Patches and Scout
Calico sisters
Patches is always in the pink collar
Patches Story (What Happened?) Long Story Short Thank you The Moral Updates
June 4, 2003 was Patches and Scout's first day in our home. They were 6 weeks old!
At the Humane Society, I found them wrapped around each other sleeping! I only wanted one kitty, but I just couldn't separate them!
Always together! Typical sisters!!
In the right photo, Patches is about 9 months old!
Indoor cats but checking out the outside world!
They lead the good life, don't they?! Here they are about a year old!
Patches is about 1 yr 4 months here in these October photos!
Patches is truly Jennie's cat! I expected Patches and Scout to take to me as all my cats do, but Patches chose Jennie as her favorite! And that's okay with me!
Common sight at our house: Jennie and Patches together!
Josh and Patches!
Must've been something good on TV!
Here is Patches' story
The best we can figure is that around Christmas time 2004, Patches ate an entire spool of thread. We had no idea.
We all had colds at the time, so when she started to appear sick, we thought we somehow gave her a cold and she was just under the weather!
Patches and Scout are pretty nocturnal and eat and play at night, so it wasn't uncommon for me to not see her at the food bowl. Scout was eating, so the bowl still needed filling. Patches also stays in Jennie and Joshua's room most of the time!
She vomited a few times and seemed to be losing weight, but John and I didn't pick her up and notice the dramatic weight loss.
She also stopped bathing herself. Unusual for cats. I guess that's one way they try to show you something's wrong.
Not until this past Wednesday, January 5, 2005 did we understand how dire the situation was.
A thread presented itself, if you know what I mean.
I called our vet who said to bring her in immediately. That's when I got her out from under Joshua's bed and picked her up. I was horrified at how thin she had become and knew she was in deep trouble. (We found out she was 8 lbs in October 2004 and was now barely over 5 lbs.)
The vet said it would cost $3000 to do the surgery to remove the thread and Patches would still not be a great candidate for surviving the healing process.
We are a family of 5. It's me, my husband and three kids, 5 years old and younger. Our pets (extended family) are Pepper, Patches and Scout (our 3 cats), Skippy the big goldfish and Whiskers the hamster!! So we have our hands full to say the least and money, unfortunately, always plays a factor in our lives.
We prayed and prayed because we didn't have the $3000 for our vet do the surgery.
Thursday, January 6, 2005: I called so many vets and even the Humane Society. At 6:30pm, I called Dr. Beckman's office. A friend of mine from church said Dr. Beckman went to our church, Skyline, and he would be very honest about the situation and price. He wasn't in the office and they said it would be better to speak with Dr. Beckman himself, that maybe he could give us a lower surgery price and a payment plan.
Well, we figured it was all hopeless and would have to put Patches down Friday after I got off work at noon. We cried and the kids made their farewell cards to be buried with her. Jennie drew many pictures of Patches doing things like playing with toys and smiling, as she sat at the kitchen table singing "I'll miss you Patches" and "I love my Patches." That made me cry again!
Friday, January 7, 2005: I went to work miserable. John had Jennie and Josh write on a pillowcase their final goodbyes. We would bury Patches in the pillowcase with the cards the kids made.
We decided at around 10am to just call Dr. Beckman and tell him the situation anyway. He called back and said he could open her up and see how bad the situation was for $150 and that way we would know for sure where we stood!
Friday (11:00am): I rushed home an hour early from work and John rushed Patches to Dr. Beckman! Found out she had thread wrapped around her tongue, it went all the way through her body and came out the other end! We said go ahead and do the surgery to remove it!
The surgery was successful and at a fraction of the cost of what my vet wanted! Just over $650! It was like a miracle. A miracle that we had been praying for.
Friday (4:30pm): Patches went into cardiac arrest. They did CPR and put her on oxygen and stabilized her.
Friday (6:30pm): I came to pick up Patches and take her to the 24 hour Pet Emercency and Specialty Center in La Mesa. The PEC.
This is where it got expensive but where the miracle continued!
