Dear Friends and Family,
On Thursday evening I got home later than usual to find several disturbing messages on the answering machine regarding Romeo. He had been hit by a car in the train station parking lot across the road from our home at 4:30pm and was luckily rushed to a veterinarian in Frederick by an Animal Control Officer. Ryan happened to arrive home as I was on my way out the door (in the biggest tizzy I have ever been in).
When we arrived at the vet’s office we learned of his injuries and of the fact that he might not make it through the night. He was hit in the rear with one hind leg (right?) severely fractured, a broken pelvis, and a dislocated hip in the opposite hind leg. He also had a slow leak in his lung, which caused him to pant. The shock that he had faced was one of the biggest concerns.
Unfortunately the vet’s office does not have overnight care, so at 7:00pm on Thursday we had to transport him to the Overnight Emergency Room 30 minutes away (45 from home) and then transport him back to the vet’s in the morning. When we arrived with him swaddled in towels and heating pads we met with the Emergency Room doctor and learned in more detail (to my shock) the true extent of his injuries. She sent us home at about 8:30 pm telling us she would not call in the night unless it was a true emergency. We finally got to bed and at about 11:00 the phone rang. We were both sure we had lost him. She told us that there was blood in his urine and that she had to tap (suck out) air from his chest several times. I didn’t sleep after that.
By 5:00am on Friday morning he was doing better and his urine had run clearer. Ryan transported him back to the vet’s office where he recovered for the day. I got to see him at 5:00pm and the doctor and I discussed surgery for his hip, pelvis and fractured leg. If he does not regain feeling in his fractured leg, they will amputate, but honestly that is not the biggest concern for me. In my mind a three-legged cat is better than no cat. I really like the doctor who will perform the surgery. Dr. King has a wonderful bedside manner (with both us and Romeo) and truly likes this cat (as does every doctor and nurse we have come in contact with).
Romeo is now at the Overnight Emergency Room where he will stay until Monday morning. I just called and he has been eating and is comfortable sleeping with his head on his favorite wool sweater.
For those of you who know him, you will understand why he is so important to us. He is a member of the family and changed our lives the moment he showed up at our doorstep the day we moved into Blacksburg. During our time in graduate school he taught us it was okay to slow down and take a nap. We are depleting his college fund to pay for this (he didn’t want to go anyway) and also our hardwood floor fund. So we’ll be spending another year with pink carpet, but at least Romeo will be on it!
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, especially on Monday when we plan to have his surgery! Love to all and remember to kiss you furry friends every day!
Love,
Andrea & Ryan
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