I am sure you would agree that I am completely adorable.
For those reading who did not follow my updates on my now-deleted FB page - here is a small recap:
On April 30th, 2007, I wento the vet for the first time: I weighed in at 7.9# and the doctors approximated I was about 8-12 months old. I was living with Mamma for about a week at this time, but had been hanging around her house and business for more than a month ... the rest of that part of my story is essentially her falling madly in love with me quickly, and keeping me as little brother to puppy girl, Zoe, and a big boy orange tabby-cat, Kismet. :)
Together we lived in Searsport, Maine; Ocala, Florida; Lakeland, Florida (where sadly Zoe and Kismet both passed within a week of one another); and Winter Haven, Florida (where we (thanks to Ashley) introduced Stivali "Boots" - the little tuxedo cat as my lil sister).
Fast forward to March 19, 2016 - I wento the vet for my annual check up. I got a clean bill of health. Pure green light, weighing in at 21.7#. The beautiful and friendly doctor laughed that my motor is so loud, she could not get a clear heartbeat reading through her stethoscope. Mamma and my doctor laughed and laughed - Mamma told the sweet smart doctor that no doctor has ever been able to hear my heart because I am way too happy and I'm purring all of the time.
It is true. I purr all of the time. I am an incredibly happy cat. Mamma has raised many cats in her years and no other has ever purred as much as I do. She tells me all of the time. I am just a happy and purr-filled cat. It sure helps that Mamma is a joy-filled girl, because it really rubs off on me.
When I returned from the March annual exam, Mamma noticed I was not eating, I was not sleeping in my normal manner, and I was not purring, playing, or trilling (I tend to chirp and trill a lot, after all I am a Maine Coon). That first day she attributed my lethargic and odd behavior to going to the vet.
The following day, she monitored me closely, and noticed my breathing was heavy and noisy. She became concerned and called the vet.
The vet thought perhaps I had contracted a cold during my visit and made an appointment for me for the following day (March 22nd) for a re-check. The vet asked Mamma if I have ever had an asthma attack. Mamma never realized that whenI sound like I am coughing up a hair ball which does not come up actually may be an asthma attack. The doctor did blood work and x-rays.
The x-rays revealed I had fluid on my lungs - so the doctor ordered me to go on a diuretic (Lasix) and ordered an echogardiogram and a blood pressure test - which I had done on the 24th of March.
The non-invasive ultrasound, echocardiogram, revealed I have congestive heart failure.
Which, by the way, is a specific gene mutation in Maine Coons.
On March 25th in addition to the diuretic, I started taking a heart pill, Enacard (to dilate blood vessels and help my heart work more efficiently).
The prognosis was guarded when I went for follow up x-rays on the 8th of April. The diuretic seemed to be working minimally, as my condition did not worsen, but did not get much better,
A follow-up echocardiogram was scheduled for August 01.
Mamma is devastated and disappointed. She was confident my disease would have stabilized and that the echocardiogram would only reveal good-things. She is also upset because the vet did not take x-rays yesterday, but asked that I go back today for them ... knowing I have been on a diuretic since March, if the doctors wanted to know if I still had fluid in my lungs, they should have taken the x-rays yesterday!! Going to the animal hospital is extremely stressful considering how aggressive little girl, Stivali, is with me when I return, as she does not recognize my scent from the doctor and she hisses and is plain mean to me. :(
Mamma told the doctor that she will bring me back for x-rays and more blood work come fall, like October, but the doctor said it should not wait more than 3-4 weeks, if I could not return today for it.
Mamma is beyond upset. Today is the anniversary of Kismet's passing in 2009. Remember, "Never put off until tomorrow the hug you can give today."
Kismet, the King.
You can read about him here: Kismet
Me (L) and Kizzy (R) in Ocala, Florida. Kizzy is behind me in this photo taken in Ocala, Florida.
Please pray for me and my mamma during this difficult time, thank you!
