Selfie Sunday and an Update 11/18/23

Lola: Hello, and happy Sunday! And it is indeed a happy Sunday because I’m here to share the day with all of you. I have some pretty good news to share with you this week.

I’ve had a better week. I started eating on my own, I have a little more energy, and my gait has improved a little. I’m going to let Mommy take over the report from here, with some photos of me taken during the week.

Dawn: I first want to say thank you for the support we’ve received through the comments here and on social media. The outpouring of love and concern has touched my heart and I appreciate it more than I can articulate. Lola is a special little soul, who has touched thousands of other souls. It never stops amazing me.

If you missed our last post, you can read that to catch up on what happened originally. The “episode” Lola had was absolutely terrifying. That happened on a Monday evening. As you know, we received dire news from the vet about the prognosis. That Friday was a particularly bad night for her, and I honestly thought that was the time. I didn’t sleep at all that night as she was in bed beside me barely moving.

On Monday morning I called our holistic vet to move our appointment up. I told her the entire story and we basically set up palliative care. Over the next few days she was still very weak and I had to cajole her to eat, bringing food and water right to her so she wouldn’t become dehydrated. She was still very wobbly on her feet, and she slept most of the day and night. Upon waking up she was very lethargic. She was out of it most of the time and wouldn’t even lift her head off of her little pillow when I came home. I prayed she would hold on until the appointment.

I had a couple of very long days at work so I had my sitter come in midday to check on her. She couldn’t believe how much she had declined and was also very worried about her. Wednesday evening I arrived home around 9:45pm and was met with a small miracle. Lola was up in the cat tree when I walked through the door. When she saw me she meowed hello and came to greet me. She was much more alert and a little steadier on her feet. She even ate on her own when I put her plate of Fancy Feast down. Not a lot, but enough. I couldn’t believe it.

By the time the holistic vet came to us on Friday, she was a yet a little stronger. Dr. Wilson was prepared for palliative end of life care, but as soon as she saw Lola the plan was changed. Lola received acupuncture, PEMF therapy, a script for an appetite stimulant, and a B12 shot. I was also instructed to continue her herbal supplements. We will have weekly sessions for a few weeks, and evaluate each week regarding future treatments.

Given Lola’s slow improvement and recovery, Dr. Wilson strongly feels that Lola had a stroke. She reviewed the spinal xray and confirmed there is something amiss in the lumbosacral area. Although not the cause of the episode, we still need to be aware and monitor it.

Our regular vet, Dr. Clough, is out on leave until Christmas. We will follow up with her when she returns, and Dr. Wilson will share her clinical observations with her since she will be seeing Lola just about weekly until then. Dr. Clough’s husband will still be at the practice so we are not without a regular vet if needed.

We are not out of the woods yet and Lola still has good and bad days. I actually feel bad and a little guilty about our last post because I almost feel like I had given up on her. The situation was very dire and I honestly thought it would be the last post she wrote. But the heavens have been good to us and she is still here, sitting on my lap purring as I type this. This little girl is a fighter and has never stopped fighting since she was a young cat.

We’re taking life one day at a time and we know tomorrow isn’t promised. But she’s still here today and I’m hoping she has more good days than bad. Her spirit is never dampened and her love for others never wanes. Right now she’s still Lola, just a little weaker and a little wobblier.

Lexy has been very concerned and has been spending more time around her. She has been a very attentive big sister.