Too Much To Handle

Hello friends,

Angel Clarissa has granted me the honor to hijack her blog tonight. We haven't posted since January 9, 2022. So much has happened since then. If I posted everything that has happened since that time I think this post would be a novel. Before I start I want to send my sympathies to Paula Burr's family. I always enjoyed reading her "Sweet Perfections" blog. I found out about her passing tonight. It hurt my heart to learn this sad news. Paula will be missed.

Now on to us. Brother Greg is still living in the nursing home. We were hoping that this would be a short stay, but it isn't so. Greg is doing well there. He finished his physical therapy, but the therapist and social worker thought it would be in Greg's best interest if he stayed there. The physical therapist said she thought Greg had progressed as far as he was going to do. He continues to have falls at least once a month. He is safer there than he would be at home. Anytime he has fallen at home over the past year or so I would have to call 911 for assistance. He is unable to get up on his own, and I certainly can't help him up. He and I will be having another meeting with PT and the social worker on Tuesday to review his health plan.

I, myself, have had a couple of falls since the first of the year. I wasn't hurt, but I had to call for help getting up. If I could put weight on my knees I think I could pull myself up. Unfortunately I can't kneel on them without severe pain. I'm trying to be more careful, and I always take my phone from room to room with me.

My job description changed in the early spring. Everyone who was an account specialist was gradually switched to customer service officer. It really wasn't much different from what I had been doing since October 2020. I had a zoom meeting with my manager regarding a possible merit raise on April 28. I don't know why she bothered because I was terminated from their business on May 2nd. To be honest, I wasn't that upset by it. I won't name the company, but I had been working for them since lat January 2020. This company owns a lot of hospitals and also works with many that they don't own. The many goal of my job was to collect payments from account holders. I started as part time making outbound calls. I would either leave a message or try to get the person transferred to an account specialist (aka debt collector.) I moved to full time in September 2020 and started working as an account specialist in October. I took inbound calls and would take payments by phone, set up payment plans, offer settlements, and/or send financial aid forms out. Once in a while I would have to final notice, but only when the account holder refused to pay. When I was switched to customer service I only dealt with hospitals that were owned by the company. Besides assisting account holders, I also spoke with providers office reps. It was a stressful job and I can't say that I miss it.

And now for the hardest news I want to share. Both Bart and Arson are Rainbow Bridge angels now.

Bart (aka Old Man Bart) started failing in February. By mid-March it was time to help him cross over. He was close to 18 years old. Bart joined us in December 2019. He was the only shelter cat that wasn't adopted at an "empty the shelter" event. When I saw him on the news, I knew I had to bring him home.

Bart wasn't the most social of cats. He hated to be picked up, and he was never a lap cat. He really didn't care for any of the other cats in the household. He spent most of his days sleeping on the kitchen counter or in a sun puddle on the floor. His crossing was easy and I was with him the whole time.

About a week after losing Bart, I had to take Arson in for a possible UTI. He was treated and did well for a month or so. On the night of April 27th Arson acted fine. On the morning of April 28th he was laying on top for the floor vent in the bathroom floor. I was a bit surprised, but it was still chilly in the mornings and the heat would come on. I figured he was cold. To my knowledge he didn't leave the bathroom. He had water and a litter box. I was in the back room working. That evening I brought him into the living room. He stayed with me for a while, but soon went back to the bathroom. I called work that night and left a message saying that I was going to have to take him to the vert in the morning and I would be in as soon as I could.

Arson was still in the bathroom when I got up Friday morning. He came into the kitchen and hunched in front of his water bowl but wouldn't drink. I called my vet as soon as they opened. They were booked and couldn't work him in as a drop off. I called a couple of emergency vets. I couldn't go in with him a one, but I could with the other. Of course I was barely holding it together because I didn't know how I was going to pay for this. I told the tech when we were taken to a room that my finances were tight and she said she would let the vet know.

When the vet came in she explained that Arson's bladder was hard and it was painful when she feeling it. None of the options I was given were good. Ideally, she would keep him there for the weekend (this was on a Friday morning.) She would insert a catheter and give him fluids to try to drain and flush his bladder. The cost would be around $4000.00. I didn't have that kind of money to spend. The next option was x-rays and possible surgery. Once again, it was more than I could possibly afford. The next option would be to keep him for the day, try to catheterize him to drain the bladder and give him fluids, then send him home. Still talking close to $1000.00. My last option was to say goodbye to him. I had no choice but to do that. Arson was in pain. If the money was there I would spend every cent to help me get better. I held him like a baby and rocked him in my arms. He lifted his front leg and touched my cheek with his paw. All I could do was sob and tell him I was so sorry and that I loved him with all my heart.  The vet charged me for the office visit and said I could pay for the euthanasia and cremation later. A friend called them and paid for the cremation. I still owe them $80 that I plan to pay this week.

Losing Arson has been a devastating loss. He was only 4 or 5 years old and had been with me since late January 2020. I love all of my kitties, but there was something about Arson that made him extra special. But mostly I feel awful because I couldn't help him. Please be kind with any comments. My heart hurts so much as it is.

With love to all,

Malinda.

ARSON WELLS