Patches arrived at PEC at 7:00pm in what they described "basically a coma." They immediately took her and got her going on an IV and such. Karen, an angel behind the desk, helped me fill out paperwork to try and qualify for "Care Credit" to help pay for Patches' care. I had Jennie and Jamie (6 mos. old) with me, so Karen filled out my paperwork while I held Jamie. She was so kind and explained what was happening. I was just standing there crying, scared, sad, with two little kids who were hungry and wanted to go home. I'm standing there deciding whether we could afford Patches' overnight care and even if she would survive the night. (Thank you again for all your help, Karen!)
I got qualified for $5500 Care Credit, so Patches could stay the night and have a blood transfusion she desperately needed.
Saturday, January 8, 2005: Patches made it through Friday night and was slightly better. Total bill after all her antiobiotics and procedures: $1700+. And she was no where near stable. We approved another blood transfusion and several necessary tests, 24 hrs more care, etc.
We knew we had the Care Credit for $5500 and wanted to try and get Patches to a stable condition. Dr. Morton brought in her own cat as a blood donor! Amazing to me! But every person I met at PEC was so kind and considerate. The doctors, nurses, technicians, everyone on staff was incredibly caring and genuinely concerned for Patches and our monetary situation!
Patches is showing improvement. She took a few steps around her cage. She responded when spoke to, she lifted her head and turned towards the doctor. She got up to use the litter box. Dr. Morton is not sure if Patches can see very well, as she is squinting and her eyes are very dilated. Last night after church service, I took all 3 kids to PEC to say "good night" to Patches. I was hoping that it was just good night and not good-bye. Jennie sang her "I love you Patches" song to her and petted her. Patches lifted her head when Jennie touched her and sang. Before we left, Jennie and Josh drew on two small cards and Karen taped them up in Patches' cage.
Sunday, January 9, 2005: Patches continues to progress slowly. Her blood is now clotting and she is not leaking at her suture site. Her blood pressure is low, but has been holding since they took her off the blood pressure medicine. I will take the kids to see her again tonight. I think it's good for Patches to hear Jennie's voice.
Long story short: (1-9-05) Patches is improving, but we are just about out of money! I can't put her down after she's come this far and is fighting for a chance to live. She is only 1 1/2 years old and Dr. Moreton is optimistic about her progress and survival at this point. We just can't put her to sleep when she's getting better!! Please help!
First, we are asking for prayer. Healing, a miracle, guidance for the doctors who are working on her.
Second, we need the money to keep her in the hospital a few more days and give her the treatments she needs. The blood transfusions are the key and they are also the most expensive.
Patches is anemic (that's where the blood transfusions come in) and also her protein levels aren't holding at a healthy rate. She could survive, but only if given the proper treatments. Her sutures are holding and she is more alert now. I know she can make it! I hate even asking for monetary help, but I love Patches so much, I am swallowing my pride to ask.
I know there are people out there, especially pet lovers, who can empathize with our love for Patches. It's especially hard on Jennie and Joshua because they don't realize the seriousness of the situation. They just know she's very sick and can't come home right now.
I will keep updating as we find out more!
Monday, January 10, 2005: It's 10:25pm and me and all three kids just got home at 10pm from visiting Patches again. Medically, she continues to improve, but at a snail's pace. As of 8am tomorrow morning, our Care Credit runs out and we don't know what to do. I've applied to an organization to please help us: IMOM (In Memory of Magic). They are going to look at my application tomorrow morning. Talk about playing it close! But I didn't even know about them until this morning. I hope and pray they will be able to help raise funds to continue treatment for our kitty. If they can't, I have a heavy heart about what we will have to do.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005: I was accepted at IMOM (In Memory of Magic) which is an organization that helps fund medical expenses for pets when the owner is in dire need, like our case. I have been on as much as possible updating there. You can see what's going on at www.imom.org . Click on "Community Forum." Click on "Emergency - No PIN page." Our story is "Patches - kitty with intestinal blockage" There are so many wonderful and kind people involved with this organization!
