June Curse

Many of you probably don't know this about me, but I am cursed. I call it the June curse, because really bad stuff always happens to me (and my family) in June (sometimes May, but usually June) EVERY YEAR. I can trace it all back to 2002, when we had our horrific car accident where I was ejected out of the passenger side window. Most years since then I have had a car accident in May or June (thankfully more minor than that first one), and when there isn't a car accident it's something else. Let's see, last year was a car accident, the year before was when I ruptured my kidney (extremely painful, if you're wondering), the year before was another car accident. In other years we have had deaths in the family in May/June.

And now the curse continues! This year it's been my emergency appendectomy (May 29), and now Issy's cat is at the animal hospital in multiple organ failure. Dr. Caldwell is REALLY going above and beyond in an attempt to keep her alive, but it doesn't look promising at this point. If Delilah doesn't pull through, Issy will be extremely heartbroken. We've been a bit unlucky in the cat department lately. Issy had a black/white tuxedo cat, Sammy, for a long time, and then he just disappeared in November (he was neutered and only ever ventured into the neighbors' yards prior to this). That was a heartbroken Issy. Then we let her adopt a cat from a shelter in late December, and that cat had extreme anxiety issues and could not adjust to the dogs, our other cat (Fat Marley), and other activity in our house. We took him back to the shelter in late February after trying many expensive meds and "alternative" treatments. Of course, this broke Issy's heart. We decided to go with a kitten this time around so that it might adjust more easily to the other pets, but none of the shelters had any. After some searching, I discovered that an old friend I had lost touch with had a litter of kittens, and this is how we got Delilah. Issy adores this kitten - she sleeps with her every night, cleans her litter box every day (often without being asked), gave her a special pink bed and gave her a prayer shawl she was given when she broke her collar bone a few months back to use as a blanket. Issy makes homemade toys out of old socks, string, and paper for Delilah.

I am feeling incredibly guilty right now about Delilah's situation. After Sammy's disappearance, we decided any future cats would be inside-only, and because of this I decided I would just get Delilah's shots when I had her spayed, which I figured I'd do when she was about six months old (I like to fix 'em early, well before they have the chance to procreate!). I had done it this way with Fat Marley when she was a kitten, and she has always been fat and healthy from the beginning. I have always vaccinated my dogs from the very start, though, because they go in and out (dogs don't really take to a litter box, from what I understand!). Now I just keep thinking that if I had gotten her vaccinations, she might not be sick now. Of course, at this point we really don't know what is making her so suddenly sick, and the possibilities include congenital issues that I would have had no control over, but I'm the type of person who seems to like to beat herself up over everything.

Now, I love Delilah and I will be very sad if she doesn't make it through this, but what will upset me more than anything is the look of absolute heartbreak on Issy's face when I have to tell her. Any parents out there will know exactly what I'm going through with this, and will understand why I'm willing to do ANYTHING to keep this kitten alive. Am I worried about the vet bill? Of course. But if worse comes to worst, I will prostitute to keep this cat alive (just kidding, but I really am desperate not to break Issy's heart).

At this point, Dr. Caldwell is diligently keeping me updated, and all I've told Issy is that Delilah is very sick and that she needs to pray (I have not mentioned the dismal prognosis). If anyone reads this tonight, please PRAY!