Hey Guys,

I just got home from the doctor’s so bear with me as I try to put together what happened today. Mike had the appointment with the orthopedic surgeon at 1:30- but first I need to back track. Before we left, I went and pulled the car around so he could get into the car without stepping in the major river that is flowing in our driveway right now. I was waiting for him to get into the car and it seemed to be taking longer than usual. I looked up behind me and saw him fall! I raced to him, but he shook me off and told him to let him do it- get up I mean. He was having a really hard time getting up on his feet but he finally did. I could see by his face that he was in pain (he landed on his bad leg.) He got into the car but it wasn’t easy for him. I could tell he was hurt and asked if he was okay and he said he thought he twisted his leg.

Ok so we get there and he is hustled off because the MRI is inconclusive about the myleostitis (bone infection) They had him do a series of films with him standing on his leg. When he got back to his seat he was pale and shaky but said he was “fine.”

They finally called for us and we were ushered into a small exam room. Finally the surgeon walks through the door and the first thing he said was “This is really bad!” He flipped up some films on the light board and showed us in the fall, Mike HAD Fractured HIS FIBULA! The fracture is circular which according to Lin (the surgeon) is good- because it is a bigger area to heal. But, the bad news is they noticed more bone missing from his heel- and all his metatarsi and tarsis bones (the bones going to the toes) have been broken- the toe fractures are old except for maybe one, but Mike didn’t even know that all his toe bones were busted.

He does have a bone infection as well but the surgeon says that right now according to the films the infection is localized in the bone right by the abscess. Until he gets in to take a look he won’t know for sure, but right now he is saying he can save the foot! YAY!

But he told Mike with as much severity that he could muster that if he gets foolish or stupid and bears weight on his leg and breaks it more- there is nothing he can do and he will cut off the leg immediately. He told Mike to take this seriously and not put any weight at all on the leg.

So they put a cast on him (and it is hinged so they can remove it) because they will have to remove it in order to do surgery on the foot and they cut a window in it for the abscess as well. They will not even entertain the notion of putting pins in his leg to set the break. The diabetes, the weight the vascular issues are all against him for that, so they have cast it hoping it will reset on its own.

He is in the hospital He is going to have surgery in the morning. I am just not sure what surgery they are doing. The plan when I left was still up in the air, but they want to do an angiogram on his foot to see if they can even have a hope of opening up his arteries and bringing healing oxygen and blood into his leg. If the test pans out and they believe this is a good option, they will do that surgery first. Then Dr Lin will step in and try to clean up the bone and tendons of his foot and work on the abscess. They will also do bone biopsies and cultures while he is under sedation.

He got a bit whiny when they told him they were putting him in the hospital and I can’t blame him. No one likes to be in the hospital. I do not know how long he will be in there- nor does the doctor. Mike keeps saying he will be in there for four days- but I suspect it might be a bit longer unless they can open the arteries up and give his leg that much needed oxygen and blood.

I tried to take notes as there was so much going on- and I hope I remembered it all. I am going to call late tonight to the nurse’s station and find out if he is going into surgery in the morning or if they are going to wait.
Love,

Mary Anne

Just checked on the kittens upstairs. McKenna was out of the bed, but the kittens were warm, they were sound asleep and not fussy so I have to hope she is good mom and she didn’t abandon them last night. All signs appear to show otherwise though.

Yesterday was a rough one for her. Although she popped these babies out of her with such ease- at least the last three- not all survived. She had three while I was with Mike at the doctor’s. When I woke up yesterday and went upstairs to feed her and say hello- she was acting strange.

Pacing, restless, kneading the floor- eating as if there had been no food for weeks. I looked at her- I looked at the six (yes 6) well put together birthing boxes (all rejected by her highness.) I thought “she’s not going to have these kittens today is she?” But something said that was exactly what was going to happen, so I spread a huge white bedspread down underneath the futon and put more blankets over the carpet (just in case.)

When we returned from the doctor (more about that in a minute) I ran upstairs to check on her and she was wet! I thought good grief, she is going to have her kittens now! In Broad Daylight unheard of – usually they come in the wee hours of the morning. So I grabbed the book I was reading The Dog Who Talked to God and I settled in for the long-haul with her.

She was licking her rear like crazy and so I thought did she already have them? I grabbed the flashlight and on my belly squirmed under the futon (where is a camera when you need one?) There they were, three little black kittens on the white bedspread sound asleep!

