My foster, Mama Rosie - poor prognosis post 29

[Lizzie]

I talked to the director of the shelter on Saturday and he agreed to fund the sedated examination of Rose's mouth and biopsies. There was a lot of hemming and hawing, and he could get it done much cheaper, but in the end he agreed. It wasn't that he didn't want to help Rose, he just wanted to use yet another vet linked with the shelter - though this time one with more experience. I think he was a little embarassed at the way Rose had been neglected. She will undergo the procedure on Wednesday.

As to how other vets didn't diagnose her correctly, I don't know how it happened. She was drooling heavily and not eating, her blood results were normal, she probably didn't like having her mouth examined, so they jumped to an easy conclusion - that's my guess. In fact, she drools because she is starved. Now that she is only hungry and no longer starving, she drools far less.

She's far more active now, which is great except that she jumps up on the kitchen counters all the time. It's very sad really, she's always trying to get into food that smells good but it's impossible for her to take up any at all, not a drop or a shred.

The shelter is covering all her medication, including fluids therapy, and all food. They reimbursed me for the vet visit and her pain meds. so the only money if my own I've spent on her is part of a bag of Feline Pine litter. She takes up a lot of my time, but she is a very cheap guest.

Thank you all for your good wishes and offers of help. Now that I've taken some photos of him, I'm about to post about another foster that was also severely malnourished. In fact, he was reduced to eating slugs to survive. Now, I'm being faced with surgery for him also so I hope you will feel like helping him instead.

[Lizzie]

Thank you everyone for your interest,it's especially good of you when I have so very little time to respond to other posts.

The news is not good. There is no way of loosening Rose's tongue. It is hard, thin, atrophied, very scarred and almost totally immobile. It is so completely adhered in place that they were not able to intubate her because they couldn't move her tongue forward. They couldn't even biopsy the main sore on her tongue because she bled very freely after just the needle biopsy. They had to ice the needle site to stop the bleeding. The vet called a few minutes ago with the needle aspirate results - waking up Rose who was sound asleep on my lap. She has a major infection inside her tongue, even though she's been on Clavamox for a month. The cells are mutated and show signs of squamous cell carcinoma. I had noticed that she had started to keep her mouth slightly open all the time and the vet told me they hadn't been able to close her mouth even when she was fully sedated. There will come a point, and it won't be far away, when she can't swallow as I feed her and at that point I know what I must do.

Until that time, she will sleep cuddled up next to my neck at night, she won't feel starved, and she can enjoy her sunny windows. And I need to stop writing now so that I can prepare her evening feed.

[Edwina's Secretary]

"blessings on your head, mama Rosie, mama Rosie....." May the days you have left be filled with bliss...and wonderful food...and love...who could ask for more, Mama Rosie?

[cassiesmom]

Major LES here

Mama Rosie, I wish you many days of sunny windows, many nights of sleeping next to your very caring and loving Person, and hugs on top of hugs. *smooch*

[jennielynn1970]

Oh that poor soul! Always the innocent who suffer. Bless you for taking her in, and I hope that she feels absolutely content until her time will come to cross the Bridge. I'm so glad that she's with you until that time. Please give her some gentle hugs and some kisses for me on that sweet head of hers. Rest up Rosie, enjoy your time with Lizzie.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm also sorry that you don't have much time left together but at least she now knows what a loving home is like. May you remain as comfortable as possible in the days that you have left Mama Rose.

[kimlovescats]

This really brings tears to my eyes. Thank you so much, Lizzie, for having the tenderheartedness to bring her home and make her last days full of love, sunshine and a full tummy. GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!

Kim

[Catty1]

Oh, Lizzie...you seem - seem - to be so accepting of this. Not the same as being happy about it....

My brain just starts on the 'excise the stuff and feed her by hand', 'try prednisone for the swelling, buy some more time' - but a cat without a tongue...oh god, that poor kitty.

How is her mood, Lizzie? Has she gained some weight, grown some fur?

So many things happen that are not fair to cats or people, and many have happened lately, but every once in a while, it hits me that this is JUST SO UNFAIR.... Had those other vets seen this earlier, would it have mattered?

Dear Mama Rosie picked you, is clean and eating, has your lap, and the sun...why you, sweet Rose?

Please give her a hug and a pat for me. A nice ruffle-the-fur-caress hug, and a kiss on that dear forehead.

[Lizzie]

That's a good suggestion, about steroids, I'll ask the vet tomorrow.

He's never seen anything quite like Rose's tongue and the lab was a bit thrown also. The major problem for us is that we have no history, we have no idea how or when her tongue became so infected and "bad". I emailed the volunteer who had been trying to get Rose help and she said that until 2 months ago, Rose had been able to eat treats and regular food. However, it's obvious that her tongue has been in poor condition for some time. You know how good cats are at eating through the most incredible pain and discomfort.

There is no way the vet could excise anything, and it still wouldn't give her a working tongue. She bled so easily that she really scared the vet, he was afraid he was going to lose her on the table through blood loss if he did anything else. He doesn't know why that is happening either. As he said, the tongue is very vascular but he's never seen it bleed that easily and freely from the tiniest hole.

Her mood? She's feisty, demanding, pushy, adventurous, determined, but also loves curling up against me in bed.

I'll give her a few extra shoulder massages and head kisses tonight from everyone.

Oh, Lizzie...you seem - seem - to be so accepting of this. Not the same as being happy about it....

My brain just starts on the 'excise the stuff and feed her by hand', 'try prednisone for the swelling, buy some more time' - but a cat without a tongue...oh god, that poor kitty.

How is her mood, Lizzie? Has she gained some weight, grown some fur?

So many things happen that are not fair to cats or people, and many have happened lately, but every once in a while, it hits me that this is JUST SO UNFAIR.... Had those other vets seen this earlier, would it have mattered?

Dear Mama Rosie picked you, is clean and eating, has your lap, and the sun...why you, sweet Rose?

Please give her a hug and a pat for me. A nice ruffle-the-fur-caress hug, and a kiss on that dear forehead.

[columbine]

Big HUGS to you, Lizzie, and gentle cuddles to Rose. The whole world is more blessed for Rose having found you.

Love, Columbine

[Laura's Babies]

OH MY GOD!! This poor baby.. I am sitting here crying over this whole sad thing. Damned those people who abondoned this baby! After years of faithful companionship, that was the thanks she got?

God bless you for bringing her home and giving her some tender loving care so she won't have to go to the bridge thinking nobody loved her anymore. She is obviousley in the right hands now so love her all you can so when the time comes, she has known happiness and love again.

[moosmom]

Lizzie,

I just want you to know that I think you did a remarkable, kind deed to take Rosie in. What a kind soul she is. She deserves to be pampered and I can't think of anyone more caring and loving than you!!

Please give her headbumpies and kisses for me, will ya? You did good kid!!!

[Pawla]

This is so sad. One thing is for sure Lizzie, at least she got to know what it is like to have someone truly love, and care for her. That is all thanks to you. You, and dear, sweet Rosie will be in my thoughts, and prayers. Please keep us posted.

[mruffruff]

Thank you, Lizzie, for taking care of Moma Rosie. If Pet Talk prayers won't cure her, at least she will know love and comfort for the time she still has.

Prayers being sent for a miracle and Hugs to you.

[jazzcat]

I'm so sorry.

Thank goodness she has you Lizzie.