Cooper in January

Hi readers! My mom is letting me share with you how my January was this year. She told me that she already shared with you all that I had surgery and I have pancreatic cancer, so I am not embarrassed to show my shaved belly. I even have shaved spots on my chest and front left leg! Other than been a little cold, I don’t mind since my mom and dad pet me when I have all of my hair or not.

My January was really busy, and I have all kinds of pictures that my mom took to share with you.

So, this is how my January began. I had exploratory surgery, so the doctors could see why I was not getting better. A few years ago, my doctor removed a pre-cancerous tumor from my pancreas and even removed my spleen. After that, I was more prone to pancreatitis, but recently I was not getting better with the usual treatments. I have had my fair share of surgeries, but my mom seemed extra worried about this one. The surgeon warned her that I may not do well in this surgery since I have kidney disease and hypertension. I looked at her and told her, “I got this mom; I can handle this surgery. I am tougher than they think!” She agreed to the surgery, but before she let them take me back for surgery, I let her pick me up and hold me for a really long time. I am not the cuddling type of kitty, but this was different. She was hugging me and told me that she would not give up on me. I hugged her back gently and told her “I am not giving up either!”

I don’t remember a lot while I stayed in recovery, but I do remember that my mom called and checked on me a lot. My mom visited me as soon as the doctor said she could after my surgery.  She spent a long time with me, and I was so happy to see my mom. I felt groggy and sore. I was so tired of the cone that I had to wear, but my mom gave me head rubs to make it more comfortable. I thought I would go home when I saw her, but she told me that the doctor wanted me to stay one more day because he wanted to make sure my kidney values were safe to go home. I was not nice to the tech that took me back, and I gave him a few choice words. My mom told me that they were just trying to take good care of me and try to be nice to the staff. I tried, but that cone really made me grumpy.

Once I did get to go home. My mom and dad took really good care of me. I was so happy to be home, but I hurt really bad. My mom and dad got really worried the second night I was home. I was not eating, and I was trembling in pain. There was an ice storm that closed the roads, and my mom could not take me to my doctor, so she videoed me trembling and breathing hard. My mom sent that video to my doctor. I could not tell my mom how much I was hurting, but my doctor told my mom that the video of me is most likely pain and to give me a certain dose of pain medication. That really helped me feel a little better. Enough so I could eat and drink, and start to build my strength back.

My mom took me to work with her with her every day, so she could take care of me. She brought some of my blankets to the office. I slept next to her desk every day. I felt a lot better when I was with my mom, and I really like going to work with her.

A week after my surgery, my mom had to have another knee surgery. She hurt really bad when she got home. I don’t like to see my mom hurting, so I stayed by her side all of the time. She told me that the positive side about our surgeries is that we got to spend more snuggle time together.

My dad took care of us. My mom had made some freezer meals ahead of time, so they could eat some home cooked meals. She even bought some extra food for me so my dad would know just what I liked to eat. You may have noticed that my mom is the foodie and cook in our house.

Ever since my mom’s surgery and when my biopsies came back, I have been spending more time with my mom. She was really upset at first, but she has been smiling a lot more. I decided to spend as much time with her as I can. I can come across as a very independent cat (at least that is what people say), but I don’t like being far apart from my mom and dad. My mom seems happier when I stay close to her, and I get extra chin rubs too! So, instead of sleeping on the sofa from time to time. I am sleeping with my mom and dad at night. Of course, I get up and have a midnight snack, but I get back into the warm bed and curl up next to my mom every night.

That wraps up my January. I hope you all had a good January, and you have an even better February!