Team Twyla Plays To Win!
Donation protected
A cat whose very nature and temperament defines the term "a zest for life", Twyla Mooner's 10 years have been spent making history, along with making many thousands of human friends during her travels all over the US. An Abyssinian with a love of running fast, in 2006/07 Twyla was the very first Cat Fancier's Association (CFA) National Feline Agility Champion. That same season, she was also the 28th Best Cat in CFA. Best of all, her travel to cat shows and cities around the country was her idea of perfect fun.
Twyla has been a winning show cat, an agility course competitor, a mother, a performing cat, and a grandmother. As a performing cat trained to roll over and jump through hoops, she has entertained crowds all across the US at trade shows, cat shows, on TV, and even while waiting at airports. Twyla has often been the very first of her Abyssinian breed that people have ever met. Her stunning good looks, and gregarious and engaging personality have left an indelible impression of delight on thousands of cat lovers--and normally non-cat lovers--alike. However of all her roles, Twyla's most coveted is that of my beloved pet, of which she has been since she was three months old.
In March, I detected a small nodule in one of Twyla's breasts, and a day later, a 3 cm nodule was surgically removed along with a lymph node. Testing confirmed that the tumor was malignant cancer which had, unfortunately, spread into the lymphatic system. A week later, Twyla underwent a radical mastectomy of all four mammary glands on the affected side. Her recovery from the surgery was extraordinarily rapid, and X-rays of her chest, along with an ultrasound of her abdomen, concluded that there was no metastasis into those organs. Immediately following the healing of the incision, Twyla began five cycles of chemotherapy. At the fourth cycle, she was again X-rayed, and at the fifth cycle she again had an ultrasound. As of 8 July, both the chest and abdomen remain clear of cancer. If she remains clear at a recheck in a month, Twyla will be put on a maintenance regime of pill form chemotherapy. Feline mammary cancer has a very guarded prognosis, and it is most likely still in her lymphatic system. Cats, like humans, don't "beat" cancer, they carry on living with it--with "live" being the very key. A second radical mastectomy to remove the remaining side of mammary glands is a future option since they are at the highest risk for a new tumor. Twyla continues to be in excellent physical condition, and her sunny disposition has never missed a beat. However, the toll on my finances--not to mention my emotions--to give her this medical treatment has been quite daunting. The radical mastectomy was over $2,000, and the every three-week chemotherapy sessions run between $600 and $1,000 depending on the extent of diagnostics for that cycle. Twyla's mammary cancer diagnosis, surgery, and the course of treatment has now cost me over $12,000.
It is certainly not lost on me that my desire to afford for my cat the proper cancer care is truly a "First World problem". However, Twyla is a member of my family, and I take very seriously my responsibility to care and provide for her for her entire life. That means the many years after she has been an award-winning show cat, an agility cat, a breeding cat, and a performing cat. My responsibility to treat her cancer lasts as long as she continues to enjoy her life with the amazing passion and verve that has served to inspire me daily, and has brought joy to so many other people.
My responsibility to ensure that my beautiful Twyla does not suffer lasts her every breath. I was part of Team Twy from the moment I set my eyes on her as a kitten, and that will not waive. However, right now, I need to bring in a larger Team.
Twyla is known to enjoy a good party. (yes, Twy is wearing a "disco ball" around her neck)
Twyla took her role as mom seriously--everyone was always clean, all the time.
The day of her radical mastectomy was perhaps one of the most difficult for her--and me.
Twyla healed quickly.
The latest photo (from last week) of the healed incision site after being shaved for the ultrasound.
Just a couple of weeks ago she was back enjoying summer afternoons out and about.
Twyla lives every day with a sense of joy--and purpose--and that purpose is to have fun.
Twyla has been a winning show cat, an agility course competitor, a mother, a performing cat, and a grandmother. As a performing cat trained to roll over and jump through hoops, she has entertained crowds all across the US at trade shows, cat shows, on TV, and even while waiting at airports. Twyla has often been the very first of her Abyssinian breed that people have ever met. Her stunning good looks, and gregarious and engaging personality have left an indelible impression of delight on thousands of cat lovers--and normally non-cat lovers--alike. However of all her roles, Twyla's most coveted is that of my beloved pet, of which she has been since she was three months old.
In March, I detected a small nodule in one of Twyla's breasts, and a day later, a 3 cm nodule was surgically removed along with a lymph node. Testing confirmed that the tumor was malignant cancer which had, unfortunately, spread into the lymphatic system. A week later, Twyla underwent a radical mastectomy of all four mammary glands on the affected side. Her recovery from the surgery was extraordinarily rapid, and X-rays of her chest, along with an ultrasound of her abdomen, concluded that there was no metastasis into those organs. Immediately following the healing of the incision, Twyla began five cycles of chemotherapy. At the fourth cycle, she was again X-rayed, and at the fifth cycle she again had an ultrasound. As of 8 July, both the chest and abdomen remain clear of cancer. If she remains clear at a recheck in a month, Twyla will be put on a maintenance regime of pill form chemotherapy. Feline mammary cancer has a very guarded prognosis, and it is most likely still in her lymphatic system. Cats, like humans, don't "beat" cancer, they carry on living with it--with "live" being the very key. A second radical mastectomy to remove the remaining side of mammary glands is a future option since they are at the highest risk for a new tumor. Twyla continues to be in excellent physical condition, and her sunny disposition has never missed a beat. However, the toll on my finances--not to mention my emotions--to give her this medical treatment has been quite daunting. The radical mastectomy was over $2,000, and the every three-week chemotherapy sessions run between $600 and $1,000 depending on the extent of diagnostics for that cycle. Twyla's mammary cancer diagnosis, surgery, and the course of treatment has now cost me over $12,000.
It is certainly not lost on me that my desire to afford for my cat the proper cancer care is truly a "First World problem". However, Twyla is a member of my family, and I take very seriously my responsibility to care and provide for her for her entire life. That means the many years after she has been an award-winning show cat, an agility cat, a breeding cat, and a performing cat. My responsibility to treat her cancer lasts as long as she continues to enjoy her life with the amazing passion and verve that has served to inspire me daily, and has brought joy to so many other people.
My responsibility to ensure that my beautiful Twyla does not suffer lasts her every breath. I was part of Team Twy from the moment I set my eyes on her as a kitten, and that will not waive. However, right now, I need to bring in a larger Team.
Twyla is known to enjoy a good party. (yes, Twy is wearing a "disco ball" around her neck)Twyla took her role as mom seriously--everyone was always clean, all the time.The day of her radical mastectomy was perhaps one of the most difficult for her--and me.Twyla healed quickly.The latest photo (from last week) of the healed incision site after being shaved for the ultrasound.Just a couple of weeks ago she was back enjoying summer afternoons out and about.Twyla lives every day with a sense of joy--and purpose--and that purpose is to have fun.Organizer
Lisa-Maria Padilla
Organizer
Reston, VA
