RICKY DLS 英会話 blog

Zafiro’s summer
That WAS the undercover mouse. My three destroyers reduced it to pieces within a few weeks. And I had it shipped here all the way from the US … that’s life with cats.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

This was Zafiro one year ago, energetic and always in the mood for a prank. We miss you Zafirito.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

March 2009
Zafiro’s memory lives on and he still gets new nicknames. Genghis Khan Kitty - always hungry! Genghis Khan is a local Hokkaido specialty: mutton grilled with vegetables on a special half-moon shaped broiler.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

Zafiro one week before a vile cancer killed him. The chemotherapy worked for a short time but in the end the tumor was stronger. What I don’t understand is this: Why, after decades of intense cancer research and billions of dollars spent, is there no cure? Where are the results?

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

This picture was taken two days before Zafiro passed away. I left work early last Saturday and when I got home Zafiro was waiting for me at the door as usual. I fed him and my other cats, and he ate half a can of catfood. The next day his condition deteriorated all of a sudden and he died. It was painful for me but the one thing I’m happy about is that I was there for him in his last hours. I had three weeks to prepare for the unthinkable and that gave me closure, even though I am still in shock how fast everything happened. The symptoms that came overnight, the chemotherapy and how it worked miracles during the first two weeks, and the sudden deterioration of Zafiro’s health after the cancer cells entered his blood - this was revealed two days before he passed away. I am still in a state of shock but like I said, at least I had those final three weeks with my precious Zafiro, every minute was treasured to the max. Zafiro was the most active, energetic, playful, curious and crazy cat I’ve ever had, and knowing that he enjoyed his short 19 months of life to the fullest gives me a feeling of peace. Goodbye to my beautiful baby with the 100 nicknames who caused me sleepless nights and destroyed my house. Every scratch on my furniture is a sweet memory. You know what they say? Only the good die young.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

This has been the best day in a long time. I took Zafiro to the vet this morning and we did an ultrasound scan on his chest. What we saw did not only make my day, it made my entire year: The lymphoma tumor appeared to be only half of the size it was a week ago, and the heart, previously pushed out of place by the tumor, was back where it belongs. We then looked at the X-rays and Zafiro’s lungs, last week deficient of oxygen, had sufficient oxygen, comparable to a healthy cat. The outlook has changed quite a bit from the initial diagnosis of 4 to 5 days to live, to 8 to 10 weeks to live (last week). This week it’s a completely different story, a new life for Zafiro, and this is his third one.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

Zafirito is responding well to chemotherapy. Zafiro has been on chemotherapy for ten days now and he’s responding very well to it. Once a week we visit the vet for a shot of oncovin (anti-cancer drug), a blood test, ultrasound and an X-ray when necessary. At home I give him steroids and antibiotics in powder form mixed with his food, every morning and evening, and an anti-cancer pill every other day. That’s quite a procedure: I put on plastic gloves, hold Zafiro’s head with one hand, pull down his jaw with the other hand, drop the pill into his throat and flush it down with water using a syringe. Needs some practice but I’m getting better, lol. That’s some severe medicine that might cause a reaction and hence the gloves. You should see me …! After starting the therapy Zafiro’s condition improved right away, from having difficulty breathing and moving to being a able to lead a normal life. His appetite is big as ever and then last Sunday he started jumping again: He loves climbing up the cat tower all the way to the top and landing softly on my bed, and last Sunday he jumped seven times in a row, he had to make up for lost time. Then two nights ago he woke me up because he was playing “lion and tiger” with Atomo, first time since he fell ill. They playfully attack each other, wild face, ears folded back and roaring like a lion and a tiger, respectively. Very fun to watch even in the middle of the night, lol.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。