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Pheif's Garden

Then there's this guy
 
Me and My Shadow - Part 1
 
On May 16 /17 1995 three little kittens were born: Mickey, Doppler, and Pheifer Chapman. Their Mum, Tucker ‘C’ was an incredibly gentle and loving Mum who came to us as a young feral cat. We lost her in 1999 and the three girls got more attached to me. I have had fun with them; I have taken care of them when they were sick; I have washed them when they got dirty; I have watched them grow and be inquisitive with such innocence. Most of all I play with them and hug them constantly. They have never experienced pain or for that matter fear until December 7th 2007 when our home was broken into and vandalized. The kicked in door was left open and for all intent and purpose they should have run, but they didn’t. They stayed at home and hid. Unfortunately, Bill and I were not there to protect them which we have done all of their lives. It was heart breaking to think of what could have happened to them.

On December 22nd 2008 Pheifer took ill. Unfortunately her illness would take a breather, then get worse, time went on with many visits to her Dr. who then referred her to specialists; on March 11th 2008 the tests following exploratory surgery finally confirmed that she has lymphoma. I was told that the good news is that if she had to have cancer that this was probably the best of the lot in terms of pain management.

The specialists and her Dr. reviewed Pheif’s file and on physical examination recommended that she start chemotherapy. She is a good candidate they said. They believe that she is strong in body and in her attitude. I like to believe that they understand having hammered it into their heads for 12 going on 13 years that “you don’t know unless you try, so try and try again”. Most people think I am crazy, but I know better.

After much discussion and consideration Pheifer has started the “Madison Protocol”. We read the material which is 22 pages long. It lists in detail each treatment and what the side effects could be. They also detail week by week what she would receive and gave us one page which describes ‘A Day In The Life of Chemo’. I don’t think I have ever been this scared knowing what we were about to do and trying not to second guess our decisions.

As of today [April 11] Pheif has received her fourth treatment. This one was tough on her, drained her of her energy but not her will. Her first treatment was pretty bad on her too. She also has to be separated from her sisters for 72 hours so that no contamination can occur and her immune system can kick in.
 
Her big sister Mickey has taken it pretty hard as we believe that she has figured out that her little sister is sick. After Pheif’s quarantine is over Mickey usually gives her sister’s face a bath and sticks close to her. This small emotional exchange seems to perk Pheifer up and boost her self-confidence. [Sister Power] The Drs. have also confirmed that Pheif has started to respond to the treatments and her lymph nodes have reduced in size among other things.

For me I only understood what it was like to lose a father having lost my Father. Now that I have experienced this loss I can truly say to someone else who has lost their Dad that I know how it feels. I am grateful for every day our Mum is still with us. I have known people who have had cancer or knows someone who has and have supported them through their treatments. I can relate to that in part now that I am living it with Pheifer. She is more dependant than a 2 legged person and only those who have experienced this with their animal would know what I am talking about.

We continue to love her and be there for her and sure hope that with her determination and my stubbornness that she will pull through this. It is our hope that her cancer stays in remission and allows Pheif to spend her remaining years with us enjoying a good quality of life. Yep, she’s only just started the treatments and I am already thinking about the long term. While this is good for me to be positive I wake up knowing that we have to work with her one day at a time.

We thank Pheif’s Dr. - Liz Richards and all the Drs. and staff at Canada West and Internal Medicine who continue to be so kind and generous with their support and emotions towards little Pheif.

Some or perhaps most people think that they are just animals so what’s the big deal, they are not ‘real’ people. I beg to differ. I probably have a better relationship with them than I do with most people. My theory is not whether they are 2 legged or 4 legged; it is how much I love them. So yeah, please say a prayer for her and if you can’t then your best wishes for her are welcomed.

Pheifer ‘C’ thanks you.

       

...ssc..wrc