I squirmed out from under the futon, grabbed the alcohol and wiped my hands down. Gently, I picked each kitten up- Mckenna watching intently but made no move to attack me. They looked purrfect- but were laying in a wet spot, so I moved them over to the other side of the futon.

Suddenly, McKenna ducked under the futon and the next thing I know, she is licking and chewing like crazy. I grab the flashlight and here is another kitten! This one didn’t respond quickly to her mothering. She tore open the sac and began to lick him, but the umbilical cord was still attached. Ten minutes later, the umbilical still hadn’t been severed, so I cut it and dabbed it with iodine to stop the bleeding. (You need to cut it at least 2 inches from the kitten’s body and you should NEVER pull a kitten who is attached to mom because it causes umbilical hernias.)

I picked this boy up, but he was ice cold and so weak. I put him back on mom and took a warming cloth and rubbed him. Nothing, not even a squeak. He couldn’t latch on to a nipple although his brothers and sisters were chowing down. I grabbed a small dropper and dropped some warm formula into his mouth. He couldn’t swallow so I took the bulb syringe and suctioned out his mouth and nose. These small balls of brown goo came out. His mouth was sticky with mucous and he was heaving trying to breathe.

McKenna suddenly stood up, darted to the other side of the futon and soon another kitten had appeared! This kitten too was quite weak, cold and unresponsive. I suspect she was mated with twice and one Tom was healthy, the other not so much.

I took the four kittens who were warm and fed and placed them in a small box with a heating pad. Then with McKenna laying down, I put the two new babies on her belly. They didn’t move much. I expressed her nipples got a drop of milk and put each kitten right on the milk- nothing. To make matters even more concerning- McKenna ignored both babies (a bad sign) Because she was so attentive to the other kittens, I knew that these two had something wrong with them and she sensed it. But I kept trying, tried to feed both- but it wasn’t working.

A few hours later, both kittens had passed leaving McKenna with four healthy kittens two boys and two girls. I buried them in the horse pasture and wept that I wasn’t smart enough to save them.

On the doctor front- this doctor Mike’s primary told us that the reading on the MRI is inconclusive. The radiologist wouldn’t say either way if Mike had a bone infection or not. The report read that the foot is abnormal but the film not conclusive to say yay or nay about infection.

When we got home, the orthopedic surgeon called and said tomorrow before our appointment he wants to run more film on Mike’s foot- these while he is standing on it. Then we will all meet and discuss the findings.

I am hoping with all the prayers and good thoughts being sent in his direction that Mike’s foot won’t be as bad as everyone seems to fear it will be! I have to hope that the cloudiness on the film is God at work healing what used to be diseased and doing what He can do best- creating a miracle!

The new arrival, the one who just got here and is yet to be named just had three kittens- of course she is black and of course they are too!

She actually had four kittens- we have two boys and two girls. I am naming the new mom McKenna

Here they are- don’t ask me what sex they are, this early I can’t even tell!

I have a bill at the vet that I cannot meet. It is for $420.00 I am ashamed to say that despite two article assignments, I have been unable to wrap my head around writing much of anything except for jumbled thoughts. Until I get clear of the 3rd and that appointment, I am in brain freeze. If anyone can send anything, I would welcome the monies with open arms and stay in good standing with my vet. They were two emergency appointments and I have until the 5th to make good on them.

I am sorry to ask- but it for the kitties. I promise you I am not saving up to go on a cruise!

Congratulations to Sheila Sutherland! Shiela, I just sent you an email about the details of your win. As soon as you supply me with your shipping address, I will send the prize out.

This month, I am suspending the contest until I find out what is going on with Mike. That will be on the 3rd that we will find out- once I know what is coming- I will announce the contest prize but it won’t be until later this month. Hoping people understand-

It hailed last night and the cats went nuts! When that 65 mile an hour touched down last week and ripped the dickens out of my cat alley outside, it left my outside kitties exposed to the elements.

Yesterday, I spent time cleaning up the mess and throwing away the broken cat carriers that were tossed about like matchsticks! I wrapped several of the heavy cages in plastic to keep them weatherproof. The kitties can hide in the barn, the shop or the other out buildings or even under the house, but they prefer this section of our yard best.

All the kitties survived the chaos but I do wish the warm weather would start soon. Hail in April is almost unheard of.

McGee is fine and back with the group-and knock on wood, all kitties are healthy. I will be placing Piper into a new home in a few days and so it goes.

I have given the last remaining kitten of McKenzie’s to another rescuer. I do believe Mike is going into the hospital and I won’t be able to follow through with the care of the wee one if I am sititng at his bedside at the hospital helping him through this next challenge.