Hi Everypawdy!
I know that it's been an awfully long time since Mom helped me post here but there has been A LOT that has been going on...
Covid kept us from visiting for a long time and I was not happy about that but kitties can get Covid from humans and it becomes an upper respiratory virus that can be spread to other cats (but not back to humans at that point). Since Therapy Animals get pets and love from so many wonderful peeps, we couldn't visit them safely. The virus could also get on my fur and then passed to the next peep.
Then, we moved to Colorado during all of that time! To be honest, the moving part wasn't much fun... I don't mind going for car rides, it's a part of what happens to go to visit peeps. This was ridiculous though - we were in the car for 26 hours! I must admit, our new home in Colorado is pretty sweet. We have SO MUCH ROOM and a lot more sun than in Oregon.
Mom has a shower that is SO BIG... I like to watch the water.
I wish all the news was good but there are some tough things going on right now too.
Mom was laid off a few months ago and has had a hard time finding another job. She gets worried about paying the bills and sends out lots of things called 'resumes' every day. I wish she could get paid for being the best Cat Mom ever because she'd be a gazillionaire! She is interviewing for a job that looks pretty cool as far as those things go, so we are keeping our paws crossed.
Also, Mom has had a few procedures for some abnormal stuff in her left breast and has to have one more. She tries not to worry me about it but I'm experienced in seeing patients with stuff like this so I can tell. I've been giving her all my Therapy Cat medicine.
Lastly...
I have been diagnosed with something called FISS - Feline Injection Site Sarcoma. It occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 cats in the US, and is exactly what it sounds like. Mom is taking me to Colorado University Veterinary Teaching Hospital tomorrow for my first consult appointment with the Oncology Department peeps there. The next step will be a CT scan to see if the tumor is operable. Mom is trying to raise money for all of this since the scan alone will run $1,000 to $2,000. If they can remove the tumor, then I will be getting surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, which will probably run over $15,000 to $20,000 dollars.
We asked the Bissell Pet Foundation for help since I did multiple commercials with them but they won't help. That made me sad...
I know that is a lot of human dollars but Mom says that I have helped so many people with my love and purrs, she hopes they can help me have a lot more years - I'm only eight right now. She has started a campaign to help pay for everything and we would really appreciate your help! You can click here to donate (it also helps pay for gas to get me to my treatment appointments since the teaching hospital is over an hour and a half away) and please share with your friends so they can help too. If you prefer, you can also call the finance department at the University Veterinary Hospital and tell them you would like to donate to the care for me:
Basil, Therapy Cat (Tina Parkhurst)
Colorado University Veterinary Teaching Hospital
(970) 297-1263
Even though Brother Mack hates to leave the house, he helps take care of me at home.
Hugs, purrs, and love to all!!
Mom here: I'm sorry to end on a sad note but what Basil has is a big deal for us right now. I need Basil so much - and Basil needs all of us. We would truly appreciate your help. Hugs from me too.
