How it all started..Note: This page isn't necessarily fun reading but was essential to me to try and get past the pain of the first few weeks Gorb was ill.  I'm sorry if it seems sappy or overly emotional, but its how I truly felt about things at the time and frankly I was a wreck.

Gorbachev, my sweet sugarbaby, is just about 12 years old.  We noticed late last year (2000) going into the winter months that Gorb seemed to be losing weight.  We chalked it up to the fact that he was getting older - as we didn't see anything else too odd.  Gorb has always been lethargic (aka lazy) but was still eating and affectionate.  In March of 2001 I developed some weird "illness" - believed to be either walking pneumonia or bronchitis.  My only symptom was a horrible cough - 24 hours a day.  After I'd been coughing for about a month Gorb started to cough too.  At this point we were worried so we made an appointment for him to see the vet.

So, Saturday April 7th rolls around and we take Gorb to the vet.  He's an extremely affectionate cat and was loving the attention.  Because we don't believe continuous vaccinations are necessary for our indoor cats, the 1st thing the vet had to do was give him his rabies shot (legally required in MA).  She takes blood and urine and tells us she thinks its a thyroid problem or feline leukemia (this theory came about because we didn't want him to have the test again - all of our cats had been tested for FL and FIV and since the appointment that day was already running towards $300 we didn't want to continue to run up the bill with tests we thought were unnecessary).

Now remember, Gorb was happy as can be at the vets.  24 hours later he started to lay in the bathroom on a rug in front of the radiator.  He didn't seem to feel well and wasn't eating as much.  The results were supposed to be in on Monday so we just kind of waited it out on Sunday.  Monday rolls around and we go to work as usual.  I called the vets office twice only to be told all the results weren't in yet.  I get home around 5:45 pm and Gorb had taken a turn for the worst.  He could barely walk, wasn't responsive, and couldn't keep his eyes open.  I called the vets office for the 3rd time that day and insisted on talking to someone immediately as my cat seemed near death.  I finally get a vet on the line that tells me I have to take Gorb to the hospital ASAP.  I'm carrying him around at this point and gesturing to my boyfriend to get the carrier and my car keys.  The vet tells me that Gorb is diabetic and is in a state of ketoacidosis...now at this point this all means nothing to me - I'm just putting him in the car and heading to Angell Memorial where they're faxing a referral as we speak on the phone. 

(Note: the vet we visited on Saturday was not the primary vet at this practice, nor was the vet I spoke with on the phone on Monday.  The fact that the first vet didn't even suspect FD and suggest we do a simple urine test - which we could have done at home that day - almost cost my Gorb his life.  I will never bring an animal in need to this practice - their negligence hurt Gorb physically and I can't forgive that.  The vet I spoke with Monday somewhat restored my faith in vets as she called me several days later to find out how Gorb was doing - simply because she was concerned.)

We get Gorb to Angell - only a few pedestrians taken out on the way - and are seen within a few minutes.  Gorb is semi-responsive at this point but the vet pulls no punches.  He tells us he can't offer us any promises at this point - DKA is fatal if left untreated and Gorb was pretty far along.  He tells us that Gorb's future care requires a serious commitment of finances and resources and I think I looked at him like he was from Mars.  I stated emphatically that there was no question we would do anything and everything necessary for my Gorbster.

Gorb is admitted to ICU that night and the vet tells me he'll call in the morning with an update - but advises he'll call during the night if need be..."no news is good news".  Day 1 rolls around and Gorb is still touch and go - luckily at Angell they have visiting hours 2x a day for ICU patients and we visit with Gorb at lunchtime and after work.  It was tough to see him that way - he was barely conscious and hooked up to several machines.  The vet advises we still don't know if Gorb will pull through, "no news is good news" gets me through another night.  This first night I find the FDMB (feline diabetes message board) and post about Gorb's situation.  I was a wreck this whole time and suddenly a group of complete strangers started to send their prayers and love for Gorb.  I was overwhelmed by the support I found on the internet and try to repay every chance I get.

Day 2 is pretty much the same as day 1 -- we visit Gorb, no big news yet.  The vet advises Gorb is in an anemic state and has an infection - mostly likely kidney or pancreas.  Poor baby gets his belly shaved for an ultrasound (took months for it to grow back -- his belly looked like cotton ball fuzz for most of the summer).  The vet believes Gorb has been diabetic for quite some time and semi-regulating himself with food -- the development of the infection is what caused his blood sugar numbers to skyrocket which after a long period of time will cause the ketoacidosis.

Day 3 is a whole new ballgame!  Gorb is starting to respond to the antibiotics and the constant insulin (used to bring his blood glucose down) and is starting to eat.  We bring him treats (tuna) at lunch and dinner and he's responsive to us and eats pretty well.  He's up and about now and winning over the ICU staff (Gorb's a lover - not a fighter).  The vet is finally a little more positive in his prognosis and tells us Gorb should be able to come home within the week :)

From there its much of the same...Gorb is in ICU for a little over a week and makes a great recovery.  He's far from regulated as far as blood glucose goes (for a diabetic cat it can takes months or years to find the right food - insulin combination to regulate the BG numbers) but is so anxious to come home he's released the day before the Boston Marathon (Patriot's Day).

And that's how it all started...since Gorb has come home we've been through everything other FD newbies have been through and made it (albeit with a lot less sleep and a lot less money than we used to have)...looking back its easy to see "signs" Gorb was trying to give us.  But that's all tainted with the fact that we know what to look for.  If the Gorbycam and Gorb's website can help one person with a diabetic cat (or dog or lizard or whatever) than all we've been through is well worth it!

On that note, please take the time to visit IMOM, an amazing organization that provides financial assistance to pets in need.  We were lucky that our animal hospital offered a payment plan for the bills we ran up (Angell also offers financial assistance directly to folks that need it)...but not everyone is that lucky and there can be nothing worse than to think that you cannot treat your beloved companion because you don't have the money.  The banner below will bring you to IMOM and we (Gorb, Elvis, Aly, Persy) all encourage you to visit and to donate whatever you can! 

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