9/22 Harvey Visit Update

Yesterday

Steve called this morning to say that Harvey's red blood cell count was much improved, so the transfusion was a success. He said Harvey seems a little bit brighter today, but still very wobbly. He hadn't gotten the rest of the b/w results yet, so I'll get a call later with that, probably from Dr. Lim. He said Harvey is only eating and drinking when they hold the bowl up to his face, which concerns him. I'm wondering if his cataracts are worse and he's not seeing well, so doesn't want to try to find it on his own. As Dr. Lim keeps saying, there's a lot going on with my little man.

Harvey's left front paw (the one he hurt when he fell) was very swollen last night when we visited. Steve said they had noticed the swelling that morning so removed the catheter from that leg. This morning he said it had gone down some. He couldn't tell if Harvey is putting weight on it, since he doesn't seem to want to move around much and is so wobbly when he does.

Feeling pretty depressed right now...

 

Hugs and more hugs. Team Harvey is giving him great care.
Liz

 

Hugs and prayers from us. Great news about the RBC! I wonder if his foot is swollen from overhydration at this point...is he still on IV fluids? I have to hold the bowl for Trix about 85% of the time or she won't eat enough, either...been doing it for 2.5 years now. I get the feeling it becomes a "security blanket" type issue, so maybe that's it for Harvey, too - it gives him comfort to eat that way. In any event, he is eating - that matters a whole lot, even if it involves someone holding the bowl. I hope he's stable enough to go home soon...that could make a huge difference in his recovery.

 

I'm glad the transfusion was a success. Sending more prayers.

 

I have been following along and sending lots of vines, prayers and healing light to Harvey as well as two of the most amazing beans a cat could be blessed with...

 

And many many come home where you belong Harvey vines
I am summoning up as much healing light, vines, everything I can think of and sending them...Hoping adding a smile is like a special,spice in the mix..
Big hugs
Les

 

Understandably that you are in the dumps. It is good new with the RBC and hopefully everything else will improve too so he can come home soon. Sending lots of vines your way for Harvey and you.

 

I know that everything is very depressing now Tricia. It's good news that the RBC responded to the transfusion. Prayers that the paw will go back to normal since the catheter is out. Hope that you can hang in there a little bit longer and that Harvey will be home soon!

 

I agree about the catheter. See if Harvey eat for you? If I was in a strange setting with limited eye sight, I'd rather go without. Great news about the RBC. Hope he's home soon.

 

Yet more virtual hugs from me.
Good news on the red blood count. I hope the wobblies pass soon. Harvey has got the best care and the best beans.

 

You and Harvey are in all my prayers.

 

Good News about the RBC count, I hope you get good news with the rest of the BW.
I'm keeping the hugs and vines flowing from us

 

tons of hugs for all of you in the Harvey home

 

Great to hear he responded so well to the transfusion and that they caught the swelling quickly and that it's better today

Maybe when you go in to visit next time, you can put his food in a bowl and leave it a little bit away from him....see if he finds it on his own...that would at least tell you if he's able to see it. I think it may just be that he's in an unfamiliar place and doesn't want to go "out of his way" to eat...if they shove it in his face, that's one thing but if he has to go to it, he may just not feel like it

I wonder how much time he's getting out of his cage too....to keep his muscles in shape. If you've ever spent a few days in the hospital doing nothing but laying in the bed, you know how weak it can make you.

Continued prayers, vines and hugs for the beans!

 

Sending more vines that Harvey gets well soon and can come home. Sending hugs to you and DH I know what you are going through.

 

Tricia, we've got a never ending supply of vines here, and they won't stop winding your way 'til Harvey's home and feeling fine. And such big hugs for you. Hang on.

Marilyn and Polly

 

Sending yet more vines; hope Harvey feels better soon!

 

Thinking of you and yours....boy Tricia, you sure have a tough little boy there! (but you already knew that )

Dawn

 

You're surrounded by all the support of Lantus/Lev Land - and you know how powerful that can be. Sending all our best to little Harvey - feel better little buddy!

And a million hugs to you, Tricia.

 

Piling on more feel better vines for Harvey and hugs for you!

 

Piling on more hugs, more prayers....

kitty appy's are so dependent on smell....
maybe he only smells the food when it's up close....

 

More hugs and hugs and prayers and thoughts and vines and hugs and hugs and hugs...

 

Sending even more vines and hugs and prayers and good thoughts!!!!!

 

I spent about 45 minutes with Harvey this evening. He was still very weak, but he lifted up his head when he heard my voice, and when he saw his dish (before I even put food in it), he started toward it. He ate about ¼ of the can – Dr. Lim said he’d eaten half a can about two hours before, so she wasn’t surprised he didn’t eat more, but pleased at the interest he showed.

