Break a leg

Molly broke her leg.

There she was, after her usual outdoor visit to birds and chipmunks, on the rug, tail swinging back and forth. And then all of a sudden she was yowling, dragging a dangling back leg.

Off to the vet we scurried, hurried, and then onto the emergency surgical clinic almost thirty miles away. I left her there, in the hospital, drugged and woozy, and drove home to tell Ada the news. Ada did not seem too concerned. She climbed on the bed and cuddled close to my body, glad to have me all to herself.

The surgeon called to say the leg is badly fractured and will need plates and pins and all sorts of modern technological goodies. For a cat! Astronomical cost. But if I prefer they could just put her down. Put her down?

I cried all night until T. called. He's in Australia and his day is my night before. He got my message from the conference secretary. "No putting Molly down whatever the cost, sweetheart," he said gently, kindly, voice wrapping around my shoulders with care and love.

Comments

[ainelivia]

so sorry to hear about Molly. brings me back to when Suzy (cat) broke her leg, when she attempted to fly through an open window.

Wishing Molly better soon.

I found a positive side to my cat being ill recently, (though I didn't see it at the time) that I spent so much time with him that he has become closer to us and much more affectionate. Used to be a bit of a hooligan.

Good thoughts to both of you.

[tamarika]

Thanks, Fran. We have a high wooden fence around our yard that recently Molly had learned to climb up on. Since she never actually leaves our yard I can only assume that she somehow fell from the fence or got her leg caught in it. I just don't know. I found her suddenly inside our home dragging a dangled leg and yowling.

But you are right about her being like my child. I feel the same guilt of neglect, and helplessness at her pain that I feel for my own son!

Ada keeps me focused and reminds me of the reality that they are *just* cats. She is so purely curious and *animal* in her reaction to Molly: hissing and suspicious around the foreign behaviors and smells of her *beloved* sister.

May we live in interesting times!

[Fran aka Redondowriter]

Oh, Tamar, I'm sorry to hear about Molly. Our pets are like our kids so when they are hurt, we feel so helpless. I'm glad you're "investing" in your pet and that T. confirmed that's what he wanted. I was glad to read today that she is doing bdetter. I wonder what the heck happened?

[tamarika]

Thanks, everyone for your kind wishes! Danny, how do you succeed in making me laugh even over something like this?

The update is she had surgery which included plates and screws to hold a very fractured leg together. I have to ensure she doesn't jump on anything for the next two months! And then we'll see about chipmunk chasing, Frank!

[Frank Paynter]

Oh no. We each have a Molly with a bum leg. Here's wishing yours a quick return to chipmunk chasing.