Regrettably, I haven't got the chance to blog about Daisy's story.
For the past weeks, it was sort of a heart-in-your-mouth experience for us. Daisy came down with a lump on the right side of her neck--two marbles large and hard as stone. What's more, she suffered from severe nose blockage and everytime little Daisy heaved, the discharge snorted and leaked out of her nostril.
We put her at the vet's for 10 days or so and were told that Daisy might not make it, given the condition of her lump. Their first opinion was that Daisy's lump could be cancerous and the procedures of biopsy and chemotherapy entailed thereafter would mean hefty medical costs for us. We were given the option to put Daisy to sleep, otherwise she would, just the same, "waste away".
Aunty S, the 80+ caregiver, and I picked up Daisy, with an uncertainty what her lump would mean to her life. When she was brought out of the ward, both her fore limbs were shaven for injection of glucose drip.
On the exterior, Daisy shrivelled, weakened and her meows became gentler.
Her mother, a dark-haired community cat whom we named Suzy and previously suffered a gaping sore on her back, missed her so much that she loitered in the backyard of the caregiver's to get closer to Daisy. As Daisy rested in the cage we set up for her, quarantined from the rest of the cats--the many the caregiver could take in herself without causing a fuss to her family and neighbours--Suzy held vigil for her daughter.
She hanged around the room where Daisy stayed and never so much as strayed from the place. If policies imply that animals are emotionless, Suzy's demonstrated behaviour for her daughter defy any clinical principle on which the policies stand.
What followed in a few days was the absence of glucose supply for Daisy and her rapid loss of appetite. As the weather got colder with the December rain, Daisy became thinner, weaker and paler. Daisy was literally bony.
Side profile: in the red circle, you can tell her neck is thicker due to the lump
Profusely leaky discharge from left nostril. Just common cat flu, the vet said
Back from her 10 days at the first vets: Daisy explored the room and climbed the window grilles to seek a spot to escape. We let her be for her to settle down
There was an inner prompting to take immediate action: take Daisy for a second opinion.
At the second vet's, Daisy was met with a basic checkup. Results?
Gingivitis judging from her pale gums; dehydration (her skin eased softly down when pulled up; and an unmistakable lump which was not abscess after extraction test.
Daisy was so weak the veins on her limbs collapsed and the vet could not, at all, put her on drip. Except through the back--a slower process though. With her health so poor, it would be life-threatening to operate on her to remove the lump.
After a round of consultation with a senior vet, Dr V. felt it would be best to let Daisy be for the lump was mischievously located at a spot linked to a complicated network of arteries and blood vessels . No-go for surgery for sure.
And in a few days' time, after rounds of prayers for her recovery, Daisy sprang back to life: her appetite revived, water intake normal, flu let up. Just the obstacle of a lump still present.
Daisy was discharged and brought back to her cage quarantine. Suzy was happy to see, even from a distance, her daughter again cozying up in the cage in peaceful recuperation.
Today, I received a call from Aunty S to check on Daisy. I rushed to her place and saw her in the cage where S managed to put her in (Daisy ran away a few days ago!), felt her lump and realised her lump is 90 per cent reduced!!!
Her gums have returned to a healthy state of pink. Aunty S's tip: apply Bonjela.
.........................
Gladness. We await to confirm with the vet if it is still necessary to bring Daisy back for a review.
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Daisy's case has fetched up to a few hundreds for us. If you would be so kind, please contact projectjkteam [at] yahoo.com.sg to help us with her medical bills so that Aunty can continue to do the good work she's doing.
At over 80 years of age and managing, on her own, a few colonies of community cats, Aunty needs all the help she can get. Please, if you could... help us help Daisy.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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