It's been 365 days already

Last time this year, we brought Xin Xin to the vet as she was refusing food and was lethargic. We expected her to just have a simple flu or something similar but instead, the vet told us she had acute renal failure and had to be hospitalised immediately.

The next 10 days were a blur and an emotional roller coaster for us as she was subjected to blood tests, injections and IV drip. Her condition went from bad to worse as she was further diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (heart disease) and the general feeling was that she would not make it.

We spent at least 4 hours a day at the vet with her. Forcing her to eat, singing to her, coaxing her to pee and poop, and generally just be by her side. It was only on the 10th day the vet allowed her to take her home, perhaps feeling that there was not much they could do for her.

She was very weak when she reached home. She was refusing food but needed the nourishment badly. She had to be medicated 3 times a day. I cannot remember how we passed those 2 months after that but it was the Wife waking up extra early in the morning, trying to syringe feed her while I will rush home during lunch to do the same thing. There was no OT for us during that time. When it strikes 6pm, we would rush home to begin the whole process again. Office work had to wait till 9 or 10pm before we would actually settle down for a breather. The worst was actually injecting her everyday to combat her dehydration.

Xin Xin was a fighter though. Time was not up for her. She fought a good fight; she put on weight; she began drinking herself; she started fighting with the gang again.

One year from then, she does not seem to be that sick cat anymore. Not for the past 9 months. She passed her quarterly vet examinations except that her heart is still beating at 180bpm compared to a regular 140bpm.

Everyday now is a routine.7am will be 60 kibbles of renal food gobbled up in 10 min. Then she will lounged around waiting to be stroked while we feed the rest and prepare breakfast. At around 7.50am, she will voluntarily stroll into the kitchen and sit there while I wash the breakfast plates. She knows it's time for her morning pilling. So kitchen door closed and in 2 minutes or less, either the Wife or myself would have succeeded pilling her 7 pills. And finally, the magic tuna and tuna water for her as her reward for being so cooperative.

Back home before 9pm, she will gobble up another 60 kibbles of renal food and then another round of pilling. But no tuna or tuna water this time. She does not really mind if we substitute it with some time devoted to stroking her or playing with her on the bed.

So for the past 9 months, it has been like this day after day. We have all fallen into a routine. No more overseas holiday for us since then as one of us has to be home on any day to feed and pill her.

I wish for many of such days. At least for another 10 years.