So Vashti had her ultrasound today, and the results were…inconclusive. There’s fluid in her abdomen that shouldn’t be there, and which probably caused all her vomiting and discomfort of the past few days. It may be the result of an irregularity in her heartbeat (which isn’t a stretch, because Vashti’s had a heart murmur her whole life), or it could be the result of a “mass” in her abdomen. If the problem is with her heartbeat, there’s medication that should help regulate it. If the problem is that there’s a tumor, then there’s nothing we can do except keep Vashti comfortable for as long as we can. Even a benign/non-cancerous tumor would be terminal at this point, because Vashti–given all her other problems–isn’t a candidate for surgery.
They’ve collected a sample of the fluid, and we should know more by tomorrow.
In the meantime, Vashti is feeling much better! Her stomach isn’t upset anymore, and she’s grooming herself and playing with the staff at the animal hospital and eating like crazy. (She even “begged” for a bit of chicken-noodle soup from one of the techs who was eating her dinner near Vashti’s kennel!) The cat I brought in yesterday is not the same cat they have there today! 
I’ll be honest–I truly thought when I brought Vashti in yesterday that I wouldn’t bring her home again. Only one of her kidneys is working at this point, and that one is only working at half-strength. And aside from the fluid in her belly, all her bloodwork looks really bad. I had a long talk with her vet today, who once again expressed her astonishment that a cat with Vashti’s “bad kidney and thyroid numbers” continues to bounce back and act like a happy, healthy cat. She didn’t think Vashti had seven weeks left in her back in January, much less seven months. And she, like me, didn’t hold out too much hope that Vashti would “bounce back” once again.
But, as I told my mom on the phone today, Vashti is like a bumblebee: If you work out the math/physics of it, bumblebees aren’t supposed to be able to fly. Their weight compared to the strength of their wings, etc…it’s not mathematically possible that they can be airborne. But nobody’s ever told the bees this, so they fly anyway.
Nobody’s told Vashti how sick she’s supposed to be, so she just keeps on getting better and feeling good. With all her sweet softness, there’s remarkable strength in that little girl!
Whatever the diagnosis ends up being, I get to bring her home tomorrow. The benefit of low expectations is that anything you receive above them feels like a gift. I didn’t think I’d get to bring my girl home again, but I will, and for now I’m grateful to the point of tears for that. Vashti’s coming home again is nothing but a gift, no matter what the prognosis ends up being or how much longer we get to keep her with us.
I’ll let you know tomorrow what the results of the tests are.
Gwen
Vashti’s fight is still on.
I know that some things aren’t supposed to make sense, but that never stops us from trying to understand. Pondering her borderline miraculous developments. She is refusing to go quietly into that good night.
When you’re fighting as hard as she is, there’s nothing but now. For without it, both your past and your future would cease to exist. So by default, each passing moment is the prime of your life. No matter how old or how sick you are.
Vashti, both literally and figuratively, is in the prime of her life. And tomorrow you’ll have the privilege of living some of it with her. And I know you are so thankful to have that opportunity. Because Vashti knows more about living than the rest of us could ever even hope to know.
Sending healing thoughts and purrs to you both
Abby
Vashti has the greatest gift of all; Your unconditional love. However much time that she has will be happy because she will know that love. There are no guarantees in life, either to the length of life or to the conditions of life. Vashti will go to the Rainbow Bridge a happy kitty because of your love.
Our prayers and healing energy are with you and Vashti,
Margot
So glad to hear Vashti is feeling better! I’ve been checking your journal all day. I hope you get more good news and that this is just another little bump in the road for your family. I’ll continue to pray for Vashti and my girls (especially my Maggie, who could be Vashti’s twin!) send their purrs along to all three of your cats. Please continue to keep us updated!
Amanda, Casey, and Maggie
Gwen,
I couldn’t get through reading the latest entry in your blog without crying again. I understand your emotions completely. You are right every moment with Vashti is a gift. Sending thoughts and prayers to you, Laurence, & Vashti. There isn’t a day that goes by that all of ya’ll aren’t in my thoughts & prayers. Keep us posted. Thank you for sharing your life with us good & bad. Many of us feel like ya’ll are family even though we don’t personally know ya’ll.
