Mali: A new perspective

So, here is what I have been thinking. First - a good night's sleep puts everything into perspective.

Second - Mali has defied many odds since she started getting sick. She got very, very sick and down to 5lbs but she gained the weight back and recovered - not only that, but the specialist was shocked at the amount of muscle mass that she had put on. Mali is now at her appropriate weight (8lbs) - and most of it is muscle. She is happy and extremely playful and upbeat.

What do I know? I know her kidneys are not functioning well. I also know that high protein foods are bad for her because that is what kidneys work on. So she's on a special diet (which I'll be cooking up this weekend) so that her kidneys do less work.

I also know that she had a bad liver infection that is 100% gone and her liver is back to perfect. Because of that unexpected twist, the vet said we weren't as able to focus on her kidneys as we should have been. So I know that right now, we can start aggressively looking at her kidneys and helping them out.

I also know that happiness is health. Many sick people recover or die by their moods. If I can keep her happy, alert, stimulated, and eating - then she will live longer.

Furthermore, the specialist is a pessimist. My vet is an optimist and almost always tries to give me the more upbeat answer. I haven't spoken to her yet about this prognosis yet, either.

I also know I will be moving soon - and while I don't think a second opinion will help that much, I think a new perspective will.

Right now - if you looked at Mali, you would not know she is sick. I'm serious, she looks like the picture of good health. If I can keep her eating and happy then I seriously, honestly, and sincerely believe that I can keep her alive. I know that she has a high quality of life right now and that is what I am going to keep giving her.

I also know that she has an innate will to live - or she would have died from her previous, nearly disastrous infection. She fought, and she recovered better than that damn specialist ever expected.

She is going to keep positively surprising them.

Thank you, Anji.  And I agree.  Right now she’s extremely happy.  I think animals have this advantage where they don’t understand certain things - they just focus on the present, and I’m trying to take my cue from them in this.

She’s doing well, she and Kayne are still as close as ever.  That’s all that I can ask.  Who knows what tomorrow brings?

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But I’m sure there’s something in a shade of grey…
Something in between…