Luke's first night & morning at home

(his unsuccessful attempt at trying to hide under the bed)

Luke's first night home went well.

Last night he slept with me on the bed for part of the night. Which was a nice change for him, compared to the kennel at the Vet. He was non-stop purrs and giving head bunt kisses. He is such a sweetheart.

He got up to get a drink of water a couple of times and to use the litter box. He spent some of the night on his bed on the floor, I think because it was a little cooler down there for him. Then a couple hours before I had to wake up, I brought him up on the bed to sleep with me. When I went downstairs for a shower, he was still sleeping in bed. But, when I came back up he was not there. I was a little worried, but our small home doesn't give him many options to hide in. He has found his way behind the head board cubby area of the bed. He wouldn't come out. I even had his breakfast of wet food ready. He just wouldn't come. I had to pull him out from under there. While I went downstairs to mix up his food with some warm water so I could feed him, my daughter blocked off the passage to under the bed. When I was downstairs, he had lodged himself under the tiniest space under the bed to try and get back to the bigger cubby area under the bed (I think). Fat chance. He's a little to big to fit through there & I think he gave up, because he was quite happy to just lay with his head under the bed. Silly boy.

I had a hard time with my first time force feeding him. The Vet assistant made it look so easy. But she had wasted so much food by letting it dribble every where. I took it slow & wiped his chin off as he needed it. At one point he needed a potty break. I am actually kind of getting worried about all the litter box breaks a bit....

Luke is scheduled for another Vet appointment on Monday morning. We are taking him to another clinic, to get a second opinion. Until then we are hoping he will feel a little better about being surrounded by people who love him & where he can get endless cuddles and kisses.

When I last checked the total amount donated, it was at $380!!! Thank you again to all those that are helping Luke & I out. We appreciate it sooooooo much. You are all the bestest!!!

Luke is home now

Luke is home now. I feel relieved to have him here in bed, resting. 

When we picked him up he was still quite warm with a temperature. You can feel it in his ears. Luke's ears get all pink with this fever. But, as he got more comfortable in the van, the pink started to mellow out. He handles the ride home superbly. He was alert, and was purring when he got some attention - which I guess I was all the way home!

Our next step is to get the ultra sound to confirm what is going on in his liver, possible tumor? Just an infection? It drives me kind of crazy that after close to $900 spent towards Luke and no confirmation of what is actually ailing him. 

He is very content here. He even jumped off the bed & used the litter and hoped back up! I am amazed!!! These are all positive things, I do hold hope that he can recover completely soon.

OH! LIVE UPDATE!

 He is taking a drink of water from the water bowl ALL on his own!!!! AS I type this.

This is so amazing!!! 

(He is still drinking!!! )

This is good news!

Tomorrow we will see if he will eat food on his own.

Oh my baby Luke.

(He still drinking.)

I think him leaving that vet tonight was the best thing to happen to him in 4 days.

Tomorrow I will be getting a quote for his ultra sounds.

I'm going to go cuddle Lukey now.

Goodnight everyone.

P.S: We have raised $294 so far for Luke! Thank you everyone once again for opening your hearts to us.xoxoxo

Morning/Afternoon Update of Luke at the Vet

(Flowers for Luke from my sweet neighbour Nada @ Bruce Eyewear)

Last night after seeing Luke I had such a positive feeling and that he was recovering. I was looking forward to taking him home this morning. Luke is still not eating his food and has to be force-fed. They showed me how to feed him. Poor Luke had dribbled food all over his chest while she feed him. I would definitely put a bib on him he does not need to have food all over himself. They also keep referring to him as a she, and I keep correcting them.
Finally the catheter was removed as well.

My bright hopes were dashed as my morning unfolded; I have been at the Vet's from the time it opened until 1pm.

Luke apparently developed a fever last night. When I was with him I noticed his ears felt a little warm. But the veterinarian on call never mentioned that he had a fever. However, when his regular vet came in this morning he told me that he has NEVER seen a case like this. Where the cat was on two antibiotics still managed to get a fever. Luke originally went in without a fever, but the Doctor thought that he must have had one earlier and then it subsided. He has been at the vets for three days without a fever until last night.

The Dr. recommended we HAVE to do an x-ray because he suspected a tumor. I waited for what seemed like forever for the x-ray to develop. The x-ray revealed that his liver looks like it has some kind of abnormality and his kidney appear enlarged. He also mentioned something about this area where his heart is located. There is some kind of cushion underneath it. Lymph nodes?

At the end I had to leave Luke there again because they were drawing more blood for two blood cultures. The results of those tests will take a few days. The Dr. doesn't think tumors at this point- but at the same time he has no diagnosis, only that something is not right. Once again, the ultra sound would hopefully verify and give us some kind of diagnosis and we can start the treatment. Luke needs to have two ultra sounds one of his chest and another of his abdomen.

I paid Luke's bill to date, to the tune of $852.08.
I had felt relief last night thinking that we were over the worst of it, and that Luke would be on the road to recovery. I feel like I am on a rollercoaster, with lows and highs, and now once again my heart is breaking.

When Luke was getting sick last weekend, I too was in the process of getting sick. I am still sick and this worry is not helping me heal I am sure. I caught this terrible chest cold. Sunday was actually my birthday and I spent it in bed with a fever with aches, pains with a sinus from hell. My head is still congested and the stress of my poor Luke being sick is well not helping. I had a terrible headache, which felt like it was going to explode by the time my head finally made contact with my pillow. I mentioned to some people that it was like I was Elliott & Luke was my E.T. (making 1980 movie reference, for those who don't remember E.T) Maybe I need to get better and then Luke will get better....

