Jessie, Our Somali Cat

Jessie, our beautiful Somali cat, lost her 11-year old sister to a fast-growing cancer last Thanksgiving. In January, Jessie vomited some blood and we were off to AMC dreading the possibility that we might lose her too. She needed a biopsy for a definitive diagnosis; at some point she  just stopped eating. To keep up her weight while we waited for her to recover from the surgery, Doctors Myott and Harley recommended a feeding tube.

Without much hope, we followed their advice. Jessie spent two months wearing festive-colored neck bandages with the small tube that was saving her life peeking out. I was convinced she'd never eat on her own again but Dr. Harley reassured me that Jessie had hit her low point and would begin to improve as her medications to treat her ailment (inflamed bowel disease) began to do their work.

We engaged Stephanie Phillips, LVT, on Jessie's "team," to give Jessie her mid-day feedings because we were both at work. We watched Jessie begin to eat on her own again and last Thursday the feeding tube was finally removed.  It was a very long couple of months but now Jessie's appetite is back to normal and the early diagnosis and treatment have her IBD under control. 

Just saying thank you to  Dr. Harley , Dr. Myott, Stephanie, Claudia, the surgeons and everyone who showed so much care and love to our Jessie seems inadequate. The science and the attention have lead to this miracle of her recovery. This is a very happy holiday for us. Happy Easter. 

With our thanks, Carol & Bruce