*~*Forever we will love you until we meet by the Rainbow, Koel*~*
KOEL STAMM
2001-June 23,2003
I noticed within the first week that he was breathing funny. I took him to the vet.. and the vet told me that he needed to get an x-ray to check out his chest. I took my cat in for an x-ray, and three days later i could pick up my cat. I never really understood exactly what happened, but they had tested my cat for FIP without asking to take blood. I found this a little bit shady, but i told them they could do what they felt was necessary. Evidently this means keeping the parent in the dark. However, I did find out in the X-ray that my cat also had a BB in his chest.
Eventually, after being told that my cat had FIP becuase he was positive a ratio of 1:6400, I was almost ready to give up. Then after talking with Bill Anderson, Presiden of The Ottawa County Humane Society, and doing a lot of research on the disease, i found that my cat had NONE of the symptoms. Why would you diagnose a cat for carrying the virus when he has no symptoms.
I took him to another vet, who told me that things weren't looking good for my baby Koel either. I was pretty mad. He gave me an antibiotic and told me to come back in 3 weeks. They all thought that there was fluid in the chest.
Bill Anderson convinced me to get the fluid tested to see if it was FIP. Dr. Matthews couldn't get any fluid out, so he referred me to OSU Veterinary Hospital. I knew this was getting serious. Bill Anderson told me that he would talk to the humane society council, and they would decide if they would cover it, but he put his own personal credit card down at OSU to cover our bills.
On June 21, 2003, my 21st birthday, my finacee Dave took Koel to OSU Veterinary Hospital. They evaluated him and took more clear x-rays. They came up with the diagnosis that Koel had a diaphragmatic hernia. His diaphragm had been ripped when he was in an accident of some kind and broke his pelvis(why he was brought to the humane society). He had been breathing like this since December. They decided that they would do surgery on Monday. Dave got home around 10:30, and went to bed. I celebrated my birthday, and on Sunday I wanted to visit Koel. I found out that I could see him for about 10 minutes, and I couldn't touch him. Assuming that my baby would be coming home, I didn't drive an hour and a half for a 10 minute visit.
On Monday, I waited, and waited for a call at work. Eventually at 10 am, Dr. Wolf called to tell me that Koel was doing well, but they were going to wait unti the afternoon so that his stomach would empty. I got a call at 3 pm that the surgery was over, and that he was doing pretty well, but they found that his spleen, pancreas, part of his liver and fat were all in his chest cavity. Talk about hard to breathe!
Dr. Wolf called me back in about 15 minutes to tell me that Koel was suddenly not breathing on his own. He stopped walking around, and was just laying there. They were going to help him breathe for a while, but he needed to be on a breathing machine, which would cost a thousand $$ a day. I began to cry, and called Bill. He said to try it for a day. By the time I called Dr. Wolf back, she said that Koel's blood pressure was down, and they could barely feel the heartbeat. I had called my friend Mike, and I decided that he was going to drive me down to OSU. Dr. Wolf told me that usually when an animal goes on a breathing machine, they don't come off of it, and often times their heart stopped. What did i want to do if his heart stopped. Let him go, i said.
After about an hour in the car, mike and i stopped for gas. I decided after not hearing anything, that i would call the hospital for an update. No news is good news. Dr. Wolf said that he had gotten better but that the Neurologist had come in and the Specialist, and since he wasn't looking around and everything that he wasn't going to make it. He was breathing better, and his heartbeat was stronger, but things looked very pessimistic.
Having faith that my cat would make it through, we got there late after going through a traffic jam, and walked into the hospital. This lady at the desk asked me if i was there for an emergency. I said that well, my cat is dying. She called back for Koel's doctors. Dr. Wolf came out, she took us back to a room, and i knew that something was up. This wasn't anywhere near an intensive care unit.
She told us that less than five minutes before we got there, Koel's heart stopped. They had been prepping him for our visit. You could see the real concern in her eyes. She explained that i had a few options for taking care of the body. I told her I had already thought about it, because of the option of the FIP, and i was taking him home to bury him. She told me that I could get an autopsy, but I wouldn't get the body back. I said no. So, she brought him in for me to have time with him. His body was still warm, and he looked like he was sleeping so peacefully. Dr. Wolf said that the neurologist said that Koel wasn't in any pain, and he was finally using his lungs. I sat with Koel's body, in a box, covered by the plastic hospital pad/blanket thing. His belly was all shaved, and the stiches were fresh. I kissed him and petted him. I just didn't know what to do. I told Mike, you really thought.., didn't you? I did too. I thought he would make it.
I guess as a defense i started to actually think about the body. I decided to cut some hair and whiskers, and Dr. Wolf gave me and envelope. I took Koel with me to come home. I gave a few phone calls, first to Dave to tell him that he was coming home, just not how we wanted. He began to get upset. I haven't heard him cry like that since his mother died. I was really nervous, but i didn't cry anymore. i just kept petting my Koel, who I knew would only stay warm for so long. I called my Dad, and I called my mom. She said she would dig the grave before I got there. I called Bill and Sharon Anderson, who were at the Humane Society. Sharon handed the phone to Bill, who told me that she was crying. You could tell that his heart had dropped, and he felt horrible. Theres nothing that any of us could have done more. I mean, I loved him, everyone loved him, and because of Koel, Mike has two cats, and Dave loves our cats.
On the way, i wrote on the box, Koel's Name and some pictures, and a note. Dave, Dad and Jeannie met us at my mom's house, and I brought him in. I set him on the counter in the garage, and i kissed his forhead and nuzzled with him one more time. By the time we got him home, the body was stiff. Dave just kept crying, and crying. I was upset for Dave, but something inside of me kept me calm. Jeannie had brought a fake rose that i put inside the "casket", and my mom put a towel around him. We all kindof paid our respects to the cat that affected everyone, and I took him back to the gravesite, dragging everyone behind me. We dug it a little deeper, and the mosquitos were biting. Eventually after saying a few things, I began to throw dirt back on top of him. My dad took the shovel, and began to work. Then Dave wanted to do it. While crying, he began to finish the job. I didn't know how to feel. I felt so empty, but I knew that I had Reese, who was to have been Koel's sister, to come home to. We all sat around for a bit, and made sure everyone was okay, and headed home. That was a long trip.
Things still remind me of Koel, and I have the footprint that OSU Veterinary hospital gratiously made for me. This is an experience that I will never forget. The way that Bill and Sharon Anderson showed me and my family love, the way that the humane society cared for something that no one could have helped. The Ottawa County Humane Society has paid all of my vet bills, as well as taken care of the bill at OSU Veterinary Hospital. I am forever grateful to the concern and love they have shown me, and I will someday repay them when I graduate and get a real job. The way that Koel affected everyone, and survived in so much pain, giving me love. I will never forget you, Koel. However, my new cat Salem, who looks a lot like Koel is doing well. So is Reese, who never met Koel, but i believe that for a while she was playing with the shadows for a reason.
Goddess bless and keep you,
Merina MoonAir