Nerissa's Life lives on

Er-hmm...  Hi there everybody.  Seville here.  Nissy's brother, Seville.

Sorry I couldn't get here sooner.  I really didn't mean to ignore everyone.  It's just that writing this post is really hard. Probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do.  The hardest post I've ever written.

Of course, this is the first blog post I've ever written.  That didn't help.  The fact that Peep #1 locked me out of Nissy's office didn't help, either, but those aren't the reasons why writing this is so difficult. What makes it difficult is what I need to to tell you all.

In the wee hours of Thursday morning, my brother Nerissa succumbed to his medical condition.  His little body just couldn't take it any more.

If you're a regular reader of Nissy's blog, and I'm sure that most of you are, you already know that Nissy had been feeling poorly for quite some time.  He had lost a lot of weight and underwent a battery of tests for all the usual causes.  At first the doctors thought he might have had Hyperthyroidism as certain numbers from the tests were a tad high but when the meds for Hyperthyroidism didn't help, the doctor delved deeper.

Eventually, Nissy was diagnosed with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.  Basically, his body could no longer produce the enzymes necessary to digest his food.  Without proper digestion, he couldn't take in the nutrients needed for good health.  That's why he was losing weight.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency is pretty rare in cats, I've heard, but the peep did some reading and learned that it's maybe not so rare as some believe.  She read somewhere that it often goes undiagnosed.  That would affect the stats, I think.

After diagnosis, Nissy was put on meds right away but the thing is, the meds were gross.  Peep #1 had to put this powder in Nissy's food about twenty minutes before he ate it.  The powder started to digest his food for him but partially digested food is...  well...  well it's gross.  No other way to describe it.  No wonder Niss flatly refused to eat the stuff.

Here in Canada, the meds Nissy needed aren't available in tablet form.  At least, they're not available for cats.  There are similar pills for peeps so that's what Nissy ended up taking.  I guess the pharmaceutical companies realise that people with this medical condition won't eat that partially digested slop they think is acceptable for cats.  Guess a certain pharmaceutical company doesn't realise that we cats can recognise slop when we see it.  And recognise that it's gross, too. MOUSES!

If Nissy were writing this blog post, he would have said MOUSES! right there so I'm going to say MOUSES! too.  In fact, I'm going to make MOUSES! a regular part of my vocabulary. MOUSES!

But between my peeps and my doctor and some really, really good friends, the plan was to get Nissy the proper meds he needed in tablet form.  They make them in the United States of America, you see.  Perhaps American kitties have more highly refined palettes or perhaps the companies there making the meds that Nissy needed are smarter and have a better understanding of cats.  Either theory is possible.

If I sound a little bitter, I guess it's because I am.  The meds Nissy needed SHOULD have been easily accessible here in Canada, in tablet form.  Someone really dropped the ball on that one. MOUSES!

But we had all hoped that Niss would be able to pull through.  Between getting the proper meds and putting him on a homemade chicken broth diet, the peeps were hoping to nurse him through his medical crisis and back to health.  He was really enjoying the broth and had even started to eat a little of the chicken, too.  Of course, the rest of us helped him out with the eating of that chicken whenever possible.  We're all a very helpful bunch, you see.

I miss Nissy.  He was my brother and I loved him a lot.  He was only twelve-years-old.  He should still be here with us.  MOUSES!

Peep #1 says that Nissy is up in Heaven now with his mama, Madison, and his dad, Jacob.  Also his brothers Calista, Desdemona and Alexander, his sisters Beatrice and Josephine and his nephews Aristotle and Baby.  And his aunties Primrose, Snowdrop and Blossom, too.  She says that he'll be happily romping through vast nip fields, chasing butterflies.  And she says that one day, we'll all see him again and be able to romp through those same nip fields, too.

But Spring has finally arrived here in Nova Scotia and soon the primroses will be in full bloom. Nissy loved posing amongst the primroses.  He would have liked to have posed with those primroses one more time.  I hope they have primroses in Heaven.  If so, he'll be able to enjoy them up there.

