A'more

A'more 

This photo features A'more with his buddy, Toby.

In the late summer of 2006, I was a passenger in my ex's car, sitting in the drive-thru of a KFC in Watsonville. As I was staring out the window, I saw a very emaciated kitten dart between some bushes. (My ex didn't see the kitten.) I swear I could have counted this kitten's ribs - he was that skinny! Then I saw the kitten again, heading for the back parking lot. I knew at once what I had to try and do: catch this little guy.

I got out of the car and gently approached the kitten, who upon seeing me darted under a tree with heavy foilage. A lady (bless her heart) came up to me and handed me a drumstick in a napkin. (I'm not talking about the yummy ice cream version of a drumstick, but rather the kind that is greasy with bumpy skin that belongs on a hen! Yes, I eat chicken, but I cannot cook it, and it definitely has to be boneless and skinless.) Nevertheless, I was grateful. I began to rip the chunks of meat from the bone and laid out a trail in the dirt near the tree to the curb I was sitting on. Gently calling to the kitten... he, slowly emerged from under the tree and began eating the chicken. As soon as he got close enough, I reached out and grabbed him by the scruff. Oh my golly gee! He was like the exorcist, flailing all around with his claws out! Needless to say, I let go of him at once.

I attempted to grab him again a second time and again, I had to let him go. By this time, my ex had driven back around and scared the kitten back under the tree. Argh! I told my ex I wasn't leaving without this kitten, and if he could please go buy some tasty cat food as I was running out of the chicken. Plus I asked my ex to park in the lot next door so his car wouldn't frighten the kitten again.

You know what they say, "Third time's a charm." I took my sweatshirt off and then strategically placed the chicken in a trail, again. As soon as the kitten started eating the trail of chicken, I grabbed him and wrapped him in my sweatshirt. (My ex had bought dry food - what am I going to do with that?!) as soon as the kitten was snuggled in my sweatshirt, he began to purr quite loudly. 

My ex drove me to my truck, and I drove from Watsonville to Los Altos, particularly to the state of the art veterinary hospital where I worked. We (A'more and I) waited as there were several emergencies ahead of us. But when the veterinarian kept passing us up, I asked my colleague if she could at least pull blood to run a FE FI (FeLV/FIV) test on him. I certainly didn't want to bring this kitten home if he tested positive as my kitties are all negative for these two diseases. I let my colleague know that I'd bring the kitten to work with me and have him examined as time allowed.

Examination - Stomatitis 

When A'more was examined by one of the veterinarians, the doctor told me that A'more had a severe case of stomatitis. (Although I've been a veterinary technician for many years, I had never heard of this. Mostly because I work in the ICU on emergency.)

STOMATITIS - What is this?

 Stomatitis is the inflammation of the oral cavity: teeth, gums, lips, cheeks, throat.

Causes: periodontal disease can definitely contribute to stomatitis, as well as diseases such as: Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Calicivirus and Bartonellosis. Stomatitis can also be an immune mediated response where the cat's immune system attacks its own oral tissues as an abnormal response to the bacteria in the mouth. (This was A'more's problem.)

Symptoms:

• halitosis (bad breath)

• drooling, with or without blood

• unkempt hair coat

• refusal to eat

• weight loss

• gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)

• pawing at face or mouth

Diagnosis:

Usually during an examination, the veterinarian will look inside a cat's mouth to check its teeth, gums, etc. 

A biopsy may or may not be taken (the cat would require anesthesia for this.)

Treatment:

1. Antibiotics will be prescribed. A'more was sent home with clindanycin, but due to his mouth being incredibly painful, I was unable to give the antirobe to him.

2. Periodontal therapy with or without extractions. (Cat requires anesthesia for this.)

A'more continued

A'more was scheduled for his periodontal therapy. Blood was pulled to run chemistries and a CBC (complete blood count) with differential (checking his blood cells under a microscope.) This is when we found out that he had increased kidney enzymes, BUN and Creatinine. Radiographs were taken, and he was scheduled for an abdominal ultrasound. Upon viewing the radiographs, his heart appeared very small - so he also had a cardiac ultrasound done too. Once those checked out okay, he was started on intravenous fluids as a dieresis - to flush his kidneys of the accumulated waste.

He had full mouth extractions done, leaving only his canines (fangs) left. He was given a long lasting injection of antibiotics and a fentanyl pain patch was placed. (I knew I wouldn't be able to give him oral medications.)

See; Feline Chronuc Renal Faulure (CRF) for an inside look to what this disease is and tips and tricks.

ASTHMA

Yes, A'more was also diagnosed with severe asthma as well. He, however, would not let me get the inhaler even close enough to him so that I could better manage this. He didn't like the hiss sound of the inhaler. 

Trying to catch him and wrap him up to receive a treatment was "not going to happen" in his mind's eye. Just like when he was a kitten, and I was trying to catch him. 

If your kitty has asthma, definitely use a clay-free litter. This will help diminish the dust. I'd also recommend an air purifier along with removing cat dander and dust regularly.

The above photo of A'more was taken about a month before he died. It was getting harder to get him to eat... despite daily fluids being administered and all of his supplements. 

My dear kitty, A'more definitely lived longer than I had expected, a full two years longer! He died when he was 8 1/2 years old. He also definitely expended his nine lives! Between his chronic renal failure and his asthma attacks, it seemed that I was always driving him into the veterinary hospital. 

The above photo is A'more in the "quiet room" - a room set up with a couch and rug and all of the necessary items for euthanasia. The little yellow toy is a Loofah toy with crinkling plastic in it. A'more loved crunching on these!

My dearest, A'more definitely lived up to his name: full of LOVE! 

