Update:

Hello all, this had been a particularly tough week for me and Aiden has been a huge help with the updates because I just haven't had the heart...it would have been all blubbery and non-nonsensical.

We had the big scare last Wednesday (3/28) where Casey almost didn't make it through anesthesia and since then I've been so afraid to say anything to anyone because I feel like it's a jinx if I do. That Wednesday we had the serious talk with the doc about chances, infection, quality of life and I was NOT happy with what I was hearing. I felt I was loosing my boy and basically had a breakdown. Unfortunately I choose to deal with my 'breakdown' by drinking an entire bottle of wine in 3 hours when I got home. More unfortunately, at 33 I can no longer hold my liqueur as I really don't drink and though I never intended it, I got to share said bottle of wine a second time with the carpet, my concerned sister and Aiden's shirt. Thursday morning was just as enjoyable as Wednesday night as I still had to go into work and at least pretend I was useful while hung over and freaking out about the day's bandage change. Casey again had a rough go of it as Aiden has mentioned in previous posts but he struggled through. I think I screamed (in joy) when they called and told me he had made it through the surgery.

By Friday we were all but begging the doctors to see if they couldn't do the bandage change without anesthesia; besides the MRSA this seemed to be our biggest hurtle to getting Casey healthy again. We were thrilled when they were able to complete the bandage change sans anesthesia and nervous/happy when the doc asked if we wanted to take him home.

Fast forward and I'm exhausted. I am soo afraid to leave Casey without monitoring because he just loves to scratch at his wound, ripping off the bandages. Part of this concern is that we were really doing well UNTIL Casey slipped his cone and chewed on the wound last Tuesday.

We do have two e-jackets that I bought from Denise and had shipped over-night at the start of all this. I was really hoping to use them verse the e-collar, however the placement of the wound is such that the e-jacket not only can't cover the wound but also puts too much pressure on it not allowing it to 'breathe.'

I am SOOO appreciative of the support and well wishes, it has kept me going when I have NOT felt strong. On Aiden's encouragement I have setup a donate button through my paypal, but PLEASE do not feel obligated. I'm embarrassed to be asking for help, but do not deny I could use it.

THANK YOU, thank you for all the support and I will try and update more frequently. I have no words to tell you how important it has become to read the well-wishes and stay strong for Casey.

In hopes and thanks,
Chris
Casey Fund



**Edit...um ya, can't get the donate button to work...so I posted a link!

Might be easyer to post your vets office and their number so people can help out. Most vets will take credit card payment over the phone.

Good luck with Casey and we are all rooting for him!

We've offered that option a few times so we're definitely willing to help.

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Originally posted by Skyfire

Might be easyer to post your vets office and their number so people can help out. Most vets will take credit card payment over the phone.

Good luck with Casey and we are all rooting for him!

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Here is our vet info:
UofI Small Animal Clinic
217-333-5300
8:00am-5:00pm
'Casey Mohrbacher'
Client #245607

We have to pay the entire bill whenever we check-out though so I don't know if they can put in a reserve for future use...I'll certainly use it, every bandage change at this point as been around $70 with no idea when they might end. They *may* do refunds, I just don't know, but you are free to talk to them and see what they will do if you are interested...I'll let them know they can release my client info, and thanks for any help at all.

Most that I know of will just set up a fund to use towards anything he needs. Thats what they do around here anyways. Since we know he will be going back and forth for awhile yet. Good to see owners taking care of their babies now matter what kind of babies they are.

Reading this has been quite a ride. You should feel proud of yourselves because you are not only a responsible owner, you are a real friend. If you or your roomate is not in some medical field/school/something, you should be. From this dedication alone, I feel you both are strong and intelligent people who can understand the importance of life and its preservation. Good luck casey. MRSA VRSA and such are quite common place in the mouths of cats. It is lucky Casey was only punctured and not crushed. I really feel if the wound will remain untouched it will heal properly. I swear if I had some $$ I'd donate...

How is VRSA quite common in the mouths of cats? It is quite rare here in the states. As a matter of fact it is found in patients that vancomycin was used in. I wish I could agree with you that it would heal on its own but you and I both know it wouldn't.

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Originally posted by Althalus

Reading this has been quite a ride. You should feel proud of yourselves because you are not only a responsible owner, you are a real friend. If you or your roomate is not in some medical field/school/something, you should be. From this dedication alone, I feel you both are strong and intelligent people who can understand the importance of life and its preservation. Good luck casey. MRSA VRSA and such are quite common place in the mouths of cats. It is lucky Casey was only punctured and not crushed. I really feel if the wound will remain untouched it will heal properly. I swear if I had some $$ I'd donate...

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Well I am merely relating information from my education in Parasitology and Microbiology. MRSA and VRSA is becoming more common everyday. I suppose there are more than one school of thought on this subject. And I didn't mean it would heal on its own. I meant with the antibiotics and NOT being messed with. I appologise for not being more correct.

That is not a problem. I didn't even know there was such a thing as VRSA until I looked it up. I must have misunderstood you when you said you thought it might mend if left alone. I apologize for questioning you. All I know is we all want Casey to get better and now because he has been sick for so long.

quote:

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Originally posted by Althalus

Well I am merely relating information from my education in Parasitology and Microbiology. MRSA and VRSA is becoming more common everyday. I suppose there are more than one school of thought on this subject. And I didn't mean it would heal on its own. I meant with the antibiotics and NOT being messed with. I appologise for not being more correct.