Nerissa was a really special cat and simply must be remembered.  Remembered forever.  I'm going to do my part by continuing his blog.  Nerissa's Life will live on.  Peep #1 says that, as the oldest remaining brother, the blog is my inheritance.  It's my duty to carry on.

Peep #1 is going to make a little garden in memory of Nissy.  She's going to plant some primroses in there, I think. It's going to be in the part of the garden where Nissy used to like to spend time with her, supervising.

I'm hoping the peep will plant some nip, too.  Nissy loved his nip.  Some even called him a nip head and truth be told, he was.  Nothing wrong with stating the obvious, I think.  MOUSES!

The lovely and very talented Ann Adamus of the Zoolatry blog has created the beautiful Nerissa Forever badge in honour of Nissy.  Nissy with his primroses...  he'll love that.

And if anyone else would like to do a little something in honour of Nissy's memory, I have three suggestions.

Firstly, please use the word MOUSES! as often as possible.  Nissy really wanted to get his most popular invented word into all the major dictionaries but that never happened.  Perhaps we can get it added posthumously.

Secondly, please let the Prime Minister of Canada know that although Nerissa will no longer be able to accept a Senate appointment, I am able and willing to accept it for him.  And please feel free to mention to the Prime Minister that if he doesn't appoint me to the Senate, I just may run against him for Prime Minister in the fall elections.  I may not be quite as cute as Nissy but I'm still a heck of a lot cuter than he!  MOUSES!

Should that be he?  Or him?  No, he.  *sighs*  Nissy would know that.  Nissy was the best with stuff like that.

But thirdly and perhaps most importantly, I want to tell you about an organization called TeamTNR.  I've taken the following directly from their website...

"TeamTNR is an all volunteer, non-profit, charitable society formed in 2005 to minimize animal suffering in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia by controlling cat overpopulation through the spaying/neutering of as many cats as possible.  So far, we have had nearly 1800 cats spayed/neutered through our program.  With nearly two thirds being female, this likely has prevented an astounding amount of unwanted kittens being born as an unspayed female, her mate and their offspring can produce as many as 2000 cats in four years.  Also, we have a managed feral cat colony and a low cost, spay/neuter program."

TeamTNR is an extremely worthwhile cause and very dear and near to Nissy's heart.  Nissy was, as you know, a feral kitty himself.  Had he not found our peeps when he did, he might very well have found himself in need of TeamTNR and all the wonderful work that they do.

So if you're considering making a donation to a worthy cause in Nissy's memory, please consider making that donation to TeamTNR.  They, in turn, will then help Nova Scotian kitties in need.  I know that Nissy would appreciate that, for sure.  I know it from the bottom of my heart.

I don't think I can write much more than this for my first blog post.  Not sure it's long enough for Nissy's standards but, I think, given that this is my first post and I'm still learning the ropes so to speak, Nissy would forgive me if it's not quite up to snuff.

Also, I'm not exactly sure what snuff is or how you get up to it.  MOUSES!

I will be back on Sunday.  Going to do my best to keep up with Nissy's posting schedule.

Dear Brother Nissy...  I miss you.  I love you.  I always will.  Until we meet again.

odds & sods

What are sods, anyway? MOUSES!

Odds and sods... Apparently, they're bits and pieces.  Interestin'... You know, I find it very odd that the sods in odds and sods has nothin' to do with sod.  Again I must say, MOUSES!

But that's enough about that.  Let's get down to business here and start discussin' my odds and my sods.  Okay?  Okay. So glad we have that sorted.  Now to start sortin' my bits and my pieces.  MOUSES!

As promised, in this here blog post I'll be announcing the three winners of copies of Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes but before I get to that, I have a couple of awards to tackle.  Now let's see...

In the past week or two, I managed to score two awards.  The first was, I am told, for very inspiring bloggers.  My dear friend Basil, from Basil the Bionic Cat's Blog, honoured me with the lovely Very Inspiring Blogger Award and then, my wonderful pals over at the 15 and Meowing blog did so, too.  Yoo-hoo!  YOO-HOO!

Truth be told, I've already received this lovely award but I decided that since I really love awards, I would accept it once more.