Without a doubt I will be brining him home, but now it is a matter of getting the funds together for the ultra sounds. I am going to be calling the local S.P.C.A clinic to see if it is cheaper through them and if it is possible to squeeze Luke in for an appointment. I don't know the exact cost yet of the ultrasounds.

I am so touched by the generosity and compassion from you all. I am in tears just thinking about how many kind people are out there who have never even met Luke or me but are sending their best wishes for his recovery and also contributing to Luke’s treatment fund.
Thank you so much for your help. The cost is still unconfirmed still because I am trying to get the best rate. I will be adding a little widget on the side that lets us know how much we have in the pot for Luke's treatment. Someone had sent me the suggestion for that (thanks - such a great idea!!) I have been outta the twitter loop since last night & know that I have many messages to catch up on. I'm trying to do my best here.

Once again Thanks so much for all the suggestions and advice. This has been all very overwhelming for me but I will keep you updated on Luke’s progress.
I better get on twitter & let you know about this update!!!

Evening update day 3 @ vet

Oh my Lukey. I was able to spend about 20 minutes with him tonight. His little kennel was ground level almost, so I just sat on the floor & gave him love. When he heard me, he perked up to looking for me. Melt my heart. He started purring right away as soon as I pet him. This is such a good sign! He was so non-reactive before not looking at anything yesterday. So to see him respond was such a positive thing. He had to be force fed again today, but I'm sure that is what is giving him his strength again. He even stepped up to walk closer so he could lean a little out of the kennel to be close. He talked to me, when no one was around. He was voicing how he wanted out of there, I'm sure. Oh my sweet Lukey.

The Vet & I decided to just keep him there one more night because I guess it is tomorrow that the I.V has to be out. I just want him to get that extra night of fluids. Luke has even been using the litter box!!! I'm so happy that he has perked up. I actually feel like I will get some sleep tonight. I told him I would be back in the morning to pick him & that he really should try & eat his foodies on his own. If he doesn't go for food, they are going to show me how to feed him, which is fine by me. I really want him out of there. Next step will be the ultra sound. But, I do feel relieved that he is out of that lethargic phase. Thank god.

I love my Luke. 

I swear everyones good thoughts & prayers are working!!!

YAY!!!

Goodnight everyone.

Luke's story

I've created this blog to ask for help for Luke shop cat. Sadly our best employee (ummm... only employee) Has fallen ill. Luke works at a little gift shop in Gastown, in Vancouver, BC. Luke has been with us for 2 years. He loves visitors & gives love to every single soul that walks through that door! He would run out from his bed when he heard people come in to greet them with some loving leg rubs with his head. Some were even so lucky to get kisses if he was sitting up on the counter top of the desk. He gave kisses to many ladies - even some very friendly cat loving men!!!

Luke has been at the Vet since Monday morning. The shop is very lonely with out him. Before Luke went to the Vet, he had stopped eating & was having a hard time keeping any food down. He was drinking water, but he kept bringing up the water. It was clear that he wasn't able to keep anything down & was not himself. He was lethargic and wouldn't come out to see me or any other visitors.

Luke had gone into the Vet on a holiday Monday here in Canada. So when they did the blood work, we had to wait till the following day for the lab to open to even have the samples sent. They put him on I.V for fluids & gave him some antibiotics. He was so still, just laying there. But he would purr when you spoke to him & gave him some love. He purred so loud the Dr. could not even get a clear listen on his heart. The Dr. couldn't believe how big his purr was. He didn't have a temperature, but the Dr. thought he must have and it finally broke. It was so hard to leave him there. The clinic was closing early because of the holiday & I would return in the morning to find out if he improved at all.

He didn't improve come the next morning. He was now hydrated though, but still lethargic. There was a dog barking in the back of the clinic & Luke just laid there, with his little I.V in his paw on the examining table not even phased. Poor little guy. They force fed him yesterday & he was able to keep it down. But, he would not go to the food himself. We were really just buying time until the blood work came back so we could have some kind of answer.

Blood work came back last night & they called to tell me it was his liver. I had to go and talk with them about the next step. This morning when I went they told me, he needs an ultra sound and that that would be the best way to rule out a tumor. Ultra sound is $360 + $68 exam fee. Poor Luke's bill is already close to $500. They also suggested a biopsy of the liver & an x-ray. Plus another round of blood tests once that is done.

I just can't afford more tests. It breaks my heart. It literally feels like my heart is being pulled out. I just need to have some kind of answer to what is happening to his liver. But the funds for the ultrasound are out of my league right now.

I am going in tonight to the Vet after work, to see if I can bring him home. They have to take the I.V out today because you can't keep it in for more than 3 days. I am hoping he will be stable enough to take home so he can get some cuddles & maybe be less stressed by not being around the noisy clinic. But, in order to be sure he gets the right medicine he needs the ultra sound so he can be treated.

I will post once I know more after I run to the Vet this evening.

If you can find it in heart to help luke get the medical care he needs, please find the DONATE button on this page & I promise to send out a little package to you. So be sure to give your address.

I will be eternally grateful as would Luke.
Luke is my everything.