Sending Hugs & Prayers,
Brandi & Jamey
Beau, Violet, Hyacinth, Rose, & Daisy
Thank you for this post about Vashti. It’s clear how much you love her, and how wonderful and sweet she is. Please give her (and your other fur babies) pets and love from me, my husband, and our five kitties.
I like what your other friends said about your love and about the wisdom of kitties and the value they embody by living in each present moment. Each moment you have with Vashti is perfection. Based on my own experience, I can imagine that you are hurting, exhausted, sad and hopeful. And… also feeling great love in your heart for your girl. I believe she is feeling great love too, and she has no worries about the future or the past. Please know that you have helped to make all her moments lovely.
Hi Gwen…
…WONDERFUL news that Vashti comes home tomorrow! And she is grooming and asking for food…That is HUGE! That’s the best news I could have heard. I was thinking about you guys all day today, hoping for good news for you. So VERY glad you have a gain for her.
Like you said…enjoy everyday to the fullest w/ Vashti. She will be SO happy to be home w/ her family again. That will be very good hor her.
As for the labs – I know they aren’t great, but like the bumblebee who doesn’t know he shouldn’t be able to fly, Vashti cannot read lab reports, so she bounces back (little bit of hunor, there
. Labs are not the whole story. She can have “bad” lab results and still enjoy her life. As for other things that may be going on…they may not be agressive, or “fast-moving,” Vashti may very well have many weeks or months ahead of her. She certainly is a fighter, and that spirit is serving her well.
The most important thing is your love for her, and her love for you. That trumps everything. No one can predict what will come, I know. But love isa guarantee, here. And it’s the best one there is.
Continued Best Wishes, Hugz, and Purrs to All,
Dr. Jane.
I’m so glad you get to take Vashti home tomorrow. What an amazing little girl she is! Sometimes, numbers on bloodwork results are just that – numbers. All that matters is that Vashti is feeling better. As others have said, these animals don’t worry about the future. They live in the moment, and they teach us that that’s all we have. I know you’ll treasure every moment you’ll have with your Vashti girl, just like you have been since she was first diagnosed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
I’m so glad that our thoughts, prayers and love are working for her; not to mention your and Laurence’s love also….
Thank you for the update….will look forward to another update tomorrow; I hope you, Laurence, Homer and Scarlett can sleep well tonight, so that when you bring your little girl home, you can spend lots of time with her!
xxx
Home. Home where she belongs…where she deserves to be…with the people who mean the most to her. Like you said, whatever the prognosis is, the most important thing to her is that she will be home, with you.
Gwen, I am so thankful you get to bring Vashti home! That IS a gift and I was so relieved when I checked for an update tonight. My eyes fill with tears every time I think of you and what you must be feeling. It will be wonderful for Vashti to be in her own environment where she can be surrounded by love and her family. I have thought of you all day and will continue to send Vashti all the positive thoughts I can muster. Sending your entire family much love.
Will be waiting to hear about Vashti and have hopes that she will continue to do well…
My six furballs are all waiting as well…
Peace…
What a wonderful report to come home to. I am so happy to hear this news Gwen. Huge hugs to you and lots of scritches and head butts to Homer, Scarlett and of course Vashti! The little ones always seem to have so much more fight then they should be capable of.
Vanessa and gang
Somehow I think if we could ask Vashti she would tell us that having you and Laurence as her Mommy & Daddy has been the “sweet gift” of her life.
She’s so lucky to have you….You’re in my thoughts. Mary
I’m so glad to hear she’s still fighting! I miss my long-haired white Sally; she developed a mass on her jaw, but it was six months before it won over her joie de vivre. And Namir had days to weeks regularly, for four years. They are stronger than we know, they want to live and will make the most of every day they have. The best we can do is just help them at the low spots.
I’m so glad a) that Vashti is coming home to Mommy and Daddy and her feline siblings, and b) that she is so much perkier and has regained her appetite. Many of us probably have a human relative or more who lived to a ripe old age with the proverbial drawer of prescriptions and every medical condition known to science. Yes, despite her beauty and elegance, she seems to have very scrappy genes, and whatever time she spends with you, she’s a fortunate cat in spending it in such a world of love. But you’re very fortunate too. Newt (who is chattering at crows from the balcony) and I send good vibes from the west coast.