I'm supposed to list three things that inspire me.  Well that's pretty easy.

Firstly, my peeps inspire me.  Or rather, they provide inspiration for many a blog post.  Perhaps inspiration isn't the most appropriate word.  Fodder?  Yeah, fodder.  They provide fodder for many a blog post.  Especially Peep #1.  She's always up to mischief about which I can blog.  MOUSES!

Secondly, the news and in particular, news comin' out of Ottawa.  Hmmm... That one probably falls into the fodder category, too.  Once more I must say, MOUSES!

Thirdly, I am inspired by the garden and the great outdoors and Mother Nature, herself.  Birds singin' and flowers blooming are inspiring for both body and soul.  Nothin' else like 'em, at all.  Very inspiring, for sure.

Award number one down and onto number two.  My friends over at the 15 and Meowing blog gave me the Creative Blogger Award as well.  And then, just the other day, my pal Simba from Simba's Antics gave it to me, too.  Yoo-hoo!  YOO-HOO!

This award is also one I have received before but, like I said earlier, I LOVE AWARDS!  How could I resist not acceptin' it again?

For this award, I must list five things about me.  Hmmm...

Well for starters, I'm a mancat.  I know that most of you probably already know this but Ol' Peepers here went and gave me a girls' name and in doin' so, created a lot of confusion.  Just thought I'd mention it again.

Secondly, I've been published!  In print and everythin'.  That's right, in case you hadn't heard, my rescue story is in the book, Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes.  I wrote it myself.  My personal rescue story, I mean.  It's the story of my first few formative months.

Number three...  Let's see...  I have been diagnosed with the medical condition Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.  More on that in just a bit.

Fourthly, I've been gettin' out in the garden in the last week or so.  This is kinda big news on account of the rotten winter we've had that simply refuses to leave.  There's still some snow on the ground but it is goin' and things are comin' to life in the garden.  I'm hopin' to get out more and more with each passing day.

And finally, I'm vyin' for a Senate position.  Yeah, you've probably heard 'bout that, too, but just in case you haven't, I'll mention it again.  What I need is for the Prime Minister of Canada to appoint me to the Senate.  That's all.  Don't need to run in an election or anythin'.  Senators aren't elected here. They're appointed.  One little appointment is all I need.  #Niss4Senate - Tell the PM, today!

For both of the above awards, I'm supposed to thank the bloggers who gave 'em to me so... THANK YOU!!!  Please feel free to visit their blogs.  They all have great blogs, for sure.  Just click on their blogs' names and you'll be magically transported right over to 'em.  Easy peasy, I do believe.

And I'm also supposed to pass the awards along but I think everyone already has 'em.  But if not, and if you'd like one, please grab either or both and know that you're doin' so with my blessing.

I would also like to thank my pals over at 15 and Meowing for the lovely get-well prezzie they sent. You should see the toys!  Their mum made 'em with yarn and stuffed 'em with nip and boy-oh-boy, they really are great.  I love 'em!  We all do.  Yes, I'm sharin', for sure.

The peep was gonna take a picture of me with that lovely get-well gift but truth be told, I'm not lookin' my best right now so we decided to hold off on any picture takin'.  I wanna look my best for the camera.

And that brings me to a medical update.

Like I said, I have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.  Basically, my body is no longer producin' the enzymes necessary to digest food so even though I'm eating, it's hard to get proper nutrition.  That resulted in my losin' a lot of weight.  Way too much weight, for sure.

Things were pretty touch and go for a while.  The only meds I could get up here in Canada were in powder form and they HAD to go into my food.  It was so gross.  The meds were partially digesting the food before I ate it.  I was literally eatin' partially digested food!  MOUSES!

Actually, that's not quite true on account of the fact that I was refusing to eat.  Did I mention that the food with my meds was gross?

So the peep did some research and found that in other countries, my medicine is available in tablet form but she couldn't get it here in Canada.  But then we found an American company willin' to work with my doctor to get a special import permit and things were lookin' up.