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no harm, no foul. I also want the same for this little guy. I am thinking seriously of getting a male for my two females. I see how happy and energetic and healthy they are in a larger group and I know I have the space in my cage for at least one or two more. Maybe I could be an emergency adopter for someone in a bind.

AHHH! No scaring the glider mom! Lol. My carpet (and now that I think about it me too) can't hand another round of wine...gotta go wash out my cats mouths with listerin.

>< he's gonna make it, he's gonna make it, he's gonna make it...

Val, I'd love to hear any advice you might have that I can pass along to my vet. I hope we are on the right track.

Casey is being given his greatest chance for success, You Row! You are doing fine, and if you clean anything, clean your cats claws/paws they are more likely to transfer other things like toxoplamsa. This is not to scare you, it just gives you a good idea at how all living things are constantly being attacked by other organisms. We are able to pull through most infections without even knowing we had one! Casey will pull through. Keep up the good work and know you are doing everything right.

Althalus, isn't toxoplasmosis airborne as well? I thought it was and that why I wasn't allowed to clean the litter box when I was pregnant. I could be wrong though.

quote:

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Originally posted by Althalus

Casey is being given his greatest chance for success, You Row! You are doing fine, and if you clean anything, clean your cats claws/paws they are more likely to transfer other things like toxoplamsa. This is not to scare you, it just gives you a good idea at how all living things are constantly being attacked by other organisms. We are able to pull through most infections without even knowing we had one! Casey will pull through. Keep up the good work and know you are doing everything right.

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Well, not exactly. I mean you could aerosolize it potentially when scooping the poop out. But they don't want pregnant women to touch them because Toxoplasmodiums' can terminate pregnancy and cause birth defects. Also, most cats do not show symptoms of plasmodium infection

Ro, have you contacted TGI for financial assistance?

http://www.thegliderinitiative.org/vetcareassistance.htm

Good idea.

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Originally posted by sugie bandit

Ro, have you contacted TGI for financial assistance?

http://www.thegliderinitiative.org/vetcareassistance.htm

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Originally posted by Omis n Kais g-ma

Good idea.

quote:

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Originally posted by sugie bandit

Ro, have you contacted TGI for financial assistance?

http://www.thegliderinitiative.org/vetcareassistance.htm

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I was hoping it was. I was just poking around and came across it.

Wow didn't know there was anything like that out there! Thanks for the link!

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Originally posted by sugie bandit

Ro, have you contacted TGI for financial assistance?

http://www.thegliderinitiative.org/vetcareassistance.htm

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Originally posted by Skyfire

Wow didn't know there was anything like that out there! Thanks for the link!

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Originally posted by sugie bandit

Ro, have you contacted TGI for financial assistance?

http://www.thegliderinitiative.org/vetcareassistance.htm

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I didn't either. It pays to poke around

I think it may be for severe cases where funds are needed. Such as this one. Hoe they can help them.

Sweet! Thank you for the link! I did fill out an VCA Application-how cool would that be if they could help! Talk about a weight off my shoulders!

Valkyriemome, thank you. <3 <3 <3

Aren't you glad you did come here now? I know I am.

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Originally posted by Rowangel

Sweet! Thank you for the link! I did fill out an VCA Application-how cool would that be if they could help! Talk about a weight off my shoulders!

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I do hope they will help. Keep us posted on that, as well as updates on your baby. (HUGZ)

A message from Casey;


Hi! I've been feeling well enough that momma said I could write to you. I have to say the last month has been hell, but Momma has been reading to me all the well-wishes you guys write me and they've really helped me feel like fighting off this yucky feeling I've had for soooo long! I feel like a star!

I'm doing better, they tell me I still have something called MRSA and some pretty painful spots around my left arm they like to poke at, but you should have seen the lion I had to fight off! Those teeth were THIS big!

Momma has been real attentive but I think she gets frustrated when I pull off the fluffy stuff. I don't think she understands that it is itchy and doesn't belong! We always have to go to the smelly, scary place after I ditch the itchy stuff to get more itchy stuff but she always calls me her "little booger" on the way home. What's a booger? I assume it means 'intimidating' or 'The man' or some such appropriate description because she has been saying it a lot recently. Now she has me wearing some hideous pink jacket thing that makes it REALLY hard to take the itchy stuff off...I will have to develop a new game plan...


Anyway, I wanted to say thank you for all the support. Momma is not strong like me and I think me fighting with the lions really upset her. She said you have been very helpful in making her feel stronger. So thank you for helping my momma when I wasn't feeling very well.

Oh...and anyone wanna help me break outta this tiny cage she keeps sticking me in? She's cramping my style and I wanna run around!
Love Casey (with mommas help!)

Too cute! Glad he's feeling a bit better =)

AWWWW! That was soooo cute!! Happy to hear he is feeling better. He looks down right perky!

Casey - you are The Man - and I'm happy to see that momma has been spoiling you as you deserve. But you are going to have to go easy on your momma. Things like the pink jacket and the tiny cage are the least you can do for her - since you worried her so much, she deserves a little mercy!

You'll be out of those in no time, Casey!

Real Men Wear Pink!! Thanks so much Casey and momma for the update. Casey, you are such a handsome little booger!

Real Men not only wear pink, but real men love Sugar Gliders ! So glad you are feeling better Casey !!