Bless you, Vashti, you are a trooper! Gwen and Lawrence I am thinking of you, having been through the same scenario more than once. It never gets easier but for all the pain we all know we would never change our minds about having pets. Just know how much everyone cares. It’s obvious from all the comments you get.
All our thoughts and love
Carolyn and the Yetismith cats + 5
Gwen I am so happy to hear that Vashti is feeling better. Well the numbers are not good and having only one kidney function is not great but as others have already said they are just numbers. Cats are real fighters in that they keep on fighting to live and know when you need them. As I said earlier in my Buttercups case she was just getting worse and no matter what I did nothing helped. However I do know that cats with cancer can live at least half way normal lives as my Tiger had cancer but was given a special diet and while she lost weight and didn’t look too good towards the end was still happy. The thing that makes it easier for our cats is that they don’t really know what is going on with them. I know they know they don’t feel good but really are not completely aware and that is a blessing. With Tiger I think she could have lived a little longer but in the end became paralyzed. She wasn’t in pain but I knew she wasn’t happy either and Vashti from all accounts is very happy so I think personally that you will have her for a little longer. How long we can’t say it is in Gods hands. Just know all of your fans will keep on praying for you and that includes my family too. May God bless your family always.
Vashti is one kick-ass cat!
She knows that she still has things to do in life, so she’s going to keep right on going.
I agree with you 100%… no one’s told her that she should be sick, so why let it drag her down? The same with Homer and Wonder. No one said anything to either of them about being blind, so they don’t know they’re “missing out.” I am a firm believer that some things defy logic and, just because Vashti’s numbers aren’t where they should be, doesn’t mean that she won’t get on as if everything is just fine.
Miss Vashti couldn’t ask for better parents than you and Laurence! Sending lots of love and prayers your way
Gwen,
Yay! Vashti’s coming home! Cried while reading your update! She’s so beautiful! She thrives on the unconditional love her family gives her and she keeps bouncing back – So very grateful! She’s truly a miracle & a gift & will keep her and the rest of her family in my thoughts & prayers.
Thank you for your updates!
Love to Vashti!
Sue, Noah & Riley
Gwen,
Reading this post has me in tears – and I was already teary listening to Scott Simon talk about Daniel Schorr on NPR …
I think anyone – human OR cat! – can do anything if you don’t tell them they can’t or aren’t supposed to. GREAT news for Vashti … cherish every day with her and I’ll wait with baited breath for the test results.
Love to you ALL
Thanks so much for the update! Glad that Vashti is coming home to be with her family! You have been taking such wonderful care of her. And glad to know that she’s feeling better, too!
Sending you and yours our regards from us in the Clark family!
So glad she’s bouncing back once again
Thanks for the updates. Lots of love and plenty of purrs to you all. Hope mom and Vashti are able to get some much needed rest.
Gwen, i’m so glad Vashti is feeling better.
The first thing I learned when the love of my life Balky was diagnosed with CRF was “Treat the cat, not the numbers”
I hope your amazing girl will be back in your arms in no time.
PS: Fluids make the heart work much harder (it’s such a balancing act: not too much fluids for the heart, but enough fluids for the kidneys). Maybe decreasing the fluids a little will do the trick?
With love like yours, this could be what is holding Vashti up. Miracles and love are for humans AND animals like Vashti.
Chris (L.Christina Sjostedt, St Paul, MN)
My heart goes out to you and Vashti. I am hoping for the best. She is such a beautiful girl. Thank you for posting photos of all of your sweet cats.
Gwen….
The love that emanates from your writing is heartwarming. May that love sustain you all and may God bless you all and keep you in the palm of His hand.
You remain in my thoughts.
Carla
Diva, Chloe, Grace, Babe and Deco
Gwen , i hope my tears help your girl .
Maurizio , Rome Italy
My fingers are crossed…..it just shows what LOTS OF LOVE will do! You and Laurence for her, and her for you and her kitty siblings!