Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Surgery Is Scheduled

Not so very much beading tonight - not for lack of effort. I got up to the trees and got confused. I saw I did not have any Delicas #135. So, I emailed Cindy at ECS. She told me some kits have #165 instead, some concern on Martina's part about 135 - not sure what that meant. So, I looked at my tube of 165 and saw I did not have many! But, I stitched on those that I did have and Cindy then told me that each corner of trees is beaded with a different color! Of course, where I started was not where 165 should be used! So, in a few minutes, I will be busily de-beading - LOL! Oh well, still on course to finish by the end of the month :-) This was going too smoothly for me, it figures I would make a boo boo like this!

Now I can show you a little trinket I made for Karen, now that she has it... it is, according to the desinger, a pillow/pincushion. Halfway through stitching it I began to think, "Oh no, what is this??" But, Karen says she likes it, so... OK, here it is:

Grape Pillow/Pincushion

Hillside Samplings (in Grape Expectations leaflet)

32 ct Driftwood Linen

DMC floss and DMC perle cotton

Stitched 12/11/06 - 12/13/06


Angus Update: Angus is finally scheduled for PU surgery at 1 PM tomorrow. I don't know if I mentioned yesterday that an issue of kidney stones arose yesterday. Seven days into hospitalization, they decided to take an x-ray - since he was not voiding on his own. It turned up he has kidney stones - two in his kidney and 3-4 in the ureter (did I spell that right??) between his kidney and his bladder. They are the kind that they cannot dissolve with medication. So, they wanted to do a pricey (very pricey) ultrasound to see if those have to be removed. They did that today - and see no damage to his kidney (whew!!) but not sure about the ureter. Anyhow, for now, he is going in for the PU surgery. I cannot bring myself to tell you how much they estimate that will cost. However, suffice it to say, that is is ultra high. I got some comments and emails from caring folks saying it is often difficult to decide how much is too much to spend on pet treatment. But when you see how he is otherwise so healthy and well, so full of life and interest in all that is around him, then it is not even an option to quit on him. I am just glad Mike and I do have the resources to pay for this - although it does mess up what we planned to save this year. So, if you are inclined to pray for animals, Angus could sure use some prayers right now!

The worst part of this whole vet experience so far has been how the vets just really brush off how darn expensive their services are. When you can finally get them to talk about money, they sandwich it in between two other topics or statements... and give you no time to react, and when you kinda joke and say "gulp" or whatever, they say, "yeah, I know... oh, and his ultrasound will be another $315." I wonder how they feel when their own pets need emergency care - are they also stunned by the expense?

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and Mystery IX

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Argh no text is this a happy dance is your mystery done????

mainely stitching said...

Hey there, Carol! I would be delighted to stitch a few things for sale on eBay or elsewhere to help defray Angus' mounting medical costs.

Several years ago, I had a beloved ferret with pancreatic cancer and that year her medical bills far exceeded my own. They aren't our furbabies for nothing.

Anonymous said...

Continuing on sending good thoughts to Angus. In the meantime, wishing you a booboo-less ending of your mystery. Ann.

Anonymous said...

Oddly enough, I usually more inclined to pray for animals than I am most people. Good thoughts are going Angus' way.

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, Vet bills. It's the same over here in the UK too. When Toby had his accident and broke his pelvis (he was still living with me and not mum) his vet bill came to approx £5000 (is that about $8000???) I was so glad I had him insured so only had to pay out the excess because I would have had no option but to have him put to sleep otherwise. I'm sure sometimes though that these vets just grab figures out of mid air just because they sound good to them.

Good luck Angus with your operation!

Mystery looks lovely. What a shame about your unbeading though. That must be harder than unpicking the normal stitching.

Anonymous said...

Good luck to Angus today!

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about vet bills. But then, human emergency care is even worse. Healthcare costs, in general, are out of control. As far as I'm concerned, with pets, if you can manage to afford the expense and the furbaby is otherwise healthy, there is no alternative. I was so made at my mother when she suggested that Phoebe's knee surgery was more than she would have paid. But then, she's put down so many animals in her lifetime that I think that they may be a bit disposable to her now... That is sad.

Keep fighting. I'm glad that you have the resources to pay for it and I know that Angus is worth it. He'll come through with flying colors, I just know it!

Glenna said...

