Happy 11th Birthday Merlin!

It's my 11th Birthday today! Back in February 2016 we never imagined I would make it to 11!

The veterinary specialists now think I might have been misdiagnosed - I might have small cell lymphoma instead of large cell (which is a possibility since I was diagnosed via several small needle aspirates). Small cell has a much better prognosis and would be more likely to go into remission, which is likely where I am!

My stools are soft all the time, and there is the occasional bit of blood or mucus in them, but otherwise I act perfectly normal. There are some days where I can't jump up from the floor to the bathroom sink, but other days when I can.

I'm just happy to be here, with my dad, my mom, and my siblings. Thank you all for your purrs, prayers, and positive thoughts!

- Merlin

26 Months!

We are celebrating today! Here is what my mom said on the layout (click it to view it larger): "Back in February 2016, Merlin was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma and given 1-3 months to live. April 4, 2018, marks 26 months since then. The specialist vets now think he was either misdiagnosed, so he actually has small cell lymphoma, which has a better prognosis, or else he is in remission. Either way, he is our magical, miracle Merlin!" I can tell you that I pretty much always have soft stools these days, and frequently I end up with poo on my butt, my tail, and other parts of me. I often wipe my bum on the floor by scooching my butt across it, leave poo smear art! My dad is not terribly impressed with that, for some reason. Otherwise, I'm doing well. Still playing and chasing my little sister Chloe when I feel like it. I have some loose skin on my belly, but who cares about that! Thank you all for your purrs, prayers, and positive thoughts!

Happy Canada 150!

Today we celebrate Canada Day!  It is Canada's 150th birthday!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to our amazing dad! He is the best Sphynx daddy in the world! We love him so much! Happy Father's Day to all the other cat daddies out there too!

Made with About Dad Mega Kit by Clever Monkey Graphics

Caturday Art: Chloe

Hello everyone!  We are very sorry that we haven't posted in a long while.  Things are very busy around here.  March is Nutrition Month, and as our mom is a registered dietitian, she is even busier than normal this month!

Today, for Caturday Art with Athena, we have a digital scrapbooking page of our new baby sister.

Credits:
Kit - Aimee Harrison - Forever Friends (kit + messy edges) http://store.gingerscraps.net/Forever-Friends-Page-Kit.html http://store.gingerscraps.net/Forever-Friends-Messy-Edges.html 
Template - Tinci Designs - Your Story 8 http://store.gingerscraps.net/Your-story-8..html

As you can see, Chloe is adorable.  She and Dragonheart have become best friends.  They were allowed to meet after Dragonheart's congestion finally cleared, and they now get along wonderfully!  Chloe is actually very good for Dragonheart - she has him playing like he hasn't played in months!  So she has been a very positive addition to the clowder, as far as Dragonheart is concerned.

Chloe and Merlin get along just fine, although Merlin just mostly ignores her.  Sadly Merlin is starting to slow down, and isn't interested in playing, even with his favourite toys anymore.  He is still a happy guy, always purring and wanting to be with our dad, but he just doesn't have the energy he used to.  He still seems to be enjoying life, however, and doesn't seem to be in any pain.

Unfortunately, Chloe and Devi do not get along.  Devi has attacked Chloe a couple of times, scratching her before one of our humans could intervene (they are always supervising Chloe-Devi interactions).  Poor Chloe then hisses at her, understandably, and starts growling.  Hopefully they will eventually learn to get along.  Our humans are getting tired of sleeping in separate rooms (our mom with Dragonheart and Chloe in the master bedroom, and our dad with Merlin and Devi in the spare bedroom).  We've tried spraying Feliway, to help Devi stay calm, but she just doesn't seem to like having a kitten in the house at all.  We've done all of the "right" things they say to do for introductions - playing paws under the door to start, rubbing the kitten with a towel and then letting Devi have her scent, introducing them with playtime and treats for each, etc.  They may never be friends, but hopefully they'll be able to co-exist peacefully!

We hope all our friends are doing well.  We miss visiting you and hope we'll have to time to do so again soon!

13 Months with Cancer!

Hello everyone!  Merlin here!  It has now been 13 months since I was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma of the GI tract and spleen, and giving 1 to 3 months to live.  It has now been 13 months, and while I'm starting to slow down, I'm still doing well!

Of course, we are celebrating with a digital scrapbook page, and joining Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop.

Made with The Bright Side of Life by Little Feet Digital Designs and Dagi's Temp-tations

It was on February 4th, 2016, that we received the news that I had large cell lymphoma, the more aggressive form of lymphoma.  At the time, we never imagined that I would still be here, 13 months later, enjoying life and meeting my new baby sister.

