hugs}}}}
I am going to have to talk to the vet about the re-staging and when it is to occur. My chemo protocol sheet says it is done the last week of the treatment, but I may need to push it a bit. It is just, I feel the re-staging equipment is just going to give me an answer that has little to no certainty. The more accurate tests (such as bone, kidney, and spleen aspirations) that Sydney had done in Auburn would give a more definitive answer to if the cancer is gone, but I can not afford that trip or the cost again. Besides, I have to get a referral to be seen, and those are hard to come by. Once I get more info from the vet I will let you know. I mean the re-staging is just a really expensive ultrasound - which quite frankly is not that great of a tool unless you have a very distinctive mass (which I am guessing she does not).
Otherwise, Sydney has been doing great! She is eating normally, running around being playful, and she is extremely lovable. If you didnt know better you would say nothing was wrong (except for her pretty shave job :D). Her blood tests were fantastic on Friday, and everything seemed to be in the normal range. It looks hopeful for now. I will keep everyone updated.
Can Sydney have a CT scan done? (Sadly, they are not called CAT scans anymore...progress! :D ) If the restaging won't give you definite answers - well, what's the point, sort of?
Is anything available through your school?
Glad she is doing so well! :love:
Awe... she looks great!!! Such a cutie!
Hugs to Sydney!!
KK - do you by chance have a recent pic of our sweetheart? ;):love:
Candace... she posted this today ;)
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Originally Posted by kittykatharine
Quote:
Can Sydney have a CT scan done? (Sadly, they are not called CAT scans anymore...progress! ) If the restaging won't give you definite answers - well, what's the point, sort of?
Is anything available through your school?
Glad she is doing so well!
Unfortunately, my school does not have any veterinarian medicine program, so they are of no help. I know my vet does not have CT scan capabilities either. Maybe there is another vet in the area that has this equipment, and my vet can just refer me to them for the test. If not, Auburn is the closest vet school and they are three and a half hours away. It is very hard for me to determine what is best. I will talk it over with my vet, hopefully this will help with the decision making.
Here is a recent photo of Sydney:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...e/IMG_1963.jpg
I watched the video...short, but SOOO sweet! Sydney has the most amazing face and spirit - you can just see her friskiness?
"Sick? Who? Not ME! I'm just being a cat!":D
She is so adorable! I love that face!
Smooches to you sweetie!!!! :love:
I love that face too! I'm so glad you found us here at PT so you could share Sydney and her amazing story with us. No matter what the outcome, I will always remember your dear Sydney. Those first pictures with the lump on her head pushing on her eye to this latest one is just amazing!! Give her a big hug for me please!
My thought exactly! I could just eat her up! :love:Quote:
Originally Posted by jenn_librarian
Just checking in on Sydney! SOOOOO cute! :love:
Here is how I would handle the restaging....... Ask the vet WHY it is done. Ask why does it matter if she cannot have more treatment. Ask all the questions yo have and then go home and think it over. THEN, if allthe answers still add up to you not wanting to have it done......simply don't do it! Cancel the appointment. After all, YOU have the last call. No Dr. can FORCE you to have a procedure done. Allow me to give you another example. (When Rutherford had a lump removed, the Dr. suggested biopsy. So we did, and it was a fibrosarcoma. When Rutherford needed a second lump removed a few months later, the Dr suggested biopsy. I said NO. We all knew that fibrosarcoma has a way of returning so there was no reason to spend the money to find out what we already knew. Make sense?)
Anyway, I'm so glad Sydney is doing well.
Sydney looks great and I'm glad to hear that she's doing so well.:D I too would follow the advice of Jen. Good luck.:)
Sydney looks great! Thanks for sharing the videos and pic of her. I hope her improvement continues and that she has a good long time with you. :)
Sydney has the most expressive face and eyes. What a beauty. Prayers that she will continue to do well.
Just so everyone knows, Sydney is still doing fine. She hasn't had any complications.