Hey, and HELP!!!

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by chrystal

Hey everyone,

I have just made the hardest decision ever. I am going to have him put down. I just can't bring him back to a stressed out house, because even if he does recover, will it happen again? will he run away? I just can't take that chance. This is so hard, but I can't do this to him. i love him too much!

I will so need all of you to get thru this!

chrystal

Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry you and your family have to go through this. It really is a very hard but very brave decision, the sort of thing only you and Harley and the vet can decide. He will live on in your heart. See if you can manage to be with him at the end so he can feel your loving touch.

Peace to you,

Julie

[chrystal]

Thank you all so much. I will be with him, and I will bring him home to in the back yard. I hate this feeling so much, but I have to look out for his best interests. I can't have him suffer anymore than he already has. Will be back on tonite or tomorrow after Cassandra gets her shots (another tear fest).

He will always be in my heart forever and ever! . He has his in my soul always.

Chrystal

[Love4himies]

to you, chrystal. I know this is such a difficult time for you.

[SARAH]

I'm ing with you, I can just imagine if I had to do that with one of my little cats, or the dogs, right now ... Chrystal!

[2survivors]

Originally Posted by chrystal

Thank you all so much. I will be with him, and I will bring him home to in the back yard. I hate this feeling so much, but I have to look out for his best interests. I can't have him suffer anymore than he already has. Will be back on tonite or tomorrow after Cassandra gets her shots (another tear fest).

He will always be in my heart forever and ever! . He has his in my soul always.

Chrystal

My thoughts are with you ----having just gone through this with Jessica I think I know how you feel-----you will be on my mind----
To make such a decision is the hardest one but one of the most important---- I've said this recently----to do what was right for Jessica and not me was the right thing to do!

[phoozles]

:sad: Poor Harley.

[chrystal]

hey everyone,

Please don't be angry with me, but I had 2nd thoughts, and I had the biopsy done and feeding tube installed today! He wasn't looking so good today, of course, but I decided against putting him down last night when I went to see him and he ate for me! It is gonna be a long haul, but worth it, I hope. I just couldn't do it when he may have another 8 or 10 years in him . And it helped when the vet said I could make payments.

So, thank you again to everyone, and any advice from here on out would be fantastic! I am just on !

A little but Cassandra is now drawing on the wall, and since it is with pencil, I figure go to it!

Anyway, I don't know when I can bring Harley home, but he will get all the love and attention that I can muster. Thanks again so so so much everyone!

Sugarcatmom, Growler, Phoozles, Sarah, Love4himies, 2survivors, Amatazes, Chico2, Rainbow: I will forever be in your debt for all the support and advice, tears and crossed fingers, hugs and vibes, prayers and everything else you guys have given of yourselves to me and Harley. You are all my s. You have all left your own s on my heart!

Gotta run, and try to put wee one down. See ya tomorrow!

Lovies, and (and a bit ).

Chrystal & Harley

[growler~GateKeeper]

Chrystal I'm glad you changed your mind - there is nothing worse than regret

To answer your earlier question yes the clinic near the PNE grounds is Canada West Veterinary Specialists it is in Vanc not Burnaby (it's right near the boarder actually & they used to be on the Bby side) Please be sure to call them & ask about payment plans if you decide to go ahead with the tests

[chrystal]

Thanks, Growler, appreciate all advice etc! And sorry, Winston, I forgot you on my list of thanks, so pls read rest of this thread!

Wee one is still up, so gotta go fight to get her down. See you all tomorrow (for sure this time, LOL)

Kisses & Meows,
Chrystal

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by chrystal

hey everyone,

Please don't be angry with me, but I had 2nd thoughts,

Oh my goodness, we'd never be angry about something like THAT!! I'm so happy that you had a chance to re-evaluate the situation.

Originally Posted by chrystal

and I had the biopsy done and feeding tube installed today! He wasn't looking so good today, of course, but I decided against putting him down last night when I went to see him and he ate for me! It is gonna be a long haul, but worth it, I hope. I just couldn't do it when he may have another 8 or 10 years in him . And it helped when the vet said I could make payments.

That's fantastic that the vet is going to do a payment plan with you. I won't lie to you, it can be tough to nurse a sick cat back to health, but it can also be extremely rewarding. You're bond with Harley will become incredibly strong.

If you need any advice whatsoever about the tube-feeding, let me know. I've done it on 3 separate occasions for various issues and even the vets at my clinic consider me a pro. Do you know what kind of tube they put in? Does it go in through his neck or directly into his stomach?

[chrystal]

Hello,

First, sorry Stumpsmom, almost forgot you in my thank you's.

Second, the tube is inserted in the front of his neck, is sutured, goes around the left side of his neck (if looking at him from behind) is sutured, and comes out at the back with tape holding it in place.

They will show me how to do it at the clinic, as well as what to give him. He was still pretty groggy from the anaesthetic last night, so he only drank some water. But hey, it was something!

Believe me, I will definitely be picking your brain on this as long as you don't mind some silly questions every now and again.

Going to go get wee one up now, back in a while. Don't know if they will let me bring him home today, but here's hoping

Chrystal

[14+kitties]

Hey Chrystal. I somehow missed out on most of this post past the welcome. So sorry. Kudos to you for making the decision to keep Harley going. It will be a tough haul for a while but the love he will give you will far outweigh the toughness. and keep your hopes up!

[Love4himies]

OH I AM SOOOOO HAPPY YOU DIDN'T DO IT. Deep down inside I thought it was a little too soon, but I am not there to see your kitty so I didn't think it appropriate to express my opinion.