I'm still doing well.  I'm starting to slow down a bit, whether from the cancer, the steroids, or the weight gain due to the steroids, but the steroids are keeping me alive, so we aren't about to stop them at this point.  I'm back to having some mucus or blood in my stool a couple of times a week, but that's all. It doesn't seem to bug me, although my dad gets a bit annoyed when I wipe my bum on the floor.

Thank you all for your purrs, prayers, positive thoughts, and kindness.  Your support means so much to me.  However much longer I have, I am just treasuring every moment with my family.

Thank you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We would like to wish all of you a very Happy Valentine's Day!

One Year!

Merlin here!  Today is a very special day.  A day we never thought would happen.  One year ago today, on February 4, 2016, I was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma of the GI tract and spleen.  I was given one to three months to live.  Here I am a year later, defying all the odds and still going strong!

Just over a year ago (February 3rd), I was at the vet, being evaluated by the internal medicine service at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) Small Animal Clinic.  I had been having loose stools and some blood and mucus in my stool, and occasionally vomiting some bile, so our primary care vet thought I had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).  I was at OVC in order to confirm this diagnosis so I could be properly treated.

Merlin in the waiting room at the OVC Small Animal Clinic

They started with an abdominal ultrasound.  It showed that there was something wrong with my spleen, and that my lymph nodes throughout my abdomen were enlarged.  They tested my coagulation (since the spleen is important in blood coagulation), and then I was booked in for biopsies of the spleen and lymph nodes, to (or so we thought at the time), rule out cancer.  We all expected that I would be back at OVC the next day to have an endoscopy to confirm IBD.  I was in great physical shape, and other than the problems with my stool, that seemed to flare up when I was under stress, I was in perfect health!

Merlin after the biopsy - his skin is scabbed from the rubbing of the anaesthesia mask

They were able to get very good biopsies of both my lymph nodes and my spleen.  They sent the samples out to pathology to be tested.  The samples were good, they were clear, they were easily tested, and the results were very clear.  The pathology report was unequivocal.

So later that day on February 4th, 2016, we received the devastating news that I had an aggressive form of cancer:  large cell lymphoma of the spleen and GI tract.  I was given 1-3 months to live.  Chemo would only extend that by maybe a month.  Needless to say, we were all incredibly devastated.   My dad, who is my human, was overseas at the time, and we were very glad that he was going to be coming home for a couple of weeks leave very soon, before heading back overseas.  We thought that we were going to be saying goodbye.

Now here I am a year later, and I am still doing great!  Even my stool issues have cleared right up.  I only vomit if I eat too much cat grass.  While we certainly don't want to jinx it, it looks like I am currently in remission, something that is very common with small cell lymphoma, but is quite rare with large cell lymphoma.  I am very glad to be uncommon!  I am currently on prednisolone, but no other chemo.  I am still a solid Sphynx, with lots of muscle.  I still love to eat, I love to play, and I am enjoying life to the fullest.  We don't know how much longer I have, but we are enjoying every day.

Thank you all for your support, for your purrs, prayers, positive thoughts, and friendship.  It means so much to all of us that we have so many people caring about me.  Thank you my friends.

I honour of this very special anniversary, we are holding a comment-a-thon.  Every comment this post receives between now and 6 am on Monday February 6th, will lead to a donation of 50 cents to the OVC Pet Trust, which is working to find better therapies for pets and people!

Caturday Art: Winter

Hello friends!  We are sorry we haven't been posting this week or visiting our friends.  If you follow Merlin's Facebook page, you will know that our mom started her new job this week.  Since she is still adjusting to her schedule, she hasn't had time to help us on the computer.  Hopefully as she settles in to the job and figures out her schedule, she'll have more time to help us again.

This week for Caturday Art with Athena we have another digital scrapbooking page.  The photo is from our visit with our mom's family over Christmas.

Made with Freezing from Ooh La La Scraps

In other news, Dragonheart could use some purrs today.  He goes to the vet today for some x-rays.  He is still congested and sneezing, and occasionally coughing, even after a ten-day course of antibiotics.  Since he has a heart murmur and mild/equivocal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, they want to figure out what is going on before trying any other medications.  So he is going in for x-rays this morning.  We will update when we are back from the vet, and when we have some news on what they think is going on.  Thank you for any purrs, prayers, and positive thoughts.

Update: 1109 EST - We are back from the vet.  Dragonheart fortunately did not need to be sedated.  He took his "happy pill" - Gabapentin - and that was enough to keep him still for the x-rays.  The good news is that it does not look like he has pneumonia.  The bad news is that because he is still congested and having nasal discharge, he needs to take a different antibiotic for the next 14 days.  Hopefully this will clear things up.  Thanks again for all your purrs and prayers.

