Greetings to Boots’ beloved sponsors:

I write with news…and it’s good.

Really good.

Boots is home at Tabby’s Place and feeling phenomenal!

I tell you the punch line first, because the longer version of the story is, in the words of our brilliant vet tech, Denise, “a bizarre event.”

As you’ll recall, Boots’ ordeal began with lethargy and a sky-high fever late last week. An ultrasound showed possible inflammatory bowel disease – which, even if true, would be irrelevant to the current crisis.

Boots endured a very rough weekend at the emergency vet. Instead of Labor Day barbeques and back-to-school shopping sprees, our brave tuxie struggled with a stubborn fever, no appetite, and nasty abdominal pain.

It was a surprise when Boots’ blood work came back suggesting pancreatitis. This painful, acute condition typically shows up on ultrasound (in Boots’ case it didn’t) and causes vomiting (again, not this time). Although untreated pancreatitis can be life-threatening, in this case it was somewhat encouraging: at least this was something we could wrap our hands around and treat.

First, a pain medication helped to relieve Boots’ tummy troubles. The specialists had also hoped the pain reliever would lower his fever, but that took several days. Finally, yesterday, Boots’ temperature came down from the stratosphere. One of the most glorious sights we’ve witnessed was on display, too: Boots eating.

With his fever down and his appetite back, our darling boy was cleared for a return to Tabby’s Place. Naturally, we gave him quite the welcome in the lobby. (Well, by “we” I mean the humans…Gingko and Jenny were slightly less effusive in their hugs and kisses.) Boots is now sporting that classic post-ultrasound look, with shaved belly and wrists (from IV catheters). But none of it detracts from our sharp-dressed tuxedo’s handsomeness.

Right now, dear sponsors, nothing can detract from our joy and gratitude for Boots’ recovery from this “bizarre event.” Since the doctors can’t, with 100% certainty, attribute it all to pancreatitis, Boots’ diagnosis is technically “open.” But, he’s thriving now, and a combination of antibiotics and antacid should polish off any lingering signs of this pancreatitis-or-whatever-it-was.

I cannot thank you enough for your generosity and prayers for our boy. Your love and support of Boots have helped to make it possible for us to provide him with the critical care he needed – just when he needed it. Thank you, from the bottom of my happy heart, for loving our boy back to health.