Not Good News On Tiny Helena

Posted on by Sarah A. Hoyt

Helena at work supervising my writing two weeks ago.

I’m afraid the news this morning isn’t good at all. It’s not terrible, mind you. Not the worst it could be.

But Helena hasn’t made any progress from yesterday. She’s scooting around, but won’t get up on her legs, not to stand. She swallows the tablet, but won’t eat on her own. She is aware of the nurse, but won’t really interact. though she responds to touch.

Right now the speculation is leaning to something neurological, though not all tests are in, and the vet won’t have the full picture till tomorrow.

It was clear, however, from the nurse’s tone, she thinks Helena has improved as much as she will improve and they’re going to recommend euthanasia tomorrow.

I don’t know what to do, and I’m sitting here crying. Please, pray this is just a minor stall, and she improves majorly the rest of the day.

I want to go home and take my little kitten girl home with me.

UPDATE: We’re going home early, and barring her actually getting worse, we’re going to fight for her. She’s young and she should heal.

101 thoughts on “Not Good News On Tiny Helena”

  5. My better half and myself are keeping Helena( as well as you and yours) in our daily observance

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  18. Sometimes all you can do is roll the icosahedron and hope for a 20. Here is wishing Helena and you luck.

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  21. Prayers. My Rommie is waiting for her other side of the Rainbow Bridge, should she shuffle off this mortal coil.

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  25. We’ve never faced this with a cat so young, but we’ve been at the hard point where you have to do what’s right for the cat, and not spare your own feelings. If you have to do that, I sympathize with your grief and I’m sorry for your loss.

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  26. Maybe what’s he needs is her human and her brother. Would not be the first time someone has not thrived in isolation but made a turn around when reunited with loved ones.

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    1. I am so hoping that is the case.
      Our next-door neighbor’s tiny young Shi-Tzu, Angel became dreadfully sick earlier this year; at first we thought she might have ingested some dropped medicine that she discovered on the floor, but the vet diagnosed a kind of canine meningitis. Angel’s owner was about to decide to have her put to sleep, since she was so very sick, but my daughter said, “Give it another day or two, see if the medication really takes hold.”
      Angel recovered, and is a happy, yappy little dog. I pray that it is the same with Helena, and that her Own Human returning, and all going home will work to turn her around.

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      1. Even humans with stroke recover, and she is very young, so I’m hoping it works. We’ll be with her on Tuesday, and before that she’ll have Morrigan whom she adores. (note, future daughter in law is approved-by-cats, so you know she’s good.)

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  28. I’m sorry for this sad news. Hopefully she’ll respond to your presence, but if not you’ll at least have the comfort of having given her a good, loving home even if only for a short time.

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  30. Turning prayers up to 111. For both of you. Driving Artemis mad wondering what is wrong with me.

    Do wait until you are home to make any decisions. From long experience (and my Dad’s), the prognosis changes drastically when their people are there.

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  31. Sarah,
    My prayers are, of course, accompanying Helena and you as you make your journeys through this realm – may they be long entwined and, if sundered they must be, may the be rejoined in the next realm.

    It is a hard thing to give space in your heart to those more ephemeral, knowing the breaking is inevitable; harder still when the time together is far shorter than expected. I pray His mercy that the two of you will have more days to share and love.

    On a more personal note, I give thanks for prayers on behalf of Beloved Spouse, who continues. We’ve had unexpected time to share memories and prepare our hearts for separation (the kidney stent has – miraculously – re-activated, draining better than ever and our characteristic humour has largely overcome the indignities of this process. I’ve been pulling her leg for nearly fifty years, so doing it now to rotate her hips assisting her onto the bedpan is a task I come to well-practiced.
    ~
    Rgrds,
    RES

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      1. If she holds on another week (until July 04) I’m taking some of our sippin’ rum and hope TCM runs their annual screening of 1776 at a congenial hour. As Stephen Hopkins reminds,

        It’s a medicinal fact that rum gets a man’s heart started in the morning.