Update 2: 1446 EST - So we have the radiology report back.  Basically we are going to see how Dragonheart does on the new antibiotic, and if there's no improvement, we will add an antiviral on Tuesday.  Some highlights from the radiology report (note that Dragonheart is due for his heart scan in the spring, which is a good thing given some of the cardiac issues noted on the x-rays):

FINDINGS: There is pericardial fat accumulation best observed on the right lateral view.  Cardiac silhouette is moderately enlarged...  There is a mild bronchointerstitial pattern consistent with the previous diagnosis of feline asthma.  There is no evidence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema or bronchopneumonia.  CONCLUSIONS: –The mild bronchointerstitial pattern present within the lungs is consistent with the previous diagnosis of feline asthma.  There is no evidence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema or bronchopneumonia.  The upper airway pathology is likely the source of the patient's current clinical signs. –Compensated cardiomegaly most likely due to previously diagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 

So while it's not great news, it's not horrible news either.  Thanks again for your purrs and prayers.

Caturday Art: Secret Paws

Today for Caturday Art with Athena we have a digital scrapbooking page documenting our wonderful Secret Paws package from Savannah's Paw Tracks!

Made with Santa Paws Page Kit by LouCee Creations

11 Months Since Merlin's Cancer Diagnosis!

Hello friends!  Merlin here!  Today marks another milestone in my cancer fight!  It is now 11 months since I was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma of the GI tract and spleen, and only given 1-3 months to live.  At the time of my diagnosis, they were able to get very good biopsies, and the pathology was sadly definitive, clearly showing large cell lymphoma.

Needless to say, 11 months later, I am absolutely delighted to still be here, and I am cherishing each and every day with my family.

Made with  Scrap Happy by Kathryn Estry and Keep Calm 1 by Miss Mel

At this point, it even appears I though I have gone into remission!  My stools have been completely normal (not soft at all, no blood or mucus in them), since I had my "bad day" back in November, when my mom and dad thought that they might finally be losing me.  Similarly, I haven't had any vomiting episodes.  No bile, no food, nothing at all.  While we don't want to get our hopes up too high, needless to say, we are very happy with how things are going right now.  We are still trying to just enjoy every day we have together, and take it one day at a time, but we have very much enjoyed spending our holiday time together.  My dad goes back to work next Monday, and my mom starts her new job the Monday after, so right now I am just enjoying having them home most of the day, and they are spending lots of time with me.  I am still on prednisolone, but not on any other chemotherapy at this point in time.

Thanks to all of you for your support, your purrs, prayers, positive thoughts, and putting your paws together for me.  They mean an awful lot to me and my family.

Caturday Art: Happy New Year!

Since it is New Year's Eve, today we have a Happy New Year digital scrapbook page for the Caturday Art blog hop with Athena.

We are so delighted that Merlin is here to celebrate the new year with us.  We are also very thankful for all our friends who have supported us with their purrs, prayers, and positive thoughts, over the last year.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all those who celebrate!

We will be taking a break but will be back to blogging sometime after Boxing Day.  Enjoy the holiday season!

Merlin's 9th Gotcha Day!

Hello everyone!  Merlin here!  Today is my 9th Gotcha Day!  It's a very special day, because back in February when I was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma and given 1-3 months to live, we could have never imagined I would be here to celebrate my Gotcha Day with my family and all my friends!

I joined my family on December 22nd, 2007, at about 14 weeks old.  Here are a couple of photos of my first day with my new family:

I was in a nice, large room, and Dragonheart and I were kept separate for the first few days.  As you can see, there was a door with a window in it between us, and Dragonheart was quite interested in who I was!

Now I'm a fully grown man cat, and although I have lymphoma, I am continuing to do well!

I am so happy to have made it to my 9th Gotcha Day!  We have no idea how much longer I have, but we are enjoying all the days we have together.  I am very thankful for all my friends who are purring, praying, purring their paws together, and sending positive thoughts my way.  Your love and support means so much to me and to my mom and dad.

It has been a wonderful 9 years with my family so far.  I have had many adventures with my brother Dragonheart, and we have lived in many different places together.  We had my sister Arwen for far too short a time, but I loved her too.  Then when we rescued Devi, I grew to love her as well.

