Willow has been added to our Special Needs page, where we will continue to report her progress and let you know if she recovers. If you believe in prayer, or powers of positive thinking, we would be so grateful if you would include Willow. We've started a special fund for her medical needs as well.
Please check our Special Needs page often to follow Willow's progress.
Updates:
By the end of the first day, we had found a caretaker who could spend the time, and knew the technique for emptying a cat's bladder. She was willing to take on the care of this precious cat for the remainder of the week. We're happy to report that Willow has responded beautifully to TLC. She loves being inside where it's safe, and having a human pet her and talk to her. She purrs, and kneads, and has proven to be a wonderful, loving companion animal.
However, Willow was not eating or drinking. Her foster mom began to syringe-feed her. We were worried that she could have more issues contributing to her paralysis, or that she had lost her will. That sinking feeling was starting to return to the pit of my stomach. If she didn't eat soon, we were going to be facing much bigger issues, and the scale was beginning to tip away from quality of life.
March 20, 2009 - At last, Willow is eating and grooming herself!!! These areHUGE signs that she is starting to feel better and wants to recover! She especially likes to eat from her human's hand. She is even beginning to show some slight reaction to stimulus on the legs and feet. The vet has directed us to straighten and bend her legs, to keep the hip and knee joints moving. When we massage the pads on both feet, Willow curls her toes. Progress! Her caretaker is going out of town for a few days, so Willow will be spending the weekend with me.
March 22, 2009 - This evening while I was sitting on the floor in her room, Willow kept reaching for my hand. She was trying to tell me something. She eventually left her bed and crawled to me, and leaned up against my legs, putting her head in my lap. Awwww, she wanted some love. After months of caring for her as a feral, wanting so badly to get my hands on her and take her in, I feel truly blessed to be able to hold and pet her. I'm so sad it had to happen this way, but thankful she has a chance to recover.
March 23, 2009 - Willow really is beginning to get into exercise! While we work with her legs, straightening and bending, as the vet instructed, Willow pushes both back legs out all the way and gives them a really good stretch. "Oh yeh, that feels sooooo good!" She even stretches her toes wide apart! Then as she relaxes, she bends her knees into a more natural posture. When she pulls herself across the floor, she is beginning to tuck her legs under her body, instead of dragging them flat out to the side. She has even started to make the stepping motion with one of her legs as she does this.
March 24, 2009 - This morning Willow did not want me to touch her and give her any meds! She got so put off by me, that her tail whipped from side to side, then "thump, thump, thump!" Atta girl! That tail is coming back to life as well! She'll need it for balance, and expression, throughout her life. This evening she returned to Karen's care where she can get more attention throughout the day.
March 26, 2009 - It's becoming a little easier to empty Willow's bladder. She begins to urinate as soon as just a little bit of pressure is placed on her bladder. We take this as a good sign that she'll be able to function normally as soon as she can stand on her own. She opened the door under the bathroom sink and climbed inside. Her back legs have quite a bit of feeling now, so we're not sure how she did this, but we're glad she's got so much spunk!
March 31, 2009 - When held like a baby cradled in your arms, with her hips and legs massaged, Willow begins shaking her legs, and eventually stretches them out straight. She's not complaining of pain during this time, no flinching except for the painful area in her mid-back. She also begins to urinate on her own when picked up and supported in the right position.
She climbed inside the cabinet under the sink again yesterday, and is getting more feisty. Willow was used to being free in the great outdoors, and has now been confined to a guest bathroom, only being carried out of that room for a change in scenery while still being held. So we think she's experiencing a bit of cabin fever, and might enjoy a little larger space to scoot around in. Karen is going to let her explore a little in a larger room with nothing that could prove harmful to her. She'll be able to see the sunlight and feel some fresh air again! We'll let you know how that goes.
April 2, 2009 - None of the other cats at Willow's colony had been seen since her accident. They know something's different, know one of their own is missing, probably even know she was hurt. I was so relieved to see the orange tabby last night, and today the Siamese youngster! This also gave me a sense of relief for Willow again, a renewed belief that all will be well for her - in time - with treatment. I'm such a worrier. You've heard of self-fulfilling prophecies? I have a tendency to give way too much power to my fears. I've been working hard to expect a good outcome for Willow, and have been challenged on that belief. Wayne Dyer says, "You'll see it when you believe it." I believe again today.
April 3, 2009 - I visited Willow at her foster home today, and she clearly is bonded to her foster mom! We brought her out to the living room and I held her and visited. She seemed to enjoy this time out of her little space, and purred while I stroked her, and massaged her legs. She did, indeed, enjoy the fresh air, and the view out the window, as Karen had indicated over the past couple of days. Willow's very interested in the other cats, too. Eventually we let her down on the carpeted floor. She immediately went to where the other cats were playing ambush and hide-n-seek with each other. Finally she leaned up against the sofa and got to work cleaning all my germs off her! She cleaned futher than she ever had, was able to sit up enough to reach behind the hips, under the tail. She even lifted her right leg about an inch off the floor, as though she was going to hike it up and give it a good cleaning! This is incredible! We're still very much believing Willow will walk again when the injury has recovered and is no longer painful. You go, girl!!!