But in the meantime, my doctor found a source for my meds right here in Canada!  And they're tablets and everythin'!!!  They're not actually meant for cats.  They're people meds.  Yup, I'm takin' peep meds and taking 'em like the real trooper, I am.

So the Peep says that I appear to be holdin' my own.  I've only thrown up a couple of times since startin' the tablets and my poops are much firmer.  I have a weigh-in tomorrow and have my paws crossed that I'll have gained an ounce or two.  If so, I'm on the path to recovery, for sure.

And now for the big news.  The big news for which you've all been waiting.  The winners from our adventure!

In case you missed it, my pals and I went on an adventure to promote the book, Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes.  It all started when Savvy of Savannah's Paw Tracks invented a new form of paper containing the nip.  The story continued on the DashKitten blog with Silver teleporting over to FitCat Publishing to hack into their computers so that we could secretly substitute Savvy's new paper for the plain ol' paper they had previously been using.  And finally, we concluded our story right here on Nerissa's Life when I managed to score a roll of that special nip paper for myself!

Okay, okay...  I know...  You're all dyin' to know who won books.

Savvy's mum put all the entries - and there sure were a lot of 'em - into that ol' Random dot com thingy and three names were selected.  And the winners are...  Drum roll, please.

Winner number one is...  Toby & Leia from The Whiskeratti!

Winner number two is...  Sammy from onespoiledcat!

Winner number three is...  The J-Cats from Purr-sonally Speaking!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!  We'll be in touch with each of you shortly for contact information so that we can send you your copy of Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes.

Finally Savvy, Silver and I just wanna give each and every one of you out there all a great big hug and thank you for taking the time to enter our giveaway.  You all made our adventure a rip-roaring success, for sure.  THANK YOU!!!  purrs

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Please remember that throughout the month of April, a portion of all sales of the book Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes will go to the wonderful Anjellicle Cats Rescue of New York, helpin' them to help save cats' lives.  You can purchase your very own copy at your local book store or on Amazon by clicking right HERE.  You'll wanna stock up for holiday gift-giving, for sure.  PURRS.

grounded

What do you mean I can't...?  Awww... MOUSES!

So there you have it, my friends.  I'm grounded. And for me, this grounding is of a double-whammy nature, for sure. Not only am I not allowed outside at the mo, but I'm also not allowed to do any teleportin' as teleportin' involves flyin' and apparently flies in the face of bein' grounded. Again I must say, MOUSES!

As you may have heard, I've been havin' some issues with my health.  This, of course, is the reason for my grounding.  One might think it makes sense and one might even be right about that but still, a kitty has gotta have some fun, you know?  Of course you know.  MOUSES!

So on account of my grounding, there are no Easter adventures, for me, this year.  Of all the rotten luck.  MOUSES!

What's that, Peepers?  You think I'm sayin' MOUSES! too much?  Yeah, you're probably right about that.  Awww.....  M...   Um....  Never mind.  I probably should stop sayin' MOUSES! at least for today.  You know, on account of this bein' Easter Sunday and all.

I will instead give you all an update on my health.

As you know, I was losin' some weight.  I wasn't dieting or anythin' like that.  In fact, my appetite was as good as always.  Maybe even better.  Actually, maybe too good.  At times, I was ravenous and yet, I was still losin' weight.

My doctor ordered up a series of blood tests checkin' my thyroid, kidney function and to see if I had diabetes.  The only thing even a little bit off was my thyroid so the next thing I knew, I was takin' little pink pills, daily.  At first, they seemed to be workin' but then, all of a sudden, I was weak and feelin' even worse than before.

Some more blood work showed that I had an elevated white blood cell count, or somethin' like that. So I was off the little pink pills and onto some little blue ones.  No, I wasn't takin' those little blue pills that my stalker, Mr. Anonymous Spam, is always flogging.  The ones I was taking were antibiotics, I do believe.

I had just finished my last day of the little blue pills when suddenly, I could couldn't walk on one leg.  Hmmm... Perhaps I should rephrase that.  I wasn't tryin' to hop around the house on one paw and findin' I couldn't but rather, one of my legs was too sore for me to put any weight on it at all.  It was so sore, in fact, I was cryin' in pain.