Despite the fact that it is the holiday season for many, we are holding a comment-a-thon for the OVC Pet Trust.  For every comment left on this post between now and Christmas morning at 6am EST, we will donate 50 cents to the OVC Pet Trust, which is a Canadian fund dedicated to the health and well-being of companion animals.  They fund a variety of studies, and you can read more about them here.  It was at OVC that my biopsies were done, my cancer diagnosis was made, and I started my chemotherapy.  They also have a primary care clinic, and that's where I received my veterinary care for many years.  We are hoping that through the research at the Ontario Veterinary College they can find better treatments for feline cancers, and making even a cure someday!  That would be wonderful!

Thank you for taking the time during this busy time of year to visit with me and celebrate my 9th Gotcha Day.

Caturday Art: Merlin

This week for Caturday Art with Athena, we have a digital scrapbook page from earlier this month.

Kit - GingerBread Ladies MEGA Collab: Enchanted 

Template - The Bigger Picture 4 - Heartstrings Scrap Art

Right now we are very happy because it looks like Merlin will be here to celebrate his 9th Gotcha Day on December 22nd!  So be sure to visit us that day, as we have a huge party and celebration!

Caturday Art: Christmas!

Hello all!  This week for Caturday Art with Athena, we are continuing to get into the holiday spirit with a digital scrapbook page.

Created with Holiday Delights by Jen Yurko

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Dragonheart's 10th Gotcha Day!

Made with Cornucopia Of Thanks by Little Feet Digital Designs

Dragonheart here!  Ten years ago today I joined my wonderful Forever Home, coming to live with my wonderful mom and dad.  I introduced them to the wonders of Sphynx!

Here are some photos of me on my first day in my new home, 10 years ago:

And here I am today, ten years later!

I started blogging all those years ago on my Gotcha Day.  You can read my very first blog post here.

In honour of my 10th Gotcha Day, we are holding a comment-a-thon for the OVC Pet Trust.  For every comment left on this post between now and Monday morning at 6am, we will donate 50 cents to the OVC Pet Trust, which is a Canadian fund dedicated to the health and well-being of companion animals.  They fund a variety of studies, and you can read more about them here.  We are keeping the comment-a-thon open all weekend, as we know it is a long holiday weekend in the United States, where many of our blogging friends reside!

I am so happy to have had ten wonderful years with my mom and dad.  I've lived in many different places, including Munich, Edmonton, and Guelph!  I flew across the Atlantic ocean (in business class no less!)   I've driven across most of Canada twice (from Montreal to Edmonton, and from Edmonton to Guelph).  I vacationed in Switzerland once for a week with my mom and dad.  I've had a wonderful home for the past ten years and hope to have many, many more years with them.

Thank you for celebrating my 10th Gotcha Day with me!

Remembrance Day

Let us remember to pause for two minutes of silence at 11 am today, to honour all those who gave their lives in service of their country.  We also remember all those who served in the past, and those who continue to serve today.

Nine Months Since Merlin's Cancer Diagnosis

Hello all!  Today marks another milestone in my fight against large cell lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract.  Today it has been nine months since I was diagnosed with cancer and given one to three months to live.  So I have now lived six months longer than the most optimistic prognosis!

Made with Wings of Hope by Connie Prince

It is only this week that I have started acting like I have cancer at all.  Tuesday I didn't have anything to eat or drink all day until my daddy came home and shared some yogourt with me.  After that I had some treats and some crunchies.  Since then, I've been eating and drinking when food or drink it put in front of me, I'm getting up to use the litterbox on my own (although my stool is very soft), and I'm purring for my mom and dad when they pet me or hold me.  I don't seem to be in any pain.

Made with All In A Year by Connie Prince

This morning I was actually acting pretty much normally!  I curled up under my dad's chin to sleep, and was purring away for him.  I woke him up for breakfast and followed him downstairs to have some crunchies.  I was rubbing my head into his cheeks and purring away.  I demanded some cat grass and had a bit of it (not too much so that I wouldn't bring it back up), and basically acting like nothing was wrong at all!

Even so, my mom and dad have decided that they will not attend my mom's convocation on Monday. They were going to leave Sunday, as it is in a city about four hours away by car, and they were going to stay until Tuesday.  Even though we would be boarded at our veterinarian practice, my mom and dad don't want to be away from me for that long at this point.  My mom still gets her diploma, even if she doesn't show up for convocation, so it would just be a ceremony and a chance for some cool photos.  She says I'm more important than that.  If it was something she really had to do, she would go.  But since it is optional, she's decided to stay home.

Thank you for all your purrs, prayers, positive thoughts, and support.  You are wonderful friends and we are very glad we started blogging again.  It means a lot knowing that there are so many people out there thinking of me and my family.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!