[Dailydrool] Otis

[Linda Dianis]

I am way behind and my heart goes out to those with sick and suffering  
houndies and others. Otis has kept me away, tho I have needed the  
drool so badly.

A week ago Saturday Otis's pressure spiked in his remaining eye and  
did not drop all the way. Long story as short as I can, we TRIED to  
get him in for the shunt surgery that Monday and just couldn't.  
Meanwhile we were
set to drive to NC on Tuesday for Tgiving with Otis and Nelly (and our  
renal-very failing kitty Ollie for one last reunion with our kids).  
Our opthal sent us with names of surgeons he knew there, and prayers.  
I dosed Otis with eye drops every 6 hours round the clock. It was very  
difficult and stressful. One night he had some vision loss and was  
bumping into things before I could get his pressure back down. Somehow  
we got through the weekend. (We got a terrific photo of all 3 asleep  
together in the BUV.)

Otis was admitted Monday (yesterday) at 8 am for shunt surgery. When  
hewent in, his pressures were elevated but he could still see as well  
as last week. The surgery took 2 hours instead of about one. I was a  
wreck. The opthalmologist (Dr. Cass-OTIS!) feels optimistic that  
things are good. His pressures are down. While Otis was under, he also  
re-injected his other (already blind) eye to repeat the failed  
gentocin injection to relieve pressures there too. He has been there  
all night and I am going to be able to go to see him and probably  
bring him home today. It is several hours round trip (but not like  
Daisy's interstate jaunt!)

There are risks that the shunt may clog and altho this is a complete  
cure, it may not be permanent. It has been 5 months exactly since his  
first eye flared up with trouble. We have spent thousands on this, and  
cried a lot, but for the first time, I think I will sleep well tonight  
again. The promise of no more pain for Otis and no more eyedrops has  
me delirious with joy! If you have spare drool, send it here. We need  
some good outcome here.

Linda, with Nelly --- and soon I hope Otis.