His numbers were steady today. She had a neurologist check him out, because she can’t understand why he’s still so wobbly. They didn’t find anything obvious, other than noting he tends to turn to the right all the time. They said there’s a possibility there is a lesion on his brain. They are going to review the CT scan that was done last month to see if there is anything there that might have been missed that could explain this. They really don’t want to do further tests, as they don’t feel he’s a good candidate for anesthesia, and there isn’t much they could do if they found something. They have not been giving him his Leukeran, as they didn’t feel he was well enough to tolerate it.

If he is the same (or hopefully better) tomorrow, we are going to bring him home Saturday morning and see if he perks up here. I can monitor him all weekend, and we’ll have him in a pen when we are sleeping or if we have to go out for some reason. If I’m not happy with how he’s doing, I can take him back Monday and we’ll discuss what, if anything, can be done. I’m nervous about it, as he is so weak, but Dr. Lim assures me he’s stable enough, as long as we keep him confined so he can’t fall or anything.

I will confess I broke down when Dr. Lim and I were discussing what happens if he isn't any better after this weekend. She said we'll address that when the time comes, but she's always saying how many things he has going on and how hard it is to know which, if any are playing a role in his problems. She is amazed at how soft and silky his fur is, considering he isn't grooming and he's so sick. She feels he still has a will to go on, and will show that when he's home. I told her I don't want to keep putting him through all this stuff if there isn't much hope for him to get better. I think we'll have a clearer picture after this weekend. I don't know if I'm looking forward to it, or dreading it. Wish us luck!

 

Sending truckloads of good luck and get better vines to you and Harvey. You are in my prayers and thoughts.

 

Vines and hugs for a good weekend.

 

I think that being home will be a good thing for him...He has to be a little depressed at the vet (even though they take excellent care of him)...it's not the same as being home

Take things one day at a time....You know that dance all too well....If he's home and the only problem he has is a little circling to the right and being a little wobbly, but is eating, purring, doing all those normal "cat things" and loving on you, that's what's important

We'll continue to say prayers, send vines and visualize him home in your arms again!

 

I could fill the page with hugs and it still would not be enough....

 

I hope coming home is what Harvey needs . There are no words right now.

 

That could be his eyesight, if he has some vision left to the left, he would naturally turn his head to the right to compensate, so that the vision he has is straight ahead with respect to his body position (humans do this too).

 

Thanks, Gill. That is good info.

 

I hope that when Harvey comes home for the weekend, that is all that he will need to perk him up, being with his loving beans. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers

 

Sending more prayers and hugs.

 

Prayers and Hugs!!! I believe he will perk up when he gets home!

 

Healing vines and Feel Better vines sent to Harvey, and to you.
J.D. used to turn to the right often too. I bought this large Puppy Play Pen for my two cats to stay in while we were at the reunion. Nice and roomy and safe.

 

Sending more healing vines to Harvey.

 

Tricia
I'm sure Harvey will be very happy to be able to come home to his Mama and Papa for the weekend.
Sending as many vines as I can muster to Harvey.....

 

Home could be just the medicine your sweet boy needs.....continued prayers.

 

I'm hoping that home will heal and perk him right up. Vines for stress, and healing, appy and whatever else is needed (((Tricia))). Prayers and hugs

 

I totally agree that Harvey will be better off at home as long as you can watch him. Hopefully he will get stronger once he is able to move around more.

 

(((Tricia)))
Prayers and vines.
Holding positive thoughts that Harvey will perk up once he's home.

 

Keeping truck loads of vines and prayers flowing to you all. Hopefully bringing Harvey home is exactly what he needs. Tons of for you Tricia..

 

We in the low vision/blindness field call that eccentric viewing and Gill is exactly right, it's compensation to use the remaining visual field for best vision. We actually teach people with central vision loss to find where that side vision or even in some cases just an island of usable vision is and how to use it for tasks requiring vision.
Hugs

 

Ongoing hugs and vines going out yo you and Harvey today...hoping today is the day his ruby slippers bring him home to you...

 

(((Tricia))), I hope that Harvey's weekend at home will be just what he needs to feel much better. We are sending a truckload of vines, hugs, and lots of light for your boy. We are also sending you and Mark lots of strength.

Hugs and scritches,

Ella & Rusty

Yo Deputy Harvey, When you get home on Saturday give us a call at the lifeguard chair. We'll tell you what's happening and send you extra-special good luck. We want you to feel better and to be back at the lagoon soon!
Your friend,
LagoonMeister Rusty

 

SO so so much love to you and Harvey- Hoping he gets to come home and heal there- Vines, Vines, Vines and more Vines!

 

Keeping fingers crossed that Harvey perks up when he gets home.