I know what you mean by the vets sort of tiptoeing around the subject of money. I think when their own animals need care, they get freebies from the other vets in their office. However, when told their spouses need expensive medical care, they say "put him/her down!" Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

Prayers and good thoughts for Angus(and you and your DH).

Unknown said...

I'm so sorry to hear about Angus, I really hope this surgery helps and he can come home soon.

Anonymous said...

Poor Angus! I'll be praying for him!

Michelle said...

Prayers going out for Angus today. I am hopeful that the surgery will get him back to his old self but without the stones. Your pillow pincushion is gorgeous - I love love the colors in it! Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

{{{{Angus}}}} I hope that the surgery is successful. MIX is looking gorgeous, sorry to hear about your problems with the beads

stitcherw said...

I'm glad that no damage to the kidney shows. I'll keep Angus in my thoughts and prayers that the surgery helps resolve the rest of his issues. It is hard with the cost of the care, but since he is good in other areas and if this should correct the problem if you can afford it I'd go for it too. They may be four legged and furry, but they are such a part of the family, truly our furbabies.

Sorry you have to frog on the beading of mystery. It is time consuming enough to bead, to have to frog and redo it would really be a pain. Lovely pincushion,
Sue

Anonymous said...

Oh dear! I hope Angus' surgery goes well, and that he's able to come home happy and healthy soon!

Anonymous said...

Hi Carol! Your little Grape pillow turned out to be so darling!!

When it comes to Angus, I am so glad that he has you for an owner!! I feel no amount of money is too much when you love something and I would have given up everything I have to save my little Blossom so I can imagine how you feel! Angus is a member of your family after all! I only wish your vet had done the exray immediately when you brought him in as mine did. He will be in my prayers and I will be thinking about him and you as well today!! I am so glad you are having it done!!

Debby

Anonymous said...

sorry to hear about your furbaby.

Anonymous said...

Sending good thoughts to Angus. I hope the surgery helps.

The pillow/pincushion is beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Oh Carol, I think you would know if it was worth continuing or not with Angus' treatment. I'm just sorry it has to cost so much.

Your pillow/pincushion gift is lovely.

Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Prayers and good thoughts for Angus. His spirits are high from your visit with him, that's half the battle, he wants to fight this. I feel the same way Debby (stitch wizard) does about animals, I would do anything for my babies. I'm a bit miffed with the vet though.
Shirley, CT

Anonymous said...

Your pillow/pincushion for Karen is gorgeous! It's really lovely :)

So sorry Angus is still waiting for treatment - 7 days seems a long time before deciding to X-ray. And so sorry it is so expensive. It has to be done though doesn't it - they're our furbabies. We had pet insurance in the UK - is that something you could get? Too late for this illness but it saved us some huge bills in the past.

Anonymous said...

Oh Carol, I'm so sorry to hear about the mounting expenses for your precious cat. I hope he is feeling better soon. The pillow/pincushion is just beautiful!

Joanie said...

Hey there! Glad there was no damage to Angus's kidneys! Vet bills...try horse vet bills if you want ultra high fees! An emergency vet call can begin a $300, that's just to bring the vet to your barn.

Oh, well, I would do it in a heartbeat for any of my animals. They are very precious and I believe that God puts them in our care for a reason.

We once had a cat (my Puffer) who got hit by a car. We didn't find him for 3 days and he had a compound fracture of his hock. We took him to the vet every night that summer so that the vet could irrigate his wounds to help keep a bone infection away. Suffice it to say we spent the price of a small country on vet care for him, so that he would walk again. Which he did! We called him the cat with the golden leg. Our friends wanted to commit us but it was worth every cent because I loved him. He lived a great life and I miss him to this very day.
So..you guys, hang in there!

Anonymous said...

Your stitching is gorgeous of course. You are so nice making all of these gifts! Sorry about the kitty, I hope he gets better.

Anonymous said...

Having worked in a vet clinic for a while and seeing first hand how much vets charge for even the littlest things you have my sympaties (it's one of the reasons why I left small animal medicine). Unfortunately vets are running a business and they do need to cover their costs too.

Nice progress on the mystery, it has been enjoyable watching your progress.

Anonymous said...

I really like this HS piece. I need to dig out this chart and the other HS ones to stitch in 2007.

your mystery looks great and almost finish.

Have a happy new year.