The leg in question was - and still is - my leg with the bionic knee implants so the peeps were extra concerned that my bionics were failing.  I was then whisked off for an emergency doctor visit that night, only to be told that my bionics were fine but I had likely pulled or sprained somethin' and was sent home with more pills. This time, they were white.  Pain meds and whatnot.

First thing the next week, I went back to the hospital to visit my doctor who had bionicized my knee.  She took some x-rays and found the bionics to be intact.  In fact, my leg looked just fine but there was somethin' wonky goin' on in my belly.  Next thing I knew, they were shavin' off all my tummy fur and leavin' my belly bare!  I was bein' prepared for a sonogram but totally unprepared for barin' my belly.  This isn't bikini weather.  MOUSES!

Well after that, there was a great deal of discussion goin' on in the exam room between my doctor and Peep #1.  I missed most of it on account of my plottin' revenge on the shavin' of my belly fur. Still haven't quite figured out what to do 'bout that but I'm thinkin' I should do somethin' before my fur has all grown back.

Long story short, I have been diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.  Basically, my body isn't makin' the enzymes necessary to digest my food any more.  So even though I was eatin' up a storm, I wasn't gettin' proper nutrition and that is why I lost so much weight.

So from now until forever, I have to have this special powder mixed into my food, about twenty minutes before I eat.  The enzymes in the powder start digestin' the food so that when I eat it, my body can handle it.

It's kind of gross.  I mean, REALLY, it is.  What do they think I am?  A BIRD?  I'm a cat for goodness sakes!  I shouldn't be fed partially digested food.  MOUSES!

Apparently Rushton, Anderson, Mason and Tobias all disagree with me 'cause they're always tryin' to eat the food with my meds.  I, on the other paw, am always tryin' to eat theirs.  We're keepin' the peeps on their toes, for sure.

Peep #1 says that if we can just get through the next few weeks, we'll have a schedule all sorted out.  I say, DON'T COUNT ON IT PEEPERS.  This is war and I'm prepared to use chemical weapons.

The other day, I managed to score some of someone else's food.  Peeps don't know how it happened but I did it.  A little while later, I used the newly installed private bathroom - litter box - in my office and suffice it to say, I cleared the room.  You see, I have found, eatin' unmedicated food kinda gives me gas.  Mouses that was strong.

How strong was it?  It was so strong that both Peep #1 and I had to exit the room.  Peep went back in, gas mask in tow.  Actually, she didn't really use a gas mask but only 'cause she didn't have one to use.

You know, when we discovered that Andy was lactose intolerant, he was given the title Sir Fartsalot but to be perfectly honest, I think that title is now mine.

Seville is busy plottin' and plannin', wonderin' if I've discovered an alternative fuel source that might be compatible with our eggbeater-whisk time travellin'-teleportation technology. So far, he hasn't found a way to capture the fuel.

And speakin' of eggbeater-whisk time travellin'-teleportation technology...   Remember last year at Easter when Seville and I were called in to help save the day?  Well since we don't get to have an adventure this year, I thought it might be nice to reminisce about our adventure last year.  There were two posts in all.  We started off with "a request for assistance" and then Seville and I ended up "savin' Easter morning."  Remember that?  If not, just click on the titles of those two posts and you'll be magically transported back in time.  And even if you do remember, you might still wanna revisit.

Anywho...  That's pretty much what's goin' on at my house.  I'm hopin' to be able to have some fun pretty soon.  Hopin' to get back to teleportin' and whatnot.  Have an adventure or two.  Until then, it's theoretical teleportation technology for me, for sure.

But before I forget, I just wanna wish everyone a very happy Easter.  HAPPY EASTER!  May the Easter Bunny be good to you all and may all your baskets be filled with the nip.


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And please remember that throughout the month of April, a portion of all sales of the book Rescued: The Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes will go to the wonderful Anjellicle Cats Rescue of New York, helpin' them to help save cats' lives.  You can purchase your very own copy at your local book store or on Amazon by clicking right HERE.  You'll wanna stock up for holiday gift-giving, for sure.  PURRS.