The NEWS-

The call came on our way to my in-laws. Im talking to the vet but yet I don't think I'm hearing him right.. I'm starting to hear things like fracture....surgery...removal of the head of the femur....2 types of surgery.....I feel like I must be hearing him wrong.. and then I realize...I am hearing him right.. Milton is really hurt.. So I gather myself enough to listen to my options and I try to pick the one that would be the most benefitial for Milton. So I ask the question most people ask " Doc which one would you do if this was your cat" and he assures me it would be the Femoral Head Ostecctomy. Im still trying to grasp this..my kitten is going to go through some pretty extensive surgery....

When we get where we were going that night I immediately ask for a computer so I can research everything I was just told...just one little problem...there really isn't any information on Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO).. So I try to relax a little and put the computer down... I now realize what I'm hearing around me..."Maybe you guys should just get rid of him" "Why would you spend that kind of money on a CAT" "Maybe they should just put him down" ....now I realize many people don't understand my infatuation with my pets but I really at this point don't know what bothers me more....The fact that my cat is going to have surgery and recover....(fingers crossed!!) or the simple fact that people are being heartless about a member of my family... Now I sure don't go around telling people what to do.. but I find in this situation I am getting advice that I really dont need or ask for...

Now that I've regrouped and gotten hardly any sleep (Tinker is meowing wondering where her dear brother is... He has never been away from home...) I go to work and try my search for info again... and luck will have it... I find a wonderful blog about a guy "Jason's cats" http://jasonscats.blogspot.com/2006/04/micios-femoral-head-ostectomy-fho.html This site not only reasured me, it gave me stories of other cat owners who have gone through FHO. I read and am amazed at how common this seemed. Not neccessarily common but not "unheard" of...I start to gradually feel much better...I call the vet to check on Milton who has spent his first night away from home. They tell me that he is resting comfortably and that they have given him pain medication. His surgery will be scheduled for tomorrow 6/19/08. I feel so guilty that he is alone at the vet so I make a trip to the vet to visit... When I get there I am amazed at the change in my Milton. He is much more calm and in less pain than the previous day... Which relieves me.. I get to cuddle for a few minutes and give him his special blanket so he doesn't feel so far away from home..

Now comes the time for me to talk to the surgeon.... I thankfully get all of my questions answerd and at this point I feel much better..(still a worried mom) but better in that I might actually sleep tonight.....(hopefully)!!!