Tia has a tumour... (Sad Update)

[Roxyluvsme13]

Zara,

I know I haven't been here a lot and have really trying to avoid here but anyways I just wanted to let you know that you as well as Tia are in my thoughts and that I am praying and hoping for the best for both of you.

I know Tia is strong and I know she can fight this.

*HUGS*

[Babyboonie]

Hey Zara,

I'm so sorry to hear about the decline in Tia's health....she has been a fighter for so long now. I'm sure I speak to everyone when I say that you have been a great fur mum to Tia and your courage and adult look on life is an inspiration to us all.

Your heart will tell you when it is time to make a decision - listen to it.

Sending you big (((((hugs))))) and lots of kisses for Tia.

Take Care xx

[Karen]

How sad it must be to see her struggle to move about. Could you fashion her a little cart with wheels? Some toy car or something? Poor Tia. You'll be in our prayers, still.

[Miss Z]

... but she has suddenly become quite a lot worse in the space of a few hours.

I'm not sure whether she's had a stroke, but she's lost the use of her left hind leg completely, and she is tilted now when she walks.

That is, if you can call it walking.

It's so harrowing to watch her now that I feel the pain and discomfort for her with every step she takes. She needs a breather at least every 30 seconds, and then finds it quite difficult to get going again. She's eaten a little today, but not an awful lot, although she does usually eat mostly in the late evening so I'm hoping she will find an appetite.

To be honest, though, if she does eat or not, she's another step closer to the bridge, and she's not far off now. If a vet saw her now, I believe s/he would reccommend that she is laid to rest. I'm giving myself a day to think this over, but if I for once believe she is in pain, then make no hesitation, I will not see her suffer for my own selfish needs.

This comes at a time which I really could do without, as another major matter has arisen within my family that I am still getting my head around. At such a time, I would depend on Tia. Now the prospect of losing her in the middle of it sends a cold plummet in my gut. I think I'm heading for another January 06.

[Babyboonie]

Thinking of you and Tia Zara xxxx

[Pawsitive Thinking]

We will help you through it in any way we can

[Zippy]

(((hugs)))

[moosmom]

Zara,

Just wanted to check in and see how Miss Tia is doing? You've been in my thoughts and prayers lately.

[Catty1]

Zara...whatever day it is, it will be here in 2007...and we are here for you.

{{{{hugs}}}}

[CathyBogart]

*Hugs* for you and Miss Tia.

[Miss Z]

That's about as positive as I can get. As I type, she is awake, and attempting with her heart and soul to drag herself to her cheese. I am in awe of her ability to thrive when her body is collapsing around her.

As originally thought, I am now unsure as to whether she had a stroke. You see, it is her left side which seems considerably weakened, yet her head is not tilted quite like I originally imagined. When she manages to shift her weight into a more equal balance, she looks quite normal. It is only when she walks that all her weight flops to the left. Movement is laborious for her. Having said that, she does not confine herself to her bed, and more often than not when I am around, she is up.

I had a scare on Tuesday night, she seemed very limp and unresponsive, and when I laid her on her bed, she did not flinch at all. She lay in the same position until I went to bed myself, and I prepared myself that I might have woken up to find that she had gone. I was distraught, of course, but also considered myself lucky that I would not have to make the decision I'd been dreading, and that Tia would be comfortable, and none the wiser.

I woke the following morning earlier than usual and felt the plummet in my stomach as I remembered, and bracing myself, I climbed out of bed and switched on my desk lamp. And there she was, awake and in the middle of her cage, albeit flipped over to her left, eating the hard boiled egg I'd left in the hope she might gather an appetite.

Of course, that means nothing to the bigger picture. I must be straight here, Tia could go tonight, or she could see out another week. I just don't know how quickly her illnesses will accelerate again, I can only judge that they will be very soon, as the series of events so far has barely left any breathing space. I don't think she can get any worse than she is now and I am not expecting miracles, but as long as she continues to teeth chatter when she feels my touch upon her back, then I cradle and protect her right to live out her final days with the family she loves so much.

I am sorry that I only feel like replying to this particular thread for a while on PT, my mind is just quite preoccupied with more pressing matters, such as this, which I believe prevent me from responding whole-heartedly to those of others. I don't want anyone to think I'm blowing my own trumpet by doing so. I will, however, now reply to the lovely PMs I have been sent, and I apologise for not doing so sooner. Thanks also to everyone who replied and is keeping Tia in their thoughts, I am sure they have kept her with me until now. Now I wish for your thoughts to be with her as her life draws to a close, in hoping that she is satisfied, and knows how loved she is.

[Muddy4paws]

Sorry I haven't been posting much Zara. I have been thinking about you and your Tia. I know you will do the right thing for her and give her the best you can do in this difficult time

[JuniorxMyxLove]

aww you're making me want to cry! This is a lot like what happened to freddie, my cat. she had cancer and we didnt want to do surgery. she was laid to rest in 2005.
I'm so sad it might end that way with Tia.

Tia's got lots of hugs, nuzzles, and licks coming from my end of the computer!

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and Tia.

[Alysser]

Zara, I am so sorry I didn't see this update earlier! I am glad to hear Tia still has an appetite, this is such a sad situation to hear of. I feel for you. I went through the same thing with Sassy(who is now much better). I wish you both luck!

How is she doing now?

[Miss Z]

Sorry I've been away for a bit and haven't updated sooner. With school starting and such, I've been quite busy lately.

Well, she's still with us, pretty decrepit I must say, but she's thriving. Her appetite has diminished somewhat although she doesn't say no to the odd slice of corned beef or hard-boiled egg, and still takes all her medicine brilliantly. We've started to give her baths to get the pee off her fur when she has accidents instead of the baby wipes now, it means that she doesn't need cleaning up so often and makes her feel a lot more comfortable too.

It feels quite odd talking about her now for some reason, whether it's because I know I've already said everything I want to say about her condition in previous posts, or that I'm simply hanging onto each day whilst she's still here and don't want to dampen them, I don't know. All I do know is that the day she departs could be now, could be next week, could be anytime. She has done amazing so far, we really thought we'd have lost her a few weeks ago, and she's battled on up till now. For such a little body and such a tiny heart, she is working overtime to stay put.

I love her to bits and still dread the day that's looming, but I think now I've realised that when it's really time, then it's her body's reward of rest for its efforts.