By the end of the first day, we had found a caretaker who could spend the time, and knew the technique for emptying a cat's bladder. She was willing to take on the care of this precious cat for the remainder of the week. We're happy to report that Willow has responded beautifully to TLC. She loves being inside where it's safe, and having a human pet her and talk to her. She purrs, and kneads, and has proven to be a wonderful, loving companion animal.
However, Willow was not eating or drinking. Her foster mom began to syringe-feed her. We were worried that she could have more issues contributing to her paralysis, or that she had lost her will. That sinking feeling was starting to return to the pit of my stomach. If she didn't eat soon, we were going to be facing much bigger issues, and the scale was beginning to tip away from quality of life.
March 20, 2009 - At last, Willow is eating and grooming herself!!! These are
March 22, 2009 - This evening while I was sitting on the floor in her room, Willow kept reaching for my hand. She was trying to tell me something. She eventually left her bed and crawled to me, and leaned up against my legs, putting her head in my lap. Awwww, she wanted some love. After months of caring for her as a feral, wanting so badly to get my hands on her and take her in, I feel truly blessed to be able to hold and pet her. I'm so sad it had to happen this way, but thankful she has a chance to recover.
March 23, 2009 - Willow really is beginning to get into exercise! While we work with her legs, straightening and bending, as the vet instructed, Willow pushes both back legs out all the way and gives them a really good stretch. "Oh yeh, that feels sooooo good!" She even stretches her toes wide apart! Then as she relaxes, she bends her knees into a more natural posture. When she pulls herself across the floor, she is beginning to tuck her legs under her body, instead of dragging them flat out to the side. She has even started to make the stepping motion with one of her legs as she does this.
March 24, 2009 - This morning Willow did not want me to touch her and give her any meds! She got so put off by me, that her tail whipped from side to side, then "thump, thump, thump!" Atta girl! That tail is coming back to life as well! She'll need it for balance, and expression, throughout her life. This evening she returned to Karen's care where she can get more attention throughout the day.
March 26, 2009 - It's becoming a little easier to empty Willow's bladder. She begins to urinate as soon as just a little bit of pressure is placed on her bladder. We take this as a good sign that she'll be able to function normally as soon as she can stand on her own. She opened the door under the bathroom sink and climbed inside. Her back legs have quite a bit of feeling now, so we're not sure how she did this, but we're glad she's got so much spunk!
March 31, 2009 - When held like a baby cradled in your arms, with her hips and legs massaged, Willow begins shaking her legs, and eventually stretches them out straight. She's not complaining of pain during this time, no flinching except for the painful area in her mid-back. She also begins to urinate on her own when picked up and supported in the right position.
She climbed inside the cabinet under the sink again yesterday, and is getting more feisty. Willow was used to being free in the great outdoors, and has now been confined to a guest bathroom, only being carried out of that room for a change in scenery while still being held. So we think she's experiencing a bit of cabin fever, and might enjoy a little larger space to scoot around in. Karen is going to let her explore a little in a larger room with nothing that could prove harmful to her. She'll be able to see the sunlight and feel some fresh air again! We'll let you know how that goes.
April 2, 2009 - None of the other cats at Willow's colony had been seen since her accident. They know something's different, know one of their own is missing, probably even know she was hurt. I was so relieved to see the orange tabby last night, and today the Siamese youngster! This also gave me a sense of relief for Willow again, a renewed belief that all will be well for her - in time - with treatment. I'm such a worrier. You've heard of self-fulfilling prophecies? I have a tendency to give way too much power to my fears. I've been working hard to expect a good outcome for Willow, and have been challenged on that belief. Wayne Dyer says, "You'll see it when you believe it." I believe again today.
April 3, 2009 - I visited Willow at her foster home today, and she clearly is bonded to her foster mom! We brought her out to the living room and I held her and visited. She seemed to enjoy this time out of her little space, and purred while I stroked her, and massaged her legs. She did, indeed, enjoy the fresh air, and the view out the window, as Karen had indicated over the past couple of days. Willow's very interested in the other cats, too. Eventually we let her down on the carpeted floor. She immediately went to where the other cats were playing ambush and hide-n-seek with each other. Finally she leaned up against the sofa and got to work cleaning all my germs off her! She cleaned futher than she ever had, was able to sit up enough to reach behind the hips, under the tail. She even lifted her right leg about an inch off the floor, as though she was going to hike it up and give it a good cleaning! This is incredible! We're still very much believing Willow will walk again when the injury has recovered and is no longer painful. You go, girl!!!