Hooray, I hope Harley makes a full recovery and I am sure he will with all the love and care you will give him. He will be eternally grateful to you for this decision.

We are never mad at somebody who makes the decision to give every chance possible to save a life of a furkid.

[phoozles]

YAY! We're so happy you've decided to make a go at it - it can be a little tough at times, but I bet you've got a little fighter there in Harley!

Feel free to ask us questions at any times, and give us plenty of updates on Harley and his progress!

[chico2]

Chrystal,you have me in tears,I thought Harley was already gone and now this news,absolutely wonderful
Yes,you'll have a lot of ups and downs,it's not going to be easy,but Harley is alive and I am sure,will get better.
I am certainly not knowledgable in this kind of thing,but several people here are and will answer any questions you have,I am sure!!
Thank dog your vet saw how much you love your cat and gave you a paymentplan,it's always a heartbreaking thing,when a cat/dog has to die because there just is not any money to spare,so kudos to your vet,wish they were all like that.

[chrystal]

hey,

still waiting to hear from the vet on his progress today, and sorry, 14+kitties, almost forgot you in my thank you note.

will let you know when I do.

thanks again for all of your support, kind words, and advice.

meow for now,
C

[growler~GateKeeper]

How did Harley do today?

[rainbow]

for Harley.

[chrystal]

hi everyone,

vet called last night to tell me he could probably come home today. well, i just wasted 2 hrs sitting there to be told he couldn't come home till tomorrow. not a big deal, got to have a good visit, and they showed me how to tube feed him, but i don't have the fuel to be running back and forth, know what i mean? also, carting around cassandra isn't fair to her, either. sorry bout the venting, and i know some of it is , but needed to get that off my chest. then i find out that what i thought would be just an extra 300.00 on my bill, turns into a balance owing of 750 ish. , how frustrating! again sorry bout the ranting, but holy cow...

anyway, tomorrow Harley comes home and i will feel a bit better about that.

thanks for listening.

C

[phoozles]

The wait can be frustrating - especially when you have to run back and forth.

Good news that you at least got to visit with him today and get a trial run on the feeding - can't wait to hear how Harley does back at home!

[chrystal]

hi,

well, Harley is still at the vet, and it is now sunday.... he wasn't doing so good yesterday, really listless, not moving around, am waiting for the vet to call me back to see how he is doing today.

i just want him home! i can't take much more of this, and i don't know if he is gonna get much better being there, or if he will do better at home, or what? i don't know if he is kind of giving up because he isn't at home?

will keep you all posted.

C

[chrystal]

well, here we go again. just got off the phone with the vet, and Harley is now diabetic. oh, and the biopsy result was hepatic lipidosis - severe.

we are giving him 24 hours, but i think the worst is yet to come. i think that his body is just going to shut down, bit by bit, and since i can't go thru that, i think it is time. i have done everything i can, but i will not let him go thru this.

so, thanks again everyone, but i love him enough to let him go, and not have him suffer any more.

C.

[chico2]

Chrystal,a diabetic cat can live a loong time,with treatment,often times though while beeing stressed like he certainly is now,cats will test positive for Diabeties,I have no idea what hepatic lipidosis is,I will google it.
I believe a cat will always do better at home,but if he's too sick to come home,there is not much you can do:sad:
You know your kitty the best and whatever you decide to do it will be out of love for him.
So sorry for both Harley and you

[chico2]

Oh,it means Fatty Liver Disease(FLD)and can be treated if caught early,but involves tube-feeding etc..or feeding with a syringe,until he is ready to eat normal again.

[phoozles]

Originally Posted by chrystal

well, here we go again. just got off the phone with the vet, and Harley is now diabetic. oh, and the biopsy result was hepatic lipidosis - severe.

we are giving him 24 hours, but i think the worst is yet to come. i think that his body is just going to shut down, bit by bit, and since i can't go thru that, i think it is time. i have done everything i can, but i will not let him go thru this.

so, thanks again everyone, but i love him enough to let him go, and not have him suffer any more.

C.

Any updates, chrystal?

[chrystal]

hi everyone,

Harley passed away about an hour and a half ago.

The vet called me just after 9 to let me know, and I knew he was giving up when I saw him on Saturday. He wouldn't look at me, etc.

Will need some support from you all if that is ok.

They will call me when I can pick up his ashes, but it doesn't make it any easier when I didn't get to say goodbye, or hold him one last time...

Gonna go cry some more, be back later.

Chrystal

[amatazes]

Crystal I'm so sorry. His poor little body. Be strong.

[Winston]

Oh Crystal I am so sorry for your loss! Be sure to know that we are all here for you and will support you whenever you need us! If you haven't read the Rainbow Bridge poem I will insert it for you here! Draw some comfort in the fact that Harley is running free without any more pain!

RIP sweet Harley


The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...


Cindy

[chrystal]

Thank you so much for the poem, Cindy, it is wonderful. Made me cry some more, but I think that is pretty much gonna be what I will be doing for the next few days.

You have all been so wonderful and supportive, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A bit but is there a photo that comes up beside my name? If so, that is my beloved Harley .

to all of you!

Harley, I love you.

Chrystal

[phoozles]

Oh Chrystal, So sorry to hear about Harley :sad:
Take comfort in knowing that you did what you could to give him a fighting chance - it was just his time to go.

I saw the picture of him in your profile - a beautiful big boy (just like my Jake)

We're here for you for support whenever you need it.