#Amore #BlackCat #RenalFailure

Next Up: Feline Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)

Saint Christopher and Saint Mina

Saint Christopher 

Not much is known about Saint Christopher - there are no known written accounts of his birth, life or death. 

Before the formal canonization process began in the 15th century, many saints were "born from" legends, pagan mythology and/or other religions.

Saint Christopher is one of these saints - born from a legend:

The 13th Century Golden Legend

Christopher was initially called Reprobus. He was a Canaanite five cubits (7.5' or 2.3m) tall and had a fearsome face. While serving the King of Canaan, Christopher took it in his head to go and serve, "the greatest king there ever was." 

He went to the king who was reputed to be the greatest, but one day he saw the king cross himself at the mention of the devil. On thus learning that the king feared the devil, he departed to look for the devil.

He came across a band of marauders, one of whom declared himself to be the devil, so Christopher decided to serve him. But when his new master avoided a wayside cross, and Christopher found out that the devil feared Christ, Christopher left him and enquired from people where to find Christ. 

Christopher came across a hermit who told him that he could serve Christ by fasting and prayer. Christopher replied that he was unable to perform this service. The hermit then suggested that because of his size and strength, Christopher could serve Christ by assisting people across the dangerous river, where the people were perishing in attempts to cross it. The hermit promised that this service would be very pleasing to Christ.

After Christopher had performed this service for some time, a child asked Christopher to take him across the river. During the crossing, the river became swollen and the child felt as heavy as lead, so much so that Christopher could scarcely carry the child and found himself in great difficulty. When he finally reached the other side, he said to the child: "You have put me in the greatest danger. I do not think the whole world could have been as heavy on my shoulders as you were." The child replied: "You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but Him who made it. I am Christ, your King, whom you are serving by this work." Then the child vanished.

Christopher later visited the city of Luci, and there he comforted the Christians who were being martyred. Brought before the local king, Christopher refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods. The king tried to win Christopher over with riches and by sending him two beautiful women to tempt him. But Christopher converted the women to Christianity, as he had already converted thousands in the city. The king ordered Christopher to be killed. Various attempts failed but finally he was beheaded. 

His remains were possibly taken to Alexandria by Peter of Attallia where he may have been identified with the Egyptian martyr Saint Mina.

Christopher means "Christ-bearer" which was the title given to the name of the valiant Menas or Mina who died in Antioch. 

Christopher was venerated by several Christian denominations as a martyr killed in the reign of the third century Roman Emperor Decius (249-251) or under Roman Emperor Maximinus II Dacian (307-313) 

Saint Mina - Who Is this Saint?

Saint Mina (Minas, Mena, Menas, Mennas) was born in the year 285, in Egypt, in the city of Niceous. His father was Eudoxios, and his mother was Euphemia. 

His story:

On the feast of the Virgin Mary, Euphemia prayed with tears that God may give her a blessed son. A sound came from the icon of the Blessed Virgin that sounded like 'Amen.'

A few months later, Euphemia gave birth to a son and named him, Mina. When Mina was 14 years old, his father died. When Mina was 15 years old, he joined the Roman army and was given a high rank due to his father's reputation. 

When Mina was 18, he left the army and devoted his whole life to Christ. He lived in the desert as a hermit. Five years of living as a hermit, Mina saw a revelation of the Angels crowning the martyrs with glorious crowns. A voice spoke to him, "Blessed are you Mina because you have been called to the pious life from your childhood. You shall be granted three immortal crowns: one for your celibacy, another for your asceticism and a third for martyrdom.

Soldiers executed Mina and burned his body for three days, but Mina's body was unharmed from the flames. Mina's sister bribed the soldiers and had her brother's body brought to a church.

An angel appeared to Pope Athanasius of Alexandria and ordered him to load Mina's body on s camel and head into the Western Desert. The camel stopped and wouldn't budge from a certain spot so Mina was buried here.

The Roman governor decided to secretly remove the body of Mina to be his deliverer and strong protector. He wanted to rebury Saint Mina in Alexandria. As the camel passed Lake Mariont and came upon the place where Mina was originally buried, the camel knelt down and refused to move. The governor had Mina's body moved and placed on another camel, but this camel refused to move too. So Saint Mina was buried here - the precise location to where he was first buried.

During the fifth century, the location of where Saint Mina was buried was unknown. However, anyone who traveled to this certain spot was cured. The daughter of Emperor Zeno had leprosy. She went to the site, others before her had gone, and was healed. Saint Mina appeared to her that night. Zeno's daughter shared her vision and Zeno had Saint Mina's body dug out and built a cathedral there. 

This is the Monastery of Saint Mina. Location: 9 Mar-Mina Road, Qesm Borg Al Arab, Alexandria Governorate 21934, Egypt, where relics of Saint Mina and Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria lie. 

Saint Mina of Mareotis, Saint Mina of Cotyaes and Saint Mina of Constantinople are most likely the same saint: a military saint. 

Inside the Monastery of Saint Mina.. 

Because Saint Mina's life mirrors Saint Christopher's life - it is said through the many who have researched Saint Mina that he is known on the Western Hemisphere as Saint Christopher.

This above image is of a clay flask with the name: Saint Mina along with his picture that archaeologists have found in a multitude of places in Egypt.

This image is that of a medal portraying Saint Christopher. 

The medals in France have: Regardez Saint Christopher et aller sur rassuré. Translation: "Look at Saint Christopher and go on reassured." Or: Voici Saint-Christophe et passez votre chemin en toute sécurité. Translation: Behold St. Christopher and go your way in safety.

The medals in Spanish: Si confías en San Cristóbal, que no va a morir en un accidente. Translation: If you trust in St. Christopher, you won't die in an accident.

#SaintChristopher #SaintMina #CatholicSaints

What do you think? Same saint or different? Please leave your comments below.