Russell the Amazing Cat - He can teach us all a lesson about life

Russell!!!!!

Russell is an American Manx cat. His house was burnt down and although they thought he was dead, a badly burnt Russell managed to survive although burnt so badly he would need hospital care for months and many operations.

Despite the pain Russell is in, the changes in his body and the difficulties the burns present to him he remains loving, cheerful and happy. 

Russell has charmed so many peoples lives that donations for his surgeries and medical care have exceeded what is needed to make him better. The donations have come from all over the world.

His most recent surgery has been to his eyelids to allow them to close fully, he will be having more operations in a few weeks time.

I think that the message Russell is giving us all is that there is always HOPE, never ever give up on life because there is always hope for a future. 

He tells us that with enduring STRENGTH of character you CAN over come any adversity in your life.

With LOVE, life is full of possibilities

No matter how bad your life is at the moment, no matter how much pain you are going through - think of Russell Cat and he shows you that the situation is not permanent and there IS light at the end of the tunnel.

Russell may be "just" a cat but this cat is the most amazing soul I have ever had the privilege of knowing. His message is powerful and inspiring.

I will continue to watch Russell's progress and the team who are giving him so much love and care until one day I am confident that he will return to his home...... I was going to say that he would return home as a happy cat but how can he do that? No matter what pain and suffering he is in..... he remains a very happy cat.

You can follow Russell's progress on facebook.

Wilful Wilbur the Warrier Dog

We collected Wilbur from Nantwich hospital on Thursday night, to say I was over the moon was an understatement.

Still very weak and in pain, he was walking and holding his own. He had some drains inserted into his side which looked dreadful!

He was so glad to be home but wouldn't sit down until I sat next to him and he put his head on my lap, its as though he needed my reassurance.

Getting his medication down him has been a struggle as the little monster manages to spit them out somehow. If he doesn't start behaving I will be shaving off his Schnauzer beard to make medicating a little easier!

Thursday night I slept downstairs with him and Pickles just to make sure he was ok.

Friday saw more improvements in his mobility and general state of mind.

Today he went to have his drain removed. It was a quick and painless procedure, the stitches were snipped and the tube just pulled away.

I have to keep the holes open so that the fluid can continue to drain away. He will have his stitches out in about a week or so's time.

The vet told me that the consultant was "excited" about Wilburs case as it was highly unusual.

The biopsy results came in today and it was as Mr Mayo expected, it is an infection, not cancer and not a genetic condition for which he would have needed steroids. So we can work with this. He will probably be on antibiotics for 6 weeks now.

He is smelly and horrid at the moment so I cant wait for the time when he is well enough to have a bath. At the moment, the priority is in getting him well again.

Into the Countdown - Wilbur

I received a phone call on Monday offering me an appointment for an MRI scan on Wilbur on Tuesday - the next day. This was such a great weight off my shoulders because I had been told it would be Wednesday and I have an appointment myself first thing for the results of my biopsy.

I discussed Wilbur at length with the vet and scheduled the appointment in Nantwich for 10.10am.

Very nervous not just about the MRI but driving to an unknown place and on my own.

8.50 came and my lovely friend J arrived, telling me she was going to drive me there. My ace neighbour F took Harry to school for me and the star C turned Cola out - such a network of brilliant friends supporting me when I most needed it.

We got to Nantwich in good time despite the fog in Rossett although our first port of call was to an Ostepaths clinic. After considering the place for a few minutes we realised that we were definately in the wrong place only to find the vetinary hospital staring us in the face over the road.

When we met Mr Mayo he was lovely. He was very direct and very open about the matter. Upon examining Wilbur and looking at his Xrays and notes he was 99% certain that he would be dealing with a prolapsed disc. He explained the procedure in such a great way I really could visualise the operation they would carry out.

Mr Mayo gave Wilbur a sedative which contained morphene. The morphene made him a little sick but once the meds worked he relaxed for the first time in weeks.

Mr Mayo took him away and promised to telephone me when the op was over.

So you can imagine my surprise when he phoned me (while I was in Pets at Home) to say that Wilbur had had the MRI scan and it was not a prolapsed disc. He had an area of internal inflammation which was pressing on his spinal cord. He needed to take a biopsy to find out what this was.

Worst case scenario - cancer. If that is the diagnosis then there will be no treatment for my little boy.

However, Mr Mayo was certain that this wasn't cancer, that it was a genetic auto immune disease which caused inflammation. He had seen one other dog with this condition and although he didnt appear to respond to treatment initially, suddenly, he was better and has never looked back.

So now, Wilbur is staying in the hospital overnight so that they can monitor him. Hopefully I will collect him tomorrow and bring him home with some stronger pain killers.

The results of the biopsy come through on Friday and then his steroid treatment can begin.

I must admit that my first reaction to this news was "why me?" Not only am I facing test result myself I now have to wait for them for Wilbur.

I really thought that after today, Wilburs pain would be over and he could start his healing process.

I just have no luck with dogs at all.......

This is Bobbi, she was my rescue dog and my "wish come true" my little soul mate. She died of cancer aged just 5.

Morgan was aged 4 and had to be put to sleep because of a neurological condition.

Poppy although not my dog, she was like my god-daughter dog died age almost 5 in my arms having been run over by a tractor.

Sometimes I really dont know if I can handle any more pain of loss.

Why me though?