Patches didn't have a good day really, but she is on her way back up I think. Still at a snail's pace. I am out of funds though. If you can make a donation to www.IMOM.org, please do. I don't know if you say the money is "for Patches" specifically or how it works. I have to read it in their FAQ's. But any donations in any amount are appreciated! It's costing about $1000-$1500 per day and I'm very worried about how we will pay for this. Right now, I know the bill stands at over $6900. Tomorrow after 8am, it will go up another $1000-$1500. Help! I also have a PAYPAL account. To make a donation there, you need my email address: heavenismine@hotmail.com is what is on that account. Thank you in advance!! Every dollar counts and is appreciated!
Wednesday, January 12, 2005: I went to my MOPS meeting this morning. While I was there, my husband called. Patches was not doing better. In fact Dr. Garb said the fluid they tapped out of her abdomen looked like she had bacterial peritonitis. When I came home, I called and spoke with Dr. Gabourel who told me that she looked depressed and was probably suffering. Many tears were shed as we gave the go ahead for euthanasia. We couldn't let her go on suffering. Dr. Moreton came in, even though she wasn't scheduled till later that evening. From what I hear, she pet her, talked to her and gave her lots of love and compassion as she said her tearful goodbye. I was also told that Dr. Moreton cried very hard. This touched me because I know these doctors have to do this routinely and they can't get emotionally involved with every animal. For her to take it so hard told me that Patches really touched her heart! Patches did that with many, many people! Through this experience, Patches ended up having people from all over the United States praying for her and pulling for her to heal.
We couldn't be there because we still had to get Jennie from school, not to mention, if we were there, our emotions wouldn't let her go. Patches was put to sleep around 2:30pm. :(
We buried her at my uncle's house in Lemon Grove under a tree where my other kitty, Angel, was buried in 2000. She was laid to rest with the cards Jennie and Josh made as their goodbyes, a picture of her and a picture of her and Scout together, her collar and some other papers the kids made for her.
Sunday, January 16, 2005: We miss our Patches terribly, but it's only been a couple days and it's to be expected. Jennie is doing well. She has her moments though where she gets down and starts talking about how much she misses Patches. She taped up the story of the "Rainbow Bridge" right by her bed. It is comforting to her!
Thank you to everyone at IMOM, especially my caseworker, Vicky for your thoughts, prayers and kind donations to help with the hospital bill. Also, thank you to the following people at PEC for everything you did (you are ALL amazing!):
In no particular order:
Dr. Moreton - "I can never thank you enough! You are the most giving person with the biggest heart! You were so positive and professional right from the beginning! I remember you jumped right in and took charge before I could get a handle on what was happening! I know you loved Patches and she couldn't have had better care anywhere else or by anyone else. Also, thank you to your kitty for the blood donation!"
Melanie - "I'm so glad we met you! Patches was in the best hands with you!"
Dr. Garb - "Thank you for your honesty! I appreciated hearing the news straight but with kindness!"
Dr. Gabourel - "Thank you for taking such an interest in our Patches!"
Dr. Vassilev - "Thank you for your kindness and professionalism!"
Dr. Weingardt - "Thank you for your expertise!"
Dr. Feinswog - "Thank you for trying to help our Patches!"
Dr. Chisolm - "Thank you for doing the ultrasound!"
Karen - ""From the start, you took care of us! You are an angel!"
Paula (nurse) - "Thank you for taking care of my Patches!"
Samuel - "Thank you so much!"
Scott - "Thank you so much!"
Buzzy - "You have a kind spirit, thank you!"
Michelle - "You are so awesome! Thank you for explaining all the financial stuff!"
Dr. Beckman - "Thank you for doing the surgery! You did a wonderful job!"
Ron - "Thank you for being patient with me since I couldn't concentrate and kept asking weird questions!"
"Thank you to the wonderful nurse who saved Patches when she went into Respiratory Arrest at Dr. Beckman's office after the surgery. Forgive me for not remembering your name at the moment."
I hope I didn't forget anyone. The entire staff at PEC and Dr. Beckman's office are to be commended for their help in our time of need! You all have a special place in my heart!
Cats eat anything. Please be very aware of anything that can be harmful to your animals or small children. I keep my sewing things in my room, in a case that closes, with the door closed. But, I brought it out for a short period of time and that's when Patches must've found the spool of thread and thought "that looks like a toy!"
We didn't see her get ahold of it, of course. Cats are quick! Please be careful!
We miss you Patches.
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