        ~
        Rgrds,
        RES

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  34. Here is hoping little Helena improves when she sees you & Dan. Prayers being sent through my angels waiting at the Rainbow Gate to those who care. I am so sorry.

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      1. I know you don’t like asking for money, but this absolutely deserves a kitty care funding campaign. I’m pretty sure lots of people here are ready to help.

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      1. Good on’ya.

        The tough thing may well be knowing WHAT the right thing is, to do.

        I had to put down my two furry boys, best freaking cats ever, and miss them to this day, 5 and 6 years later.

        I thank The creator for the additional months that I did have with them

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      2. Good on’ya.

        The tough thing may well be knowing WHAT the right thing is, to do.

        I had to put down my two furry boys, best freaking cats ever, and miss them to this day, 5 and 6 years later.

        I thank The creator for the additional months that I did have with them

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  43. So sorry. Knowing the reality and having to make that decision is terrible, but she will be all right and love you forever. I’ll be praying for a miraculous recovery…

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  44. Will continue praying, though at this point, the only priority is that the little creature NOT be allowed to suffer. I have had to make that awful decision too many times in the past. Still, I know that miracles happen, and will keep praying as hard as I know how.

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    1. She’s is not suffering, but it’s been less than a week. I think it’s too early to consider euthanasia. Even if it’s brain damage, she will recover. Or might. We’ll give it more time.

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  47. I’m very sorry you’re in this situation. If she’s responding at all, I’d be inclined to give her a few more days. Spend some time with her, as that helps.

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  49. My wife and I have been praying for you and Helena. As a reward for our efforts, and hopefully as a sign of encouragement, yesterday around dusk a mountain lion walked halfway around our house right next to it. As it came around the final corner, it paused so we got an excellent look at it’s gorgeous face, lingered awhile, and then sauntered off into the forest. Hang in there dear Sarah, Magic is afoot!

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  50. Dog guy here. That being said, I feel your pain and will include you and your cat in my prayers. I haven’t lost a child but I have lost several dogs and to say the least it sucks.

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  53. May you and Dan get to see and cuddle her again before any final decision is made. It may be she just needs her people to come home. Take care.

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  57. “Condolences” is a funny word. The meaning is literally there, but it’s pretty much impossible to use without sounding like a condescending prick.

    I had to put my dog down earlier this year. (Cancer) He was my buddy, and helped me through some really dark days.
    So I sympathize.
    I really do.
    But I’m afraid I’m going to pray more for you, than for the cat.

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  61. Many, many prayers and hugs. I’m glad you’re fighting for her–as you said, even if it’s brain damage, that doesn’t mean that she can’t have a wonderful life!

    (And, given what I’ve read about her and her brother…if she does have brain damage, that just means she’ll be like the the majority of orange kitties: ie, sharing only the one brain cell with all the rest of them, which means she’ll be an adorable, cuddly cell-less wonder when it isn’t her turn to have it, but otherwise is just dandy!)

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  66. Had some bad leptodpirodis affect my kitty, vet says no response to stimulus, until i walked in and opened the cage and put my arms around him. He stood up very wobbly and started to eat. Kitty may just need you

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  68. I have rather more experience with severe brain trauma than I would like. Not with pets, but with 2 of my children, one who had severe bacterial meningitis and one who had a choking incident with resultant lack of oxygen to the brain, and then with my stroke several years ago. You’d think they would have been less likely to rush to pull the plug, so to speak, on children. But even 30 years ago that wasn’t so. We had to fight to give ours kids a chance.

    The brain is amazingly plastic and especially when dealing with a youngster like Helena, can heal if given the chance. Even with an oldster like me it reroutes past the damage given time and hard work.

    I think you are right to give her a chance since she isn’t suffering. And be sure to bring her home to her familiar environment as soon as possible. But you know that.

    Prayers 🙏

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    1. Racked up enough concussions over 50+ years to be a poster-boy for TBI. (Almost all from civilian activities. Infantry wears helmets….)

      So if you read my posts, and think “that boy just ain’t right….”

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