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Save our beautiful kitten :'(

  • 10 August Update: Tobi has passed away

      10 August 2016

    Tobi had her operation this morning in an attempt to permanently fix her condition, however at 5pm this afternoon, Tobi unfortunately passed away due to the unique complication of her condition. She was effectively kept alive by machines when the vet rang me and I had to make the heartbreaking decision to let her go. I would like to sincerely thank all of you for your support and prayers for Tobi in the recent months, and I am forever changed by the warm generosity and well wishes I have received. It has been a long journey for myself, my families and my friends and I do not regret a single moment I have spent caring for Tobi over the past 1.5 years.

    I have requested Tobi be cremated and her ashes be placed in a wooden box. I intend to bury it in our backyard where she had frolicked in the past.

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  • 10 August Update: Tobi just had her surgery

      10 August 2016

    VSG just called as Tobi had just done her surgery. Tobi is eating healthy. Blood pressure and body temperature all fine. The problem is that the surgeons cannot spot the porto vein, which is the blood vein connecting the intestine to the liver. The peculiar thing is that rather than seeing a small porto vein, as it usually is the case with porto-systemic shunt symptoms, Tobi doesn't actually have one, which means that she shouldn't be theoretically alive right now. The surgeons, who are probably the most experienced surgeons in NZ in regards to shunts, have never seen anything like this before.

    In any case, the outcome is very ambiguous. The worst case scenario is that as the shunt is being gradually closed off, the lack of porto vein means that blood will start accumulating in the intestine overtime, which will be fatal. The best case scenario is that somehow and miraculously, Tobi has adapted to function without a porto vein and that the blood from the intestine will find its own way of reaching the liver, for example, microscopic vessels start expanding or new blood vessels start appearing between the liver and the intestine as the shunt is closed off.

    This is truly a unique case and unfortunately, I am still left in the dark as to what will happen to Tobi :|

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  • 9 August Update: Operation Time

      9 August 2016
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    Tobi is currently in VSG undergoing intense de-tox in preparation for her surgery on Wednesday. The vet specialist called me today informing that Tobi is looking bright and spry like a normal kitten.

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  • 5 August Update

      5 August 2016

    It is only three days until Tobi's operation. It is a real possibility that this could be the last few days I see Tobi alive :| Tobi seems quite unaware to all of this really, it has been a very long time since her last seizure episode and without the massive shunt in her body, she would be a very healthy normal kitten. I pray very hard for Tobi that she will make it through the operation and recover and I will be forever grateful to all of those who helped :)

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  • Update 15 July

      16 July 2016
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    Tobi's surgery is due to begin on 7th August at Vet Specialist Group. Tobi has been on the special diet and pills for the past month, and she has been quite spry given her conditions. However, she did suffer a minute long seizure episode last week which casted a shadow to an otherwise fine period. All it remains at this stage is a lot of prayers and support for her surgery.

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  • UPDATE 15 JUNE: 20% of the target has been REACHED!!!!!!!

      15 June 2016
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    Wow!! We have reached 20% of our target. It is just wonderful how the community has gotten behind Tobi in such a manner. It has been an amazing response so far !! <3

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  • UPDATE 13 JUNE

      13 June 2016

    Chelsea is putting Mrs Piggins (her piggybank) to work <3 Now Tobi gets special food.

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  • 10 June Update

      10 June 2016
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    Today Gill and Mike from Seven Sharp (TVNZ) came to my house to do an interview about Tobi and my thoughts on the Give a Little Website. It was a moving and a thought provoking interview. I am just thankful to God that TVNZ approached me to share Tobi's story when I was out of options to raise awareness for Tobi's causes. Tobi's story will be aired with 3 other Give a Little stories next Wednesday on Seven Sharp.

    https://www.facebook.com/help4tobi/

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  • 9 June Update

      9 June 2016

    UPDATE 9 JUNE: Received a full diagnosis and CT scan from the vet specialist this morning. He explained that Tobi's blood had been greatly cleaned of the toxins now. Tobi actually looks like a normal kitten for the first time in a while: bright, bubbly, curious, playing with plastic bags. The vet said that the only way forward is surgical operation for Tobi. He stressed that a particular risk factor for Tobi is that the blood vessel in her liver is quite atrophied and it may take time and risks for the blood vessels to be fully functional.

    There is going to be a certain degree of risks, just with all operations. The major risk is that Tobi's liver won't immediately cope with the effects of general anaesthetics. That is why Tobi will be on a special diet for the month or two prior to the surgery to ensure that her blood is as cleaned as possible in order to relieve the pressure on her liver.

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  • 7 June 2016 Update

      7 June 2016
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    It has been 5 days since Tobi's diagnosis and her last seizure. She has been on medication and special diet in order to suