Got Milk

It’s a word no one ever wants to hear. This two syllable word can cleave families and destroy futures as easily as a meteorite hitting the earth. It’s a word that brings kings and masters to their knees as well as common folk. Status and position have no say in the process as the disease is a condition understood by few. I heard the word again yesterday in reference to a member of the family.

Cancer.

It was a long week and even longer weekend as we waited to hear the results of the biopsy. Waiting has to be even worse than having procedures done. You hope and pray that the excised lump is benign but the knot in the pit of your stomach knows what the voice on the other end of the phone is going to say. I know how patients and family members feel when they hear this world. You might as well tell them they just won the world’s largest lottery immediately after you utter the word cancer because that’s where the conversation is going to end. “Cancer” is the only thing they are going to remember after they leave.

Some engage in a moment of denial. Maybe they reported on the wrong sample. Maybe it was actually someone else. They focus on anything which allows one a buffer to avoid the realization of the diagnosis of cancer. As the stomach tightens and breathing becomes difficult the pulse quickens and vision dims as your head becomes light. You realize that nothing is ever going to be the same again. And it won’t be.

The doctor went on; this is the worst and most aggressive Adenocarcinoma I have ever seen and there is nothing we can do for it.

Your legs feel weak. You’re not sure if you should pass out or vomit.

This is the third time I have heard these words about a close member of the family. Unfortunately’ I’m sure it won’t be the last time I hear those words.

The spousal unit and I were sitting in the living room of our small apartment watching a mindless movie about 2:30 AM when I thought I heard something outside on the entrance of the second story landing. I got up and looked out the peep hole. I couldn’t see anything but I was sure I heard something outside. I slowly opened the door and looked around. Sitting on the landing was a very small calico kitten. She looked up at me and meowed a petite meow. She didn’t move. I reached down and she let me pet her. I then sat on the top stair as she rubbed back and forth across my thigh while I continued to pet her. After sufficient time for her to get used to me I picked her up and placed her in my outstretched hand.

Her front paws rested daintily on the palm of my hand while her rear paws found purchase on my 2^nd and 4^th fingers. The spousal unit came out to see what I was doing. I held up my hand for her to see. I didn’t say a word but gave her a confused look. She stood for a moment petting the tiny calico kitten. She then scooped it off my hand and went back into the apartment. She curled up on the couch with her tiny charge and made it comfortable.

The other cats stared casually at the new addition to the family and showed no animosity toward it. We went to bed and the spousal unit carried it into the bedroom and placed it on the bed. After we crawled under the covers and got comfortable the tiny new addition perched on the spousal units side of the bed. After about ten minutes the spousal unit moved. The tiny calico shivered and urinated on the bed then ran away into the living room.

We got up and changed the bed linens’ found the kitten’ and brought it back to bed. The rest of the night was uneventful.

When we got up in the morning we took a look to see what gender the kitten was and made arrangements to have her spayed. Later in the week we learned from the vet that our tiny new friend was pregnant and that the kittens had been formed outside the womb and attached to the omentum. If we had not had her spayed she would have died during gestation. From the first time we took her into our home she has never wanted to go outside. Even today when we open the door she runs the other way.

Last week we noticed a lump on her stomach which was removed the next day by our vet. She has graced our home for ten years and has provided love and comfort to both of us. This is a picture of our got milk kitty.