Maggie Mae's Last Chance

Many of you know her as Miss Sassy Pants, Miss Maggie Pants or Miss Stinker Pants.  After I moved back to CA from MN in, I visited a Joann’s to purchase thread for a sewing project; next door was a PetSmart.  Needless to say, I went home with more than a spool of thread that day. Over the years, Mags has been my sassy companion, my longest daily relationship and my best friend.  She’s seen me through so many heart breaks…break-ups, passing of friends and family and most recently the loss of my ability to have children.  I’m certain she’s comforted me more over the years than I fully realize.  Like her Mama, Miss Maggie Mae is a fighter; but right now, her Mama feels helpless.

Maggie has been at the emergency vet since Wednesday and just received her fourth blood transfusion.  While she was admitted quite wobbly, with low blood pressure, low temperature and anemia, she has bounced back in all aspects except being able to stabilize her PCV (the percentage of red blood cells in circulating blood).  With Melena present in her stool, we believe she has bleeding in her GI tract.  In an attempt to combat this, she’s was started on steroid treatment Friday and an additional antibiotic yesterday.  These treatments obviously need time to take affect, but the additional cost of transfusions is daunting especially not knowing the true root cause, which surgery would uncover and is our next step.

I am not one to prolong suffering or pain and thankfully, at this point, Maggie is not experiencing either.  Since being admitted, her demeanor has improved, her sassiness has become quite evident to her newly acquired ‘servants’ and she is sure to let everyone know her thoughts vocally, which she is most famously known for.  She’s been eating, drinking, walking and grooming; all signs she is feeling well and has the desire to live.  If these things were absent, I would not be writing this modest request.  I can see in her eyes, I can hear in her purrs and I can see in her energy she is not ready to leave.  In my heart, I cannot consciously make that difficult decision until all reasonable avenues have been explored.  Without clear confirmation that there are no other opportunities to resolve this, my heart will not let me betray her with a premature decision that I am certain would haunt me with regret.

I recently relocated back to Orange County with an exciting job transfer after having moved back to the Central Valley in 2017 to care for my father after his stroke.  While I’m excited to resume my previous endeavors in SoCal, cost of living has certainly increased during my absence as did my debt during my time as a caregiver.  I am humbly asking for support help to give my sweet Maggie Mae one last opportunity to fully rebound from this health challenge and undoubtedly life-threatening condition to continue her journey of love, sassiness, endless chatter and support of her Mama that has treasured her to no end for the last sixteen years and God willing, a few more. Thank you all so much for loving me and loving my Maggie Mae…we are so grateful.