DEAR DIARY,

I’m doing pretty good, since I was diagnosed with a malignant mass in my heart. (See Davey Jones’ Diary, April 2009)

Living with a bad heart isn’t easy, but I’m doing OK. I get chicken whenever I want it. Mom cooks it especially for me and cuts it up into Davey-sized chunks. I can eat them and don’t have to work very hard. Mom also feeds me good stuff in a syringe. The stuff in the syringe is called a/d and Mom waters it down a little. I get that 4 times a day. Mom’s trying to get me to put on weight. Aunty Susan fixes me a plate of all kinds of good food. All I have to do is look at her pitifully and there it is.

Mom takes me up to THE VET once a week to have HER check my heart and get weighed. Everyone is hoping that I put on weight. I’m really trying. I eat lots of times during the day.

I have what Mom and I call my “Little Old Man Days”. On those days I’m a little slower and need to rest a lot. I walk down the hall, but stop a few times before getting to the bathroom or the bedroom. I can still jump up on furniture and look out the window without help, but mostly I rest in my new basket. “Little Old Man Days” happen several times during the week.

When I have a “Not So Good Day”, I stretch out in the chair with my Bubby and my new blankie. Aunty Susan knitted me a blankie for the days when I don’t move around much. That’s when food is brought to me and the only time that I get up on my own is to go to the litter box and get a drink of water. I only have a “Not So Good Day” about once a week.

The rest of my days are pretty average. I walk fast down the hall. Mom says that I trot, but I’m not a horse. Sometimes, I even run down the hall. On my “Average Days”, I can still get in and out of the window by myself. I like to watch the traffic on the street and the birds in the front yard. I can also get up in the bathroom window and watch the bird in the lilac bush by the window. I can get up in the bedroom window and watch the dogs play out in the back yard. I have several “Average Days” every week. I really like those days.

DEAR DIARY,

I do have “Good and Very Good Days”. On those days, I climb up on the computer army-war and watch what everyone is doing. On a “Good and Very Good Day”, I climbed up on the bookcase and discovered a shamed-rock plant. (Shamrock plant) I check out the whole thing and couldn’t find one shamed rock. There were some delicious green things, though. “Good and Very Good Days” happen once or twice a week.

Every once in a while I have “Truly Terrific Days”. Those days are the most fun. That’s when I feel my best and can do the most. On one of the “Truly Terrific Days” I had so much fun:

First, I jumped up on the top of the entertainment center. Mom wouldn’t let me jump down. She picked me up and put me on the floor. She’s afraid that I might jar something loose in my heart if I do too much.

Next, I jumped up on Mom’s lap and when she wasn’t looking I stole the straw out of her soft drink can. I jumped down with it in my mouth and played with it for a while. Then, I hopped up on my chair and played some more with the straw. I really like stealing straws. Mom doesn’t mind either.

After I rested for a while, Mom found a blue ring in her shoe. She threw it to me and I caught it. I played with it for a long time and then I fell asleep. “Truly Terrific Days” don’t happen very often, but they are the most fun.

DEAR DIARY,

I know that people feel sorry for me, but I’m still here and enjoy every day. We felines understand how to pace ourselves and adjust our behavior to each new situation. I eat when I’m hungry. I play when I feel pretty good and I rest when I’m tired.

I take my steroid pill every day and I’m doing OK. I’m trying to eat more and gain weight. Mom doesn’t want to take me back to OSU right now. It’s pretty stressful. (See Davey Jones’ Diary, April, 2009) The trip to OSU takes 2 ½ hours and then The Vets take me away from Mom for 3 or 4 hours. They punch, prod, poke, stick, and generally touch me inappropriately. It is very stressful. Mom and I think that I’m doing pretty well, so why do anything differently.

I’ll keep you posted on how I’m doing. Mom takes lots of pictures that I can share with you. None of them are posed. I’ll see you next month.

Note from Maryellen: I want to thank those of you who e-mailed me and sent Davey Jones good wishes, positive thoughts, and prayers. The e-mails mean a lot. Thanks for sharing this journey with Davey Jones and me. I’m still hoping for a miracle and enjoying every day. Thanks again and I’ll see you next month.

Cats With Hands