The news is not good. The vet we took Felix to is a wonderful wonderful vet. His name is Robert T. Franklin, DVM. He practices at the referral clinic out of the Raleigh Hills veterinary Medical Center. We spent much time in the exam room where Dr. Franklin watched Fee walk around and talked to him like a pediatrician would talk to a patient. The first thing he said to Felix was, "So where's your bag?" He helped him up to a high window so he could look outside, and even shut the blinds with him on the other side so he would feel more relaxed while we looked at x-rays. He does have a bowel obstruction and it is most likely a stricture or a tumor. The only way to find out which would be to have a scope procedure which would mean general anesthetic for a geriatric cat. Then, the scope would just give a clearer picture of what the x-rays already show, an obstruction that if removed surgically would mean breaking the pelvis, and more pain and stress than I would ever want to see Fee go through. Besides that, it really most likely is a tumor since there are some "suspect" looking areas on each of his lungs that could possibly be cancer as well. So, no definite diagnosis, but my gut feeling is that he has colon cancer that has metastasized to his lungs. I hate it. I asked about the possibility of pain medication at some point if Felix starts to feel any pain from all this, which eventually he probably will, and the vet basically said that it would compromise his quality of life, asked who would we really be doing it for - Felix or me, and that when the time did come that he started to be uncomfortable, to let him pass with his dignity. The x-ray (and his walk) also show that he most likely has neuropathy with his hind legs. The really interesting thing is that cats are supposed to have seven vertabrae between the last rib and the sacrum, but the xray only shows six. Felix's seventh vertabrae is fused to the sacrum, Dr. Franklin thinks he was born like this. It has never bothered him in the least. In his prime, Felix could out-jump the best of the best. Flying Fee. So, all this is bad news, but we will deal with things as they happen. In the mean time, we love him, love him, and love him. Dr. Franklin said that we know him better than anything and that we will know what to do. I can't say that I'm at peace with all this yet, and I do know I still have some tears to shed, but for the last six or seven years I've been semi-preparing for this. I've known something like this would probably happen. All the dreams of a peaceful passing during sleep at the age of 25 are fine, but watching the reality with Meridian, Strawberry, Kiwi, Shasta, Bob, Ray, and Blackberry kind of gave me a clue.
We started the latest crock pot experiment last night. Very barely followed a recipe, more just for ideas, time, and quantities. The ingredients were my own creation. I hope we end up with some excellent shredded beef. I just got off the phone with Frank and he turned it off about an hour after I left and when it cools he's going to shred it.
Word(s) of the day: TRIPPINDICULAR
Lexie log: It's hard to be patient when your two and a half! The receptionist at the vet clinic gave Lexie some crayons and a coloring paper titled "Find Fifty Five Fanny Fleas." The crayon colors were Sea Green, turquoise Green, Green Blue, Red, Yellow, Salmon, Mahogany, and Magenta...All of which she either called green or purple. She made a lovely scribbling on the paper over the next 20 minutes, which as the dutiful Mommy, I tucked away in my purse for refrigerator art, and then she lost patience. She wanted to leave. As soon as I walked her to the other end of the lobby for something to do, it was time to go to the exam room, and she didn't want to go. Of course, neither Frank nor I is willing to miss a moment of what the Dr. says or does, so she goes in with us. She was quite a little exsaparation in there. Bless her little angel heart, just like the songs says, "Girls just want to have fun." She was under foot and over rowdy. She wanted to pull all the pictures off the cork board and bring them to us, thus disrupting any dialogue. I know she could sense how tense Frank and I were and I don't think she liked it. Well, we made it through ok and within 10 minutes back in the car, she fell asleep. She must be going through a growth spurt and/or still getting over the end that cold still, because she is taking a lot more naps.
Today I'm grateful for Frank, Lexie, Felix, Miadda, Chikita, Tiki, Turkeyswoop, Bobtail Bob (A.K.A. Sagan), Meridian, Strawberry, Kiwi, Blackberry, Bob, Ray, Shasta, Frank (A.K.A. Tabby), Paramount, Woody, Oreo, Blacky, Tiger, Fuzzy, Elizabeth, Emma, the orange Chevron kitty, love, memories, photos, dreams, milk, and hope.
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