Where was I ...........

 Yes, 19 months later and I'm still here! 

Both Zebby Cat and His human each had multiple health problems to deal with so Michelle/Mickle has been otherwise preoccupied for a while. Okay - quite a long while.

Zebby's kidney problems and hyperthyroidism  got steadily worse over the months. His appetite was still hardy (c'mon - Zeb refuse food?) however his weight went down and down and down.

Then pretty much overnight his hind legs could no longer support him.  My darling stubborn, sometimes grumpy, frequently smoochy, purry and loving 

Zebby Cat was helped to The Bridge on Tuesday, 25 August 2013. 

I give my enormous thanks to Pet Doctors in Kelburn, Wellington, especially nurse Kelsey and vets Rochelle and Brendan. Zeb's ashes are sitting here on the table and will be scattered under the citrus trees in my Folks' garden during the Christmas break.

In the meantime .............

My Crohn's disease had flared up again so my wonderful gastroenterologist, Ian Wilson, suggested  that I consider Humira. After second and third thoughts I worked through the various tests I needed to have to qualify for it.  And, as it was due, in August 2012 had a routine mammogram.

Long story short - a small area in my right breast looked different when compared with the previous mammogram. Turned out to be an invasive stage II ductal cell carcinoma that appeared to be 8mm across (even from an MRI scan) . My immediate reaction was "Bugger, this will stuff up going onto Humira!".

After lumpectomy surgery, to the suprise and shock of all - especially the medics, the tumour turned out to be 7cm wide. So second surgery - this time a simple mastectomy followed by 6 months of chemotherapy and 5 weeks of 5 days a week radiotherapy.

Hey - all things considered I'm doing okay.

I had to postpone  my radiotherapy treatment on the day Zebby had his final visit to his vets. The next day when I went in one of the radio therapists. Jenni, checked on how I was. Long story short again ........ her little cat, a four year old tabby girl named Megs, is coming to live with me in January. When Jenni and her partner first got Megs they lived in town  however they moved and now have quite a commute to and  from work so Megs gets lonely (she loves cuddling up to folks).

And now -  back to blogging at last and sense of humour very much in tact,

  

here I am. 

Soon it will be Christmas which I will spend with my dear Mum and Dad, and then the New Year will bring little Megs and lots of fun. Hmmm, it will be quite an adjustment going from 18 year old (age guesstimated) large Mancat Zebby to young Little Megs!

In the meantime here are pics of a beautiful Jacaranda Tree that is near my parents home. It should be flowering like this over Xmas.

 From a rainy* Wellington, I send huggles,

Michelle/ Mickle 


(*hooray - it will fill up the birdies bath for me!)


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