{{Kristin}} {{Byron}}

Strength ~ma to you both.

It's all broken down. It covers all pre and post op checks, meds, labs, elizabethan collar, all parts of the operation, procedure, etc. Apparently it would be a lot less at the regular vets, but the regular vet says he doesn't have the level of equiptment or resources to deal as safely with an older cat. So I found out last night that between federal, state, and Bush rebate tax refunds, I'm getting 3000 back. I was going to use it to pay off the computer and vet bills to this point, but I have decided that it is going to pay for this instead. If the surgeon hadn't been so overwhelmingly positive about his prognosis, his potential to have a happy, healthy future, if he does have the amputation, then I wouldn't have done it. But she is. And if I don't do this, he is going to have a very painful, very slow death over the next few months. So. I've left him. I've cried a lot. I will pick him up tomorrow.

Today I need to get supplies to get ready for his recovery.

I know some of you probably think I'm crazy, hell, I would have thought that of myself, but this feels like the right thing, not just for me, but for him too. So there it is.

And for the record, March can fuck off and die.

Kristin, I talked with my vet about this, as he's done many amputations, including TC's. He says losing a hind leg is less of an adjustment than losing a front one for cats (it's the reverse for dogs). Since Byron is older, recovery will take a little longer. He'll be sore and achy, and he'll need stools and steps to get up on furniture, into windows, etc., and especially down. You'll want to make down, especially, easier, so that he doesn't stress the remaining leg.

That said, he'll adjust far faster than a human, and it won't bother him if he occasionally forgets the leg isn't there and topples over. If this is a choice between him losing a leg and losing his life, I think you know what his choice would be. All I can tell you is that living with our three-leggity beastie has been a joy, for him and for us. All possible good thoughts to you and Byron.

So I found out last night that between federal, state, and Bush rebate tax refunds, I'm getting 3000 back.

The universe's timing isn't always bad.

{{{Kristin and Byron}}}

I'm glad the money is there to let you do what feels right, Kristin. Best of luck for an easy recovery for Byron.

ION, Annabel just "wrote a story" to send to her grandma in Alabama. It's squiggledy lines on the page with some animal stickers at the top. I asked her what it was about and she told me the following:

"It's about a princess, a big princess, and she got a present. She opened it and it was a NEW CROWN. She put it on her head, but the wind blew and knocked it off, and then there was a BAD GUY. He came and got the crown. And the prince came." Me: "The princess?" Her: "No, the prince. And they had SWORDS! Fight fight fight fight, fight fight fight fight...OWWW. That was the bad guy. The prince won, and he gave the crown to the princess, and she put it back on and she was happy."

I guess she's really my daughter, huh?

Aww! Did you write the story down for grandma, Susan? You totally should!

Sigh. Am waiting hoping to hear from a woman about a job. Yesterday she left me a message saying she was sorry she hadn't heard yet, but was hopeful, and expected to hear today. So far, no word. The phone just rang...and it was not her. AUGH.

{{{{{{Kristin}}}}}}

(((Kristin & Byron)))