Hi everyone! Sorry momma bean hasn't let me post much this last week. She has been super busy helping take care of a number of kitties and trying to get things ready for Christmas! Hence our absence...
Well lot's has happened since our last posting. ML and Charley sent me the super cute blue pj's I am wearing in the above and below pictures. The pj's couldn't be more perfect and I love them to death. Orange Boy wanted to try them on, but I said no way!
As for my health status, my nasty UTI has returned! I am now peeing blood again...momma bean has an appointment set up to take me into the doctor's office tomorrow, so we should know a little bit more about my health status then, (i.e., have I gained any weight or continued to lose it, and is my temp now back up to normal, or is it still on the low side?) I have been eating like a horse, and drinking lots for my momma and daddy, so hopefully I have put on some weight...
Most of the money has come in from the auctions and raffles, so momma bean is now working with ML to try and figure out what remains, so the money can be sent out to Misty, Billy Sweet Feets, Beau, and Criz Cats. Hopefully we can get the figures sorted out soon and send the money on it's way. As for the funds raised for me, they will be going towards tomorrow's doctor appointment, and any new medications I might need. Thank you so very much to everyone who participated. We hope to get a more official thank you out after Christmas.
Many of you have expressed a desire to make a donation to Bella to help with her everyday medical costs as well, so we are going to put back up the donation button for Bella. (You can find it at the end of this post.) Gail the lady who rescued Bella, called me the other day to check in on her while she is away and I told her the fantastic news about Bella getting a cart. Gail was very touched and moved and would like to thank each one of you personally who helped make this possible when she returns from her trip. Moki and I would like to thank you as well.
Gail doesn't know much about using a computer, other than how to check her email, so momma bean volunteered to set up a blog for Bella and teach Gail how to use it, so that we can all keep up to date on Bella once she returns home. Many of you have called me an angel or a saint for watching Bella and for helping to share her story so that we could get her a cart, and while I thank you for that, I have to be honest, and humble myself by saying that Gail is the real saint here...
Bella requires an insane amount of care which Gail provides everyday. In the week that she has been with us, I can honestly say that it take 2 1/2 hours a day just to keep Bella going. Every morning, Bella has to be placed in a carrier. Her bedding and toys then have to be picked up and placed in the wash. Her food dishes removed and cleaned. Once everything is off the floor, the floor then has to be cleaned and disinfected. (While Bella does wear washable diapers, the whole for the tail is too big on the diapers, and her constant dragging of her back legs at night, sometimes causes the diapers to slip off.) Once the floor has been mopped, cleaned and disinfected, clean bedding and toys are then laid down. Her food bowls are then cleaned, refilled and laid down as well. Now that Bella's environment is clean, Bella herself has to be cleaned up as well. This means giving Bella a bath. (This normally has to be done in the morning and again at night.) Once Bella is clean, she then has to be dried off, given her medicine, and placed in a clean diaper. The process is repeated again at night because of Bella special needs... Gail of course does this daily out of the goodness of her own heart, and pays for the cost out of her own pocket. If ever there was a saint, it would be Gail.
There are a few additional things which would make both Gail and Bella's life easier. The first would be to raise enough money to cover the cost of corrective surgery. At least one vet in the area believes that he can preform corrective surgery and save one of Bella's back legs. This surgery would give Bella full use of at least one of her back legs. (The second leg cannot be fixed.) I believe it may be possible to fix Bella's incontinence problem as well, with corrective surgery. I have advised Gail to take Bella to UC Davis to see if this maybe some thing they can do. If it is possible then it would be best to do both surgeries at once, but first we need to get an estimate of the cost.
On a day to day basis, pet diaper suspenders, would help to solve the problem of Bella's diaper coming off at night due to the dragging. (Unfortunately Bella cannot remain in a wheelchair 24 hrs a day 7 days a week, so until her leg can be fixed, and possibly the incontinence problem as well,) pet diaper suspenders would help to make Gail's job a lot easier, since they would allow Bella to keep her diapers on despite the dragging. Next would be a case of Peepers disposable pet diapers made to work with the suspenders. The disposable Peepers pet diapers have smaller tail holes, and therefore when used with the suspenders would make accidents less likely to happen. The final thing that Bella could really use to help make her life a little easier is *efa HyLyt Shampoo. We purchased a bottle of this special shampoo from the physical therapy office for Moki, and have been using it on Bella. The physical therapy office uses it on all their clients because the shampoo is soap-free and hypoallergenic. Due to the number of times Bella has to be bathed a day, she really needs a special shampoo to keep from developing dermatological problems. Of course one bottle goes awfully quick when you are being bathed twice a day!
(All donations made using the Paypal button located above, will go directly into a medical fund to help get Bella the things she needs. Thank you to everyone who has taken an interest in Bella and thank you to everyone who continues to purr and pray for our sweet little Moki!)