Nothing will ever top bad thing #1, Marcelino's diagnosis, of course..but the stream of luck that seemed to follow this horrific news that first week of May truly was not pleasant for the Whitehead family.
I have innundated myself with various projects in and outside of work. I have felt so scatter brained recently, especially with the late night research and updates on Marcelino. It was about 1:00 in the morning and I was working on the HOA newsletter (a norm for me to be up this late). I hear a scratching on the door and instantly realize that Aleena locked Meeko in the office. I go to the office..no Meeko. Again, I hear this scratching noise. I check the front door and sure enough. There is Meeko...battered, beaten, but somewhat victorios. I had been so wrapped up in other things that I didn't even realize that Meeko had escaped. Not being an outdoor cat, I demand that she get in the house and give her a nudge w/ my foot. Usually she kicks up her step and is a little more upbeat gloating her victory of escaping into the wild outdoors. Not this time.
I bent down to check Meeko and she had been sprayed w/ urine. She barely yelped when I picked her up by her ribs. Her skin felt as if it had bubbles underneath. I immediately took her to the bathroom to wash her up. I laid her in bed and hoped she would be fine. I woke Matt up and asked him to check her out. He said I was crazy for saying I felt bubbles under her skin. We laid her down and let her relax.
The next morning my first instinct was to check if she was alive. I worried about her all evening. She felt cold and wasn't moving. Matt checked her and heard slight puffs of air. I was so depressed, I hopped online and found the nearest and best emergency clinic for our baby.
Fortunately, my friend Stephy highly recommended Alamo Feline Health Center. I've heard so much of this place, but when I pulled up the website and saw a cat that looked exactly like Meeko..call me crazy, but I felt was a sign.
I took pictures of Aleena and Meeko together that morning just in case Aleena would never see Meeko again.
I have innundated myself with various projects in and outside of work. I have felt so scatter brained recently, especially with the late night research and updates on Marcelino. It was about 1:00 in the morning and I was working on the HOA newsletter (a norm for me to be up this late). I hear a scratching on the door and instantly realize that Aleena locked Meeko in the office. I go to the office..no Meeko. Again, I hear this scratching noise. I check the front door and sure enough. There is Meeko...battered, beaten, but somewhat victorios. I had been so wrapped up in other things that I didn't even realize that Meeko had escaped. Not being an outdoor cat, I demand that she get in the house and give her a nudge w/ my foot. Usually she kicks up her step and is a little more upbeat gloating her victory of escaping into the wild outdoors. Not this time.
I bent down to check Meeko and she had been sprayed w/ urine. She barely yelped when I picked her up by her ribs. Her skin felt as if it had bubbles underneath. I immediately took her to the bathroom to wash her up. I laid her in bed and hoped she would be fine. I woke Matt up and asked him to check her out. He said I was crazy for saying I felt bubbles under her skin. We laid her down and let her relax.
The next morning my first instinct was to check if she was alive. I worried about her all evening. She felt cold and wasn't moving. Matt checked her and heard slight puffs of air. I was so depressed, I hopped online and found the nearest and best emergency clinic for our baby.
Fortunately, my friend Stephy highly recommended Alamo Feline Health Center. I've heard so much of this place, but when I pulled up the website and saw a cat that looked exactly like Meeko..call me crazy, but I felt was a sign.
I took pictures of Aleena and Meeko together that morning just in case Aleena would never see Meeko again.
Meeko and I dropped Aleena off at school. Then we drove to the vet. Meeko NEVER EVER stays in her seat. She hates car rides and I'm surprised she didn't budge on the ride to the vet.
We arrived at this fantastic clinic....CATS ONLY PLEASE! NO DOGS ALLOWED! Meeko was very well taken care of!
After a set of xrays, it was determined that Meeko had a fractured sternum. The fracture caused a hole in her chest which caused air to leak from her chest cavity to under her skin causing gas bubbles. Hence that feeling I felt earlier. I knew I wasn't crazy. Meeko had been badly battered and had several puncture holes and lacerations. Because of the fracture, she was taking shallow breaths and not getting enough oxygen. The doctor kept Meeko overnight in an oxygen chamber. She was given pain meds and antibiotics to fight off the infection for her lacerations.
Since Meeko had to stay overnight for observation, Aleena and I visited Meeko after work/school.
Aleena playing with the other resident kitties
Meeko didn't really feel like company. Although she was back to hissing and moaning, which meant she must be feeling better :) We brushed her with her favorite brush and visited with her for about an hour. Then it was time for her to get more rest and recover.
Her oxygen chamber.
Meeko was released the next day. Ordered to have peace and quiet. She was still moping around and not eating very much about a week after the incident. We took her back in and they cleaned up her wounds which started to get infected again. We later found out that "oops" we forgot to get her pain meds after we checked out. Poor Meeko had been in pain this entire time and could have had some relief! Poor baby! So we got a supply of pain meds, appetite enhancers (so that she can eat), some fatty cat food and more antibiotics. A few days later, Meeko was up and mobile, recovering well, eating as usual and hissing and groaning like her normal self. Ah how we missed our grouchy Meeko!
Meeko with her large puncture wound that developed and absess. She had to have it shaved and cleaned. The big hole finally healed.
UPDATE: Meeko is back to normal. All wounds healed and her hair is growing back where it was shavedpdate. We were ready to say goodbye to our baby, but glad that we took the extra step to ensure our 1st baby is with us a while longer. Don't cats have 9 lives? I think Meeko has a good 5 more.
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