Having just returned from visiting our dear Anastasia, I can confidently write I’ve never seen her in better spirits, despite all her complications.
Ana’s current objective is but one thing – affection. Yes, even more than food. Go figure. I’m as shocked to type that as you likely are to read it.
I dropped by to see her today; she has her own room currently. She’s been doing some strange swallowing, similar to gulping since she’s been put on a new diet (No, not pizza. Nor Thai, though I suspect Tofu with Black Bean and Oyster Sauce could be a tasty meal for Ana, alas that’s not the case). She’s still vomiting occasionally, so they’re thinking it may not even be vomit; rather possibly regurgitation.
And last we checked – Ana’s not a bird (though she likes them, of course, tastier than Thai!), so regurgitation is not such a good thing to say the least.
The vet did Xrays of her chest and esophagus, and all looked clear. The next step will most likely be an endoscopy. She may have some irritation in her throat, so she’s begun a medication that helps coat the lining of the esophagus and stomach.
If you didn’t read this, you’d think nothing was wrong at all because Ana is nothing more than an affection-hound right now. Perched ohhhhh-so-cozily and buried into a blanket on a soft cushioned chair, when I came to see her she popped her head up, yawned, blinked, and opened her eyes wide open. “Sayyyyy, I know you!” she uttered.
Now one must bear in mind – when visiting Ana, traditionally she’ll pop her head up, say hello, then yell out like a child, “Look what I can do! Look what I can do!” and dive into a plate of food like a Viking on caffeine.
This time, however, noticing she recently finished dinner (lunch actually, Ana always likes to assume another meal is enroute), as she lay on her cozy chair, she wanted nothing more than to be brushed and patted. Hence I obliged her.
I’d never experienced her so wanting of affection. She fired up the purr machine like an MG midget on a full tank (back in the day it was still 85 cents a gallon. Ahhh, the memories. Have I digressed’). Pushing her face into my hands, she was all about the chin, the ears, the face, until….
Swift, shift, swing, poof! She rolled on her back, asking, “Say, would ya mind rubbing my belly for say… the next hour or two’” Once again I obliged. Not quite for two hours, mind you.
Bottom line – although she’s had some vomiting issues and she’s on yet another diet, Ana’s extremely alert, happy as could ever be, and is nothing less than a pure joy to hang out with.
You never know, she may even pick up the bill when we DO get to go out for some Thai!