Save The Cat Who Saved Me

Mr. Clive's journey has ended sometime in the wee hours of the morning (between 1am and 3am our time). The vet did a late-night check and Clive was in so much pain that he had to do something, so he sedated and euthanized him.

His kidneys had failed and his body seemed to be rejecting the surgery in general.

I've created a YouTube tribute video (photo and video collage) that I hope you all watch.

The out-pour of love and support during this difficult time has made all the difference to us. Thank you all for your help.

If you donated, you should be receiving this update via email. Consider this your formal notification that we are willing to refund full or partial amounts of your donation, but we'll need an answer that you would like this within 72 hours because we still need money to pay his final bills (other than the surgery: the vet ate that cost when he formally took ownership of Clive.)

I have to say: the vet was also extremely wonderful and caring during all of this. His name is Dr. Ingold and he has a clinic in West York. Anyone local should consider taking their pets to him for regular check-ups and emergency treatment. He cared and understood in a way I wasn't expecting.

My family will hold a memorial service for Clive tomorrow.

Please watch the video, and thanks again, all of you.

Great and awful news simultaneously:

1) An old friend, a good friend I've not spoken to in months because she's out of town, made an offer to pay the remainder of the surgical bills (whatever the fundraiser didn't reach) given Clive recovers.

2) Clive doesn't seem to be recovering. Apparently in the last few hours his condition went from good to ok to quite bad. The vet suspects renal failure (kidneys giving up), and if that's true, there's absolutely nothing that can be done.

I'll have more news either tonight or tomorrow morning. I've prayed for miracles, but if no miracles come, I'm going to be there for my little orange buddy in his remaining hours. I have to stay strong.

-- Patrick

9/27 -- today's update:

Last night, the vets removed Mr. (Ms?) Clive's catheter to see if he would urinate on his own. As of this morning, his pee towel is still dry.

This is not uncommon, nor is it the end of the world. However, the nurse I spoke with said her hopes are guarded -- there's a possibility that Clive's urethra is damaged deeper in, in such a way that no surgery or other treatments could do any lasting good.

But you know, it's kind of like that saying "a watched pot never boils." So I'm just going to put my mind off it for the next 24 hours and know that if the surgery worked, it worked. And if it didn't work, then we have some tough stuff to do this weekend.

As stated in previous updates, we will offer refunds individually to everyone who donated if Clive has to be put down (though we still have at least $400 in remaining bills outside the surgery -- caths, antibiotics, steroid shots, etc).

But let's hope for the best! And thank you everyone who's donated so far.

If GoFundMe isn't broken this time for the update, the picture you'll be seeing is a picture of Clive at Christmas 2011. I'm still hoping and praying that Clive will have a happy Christmas 2012.

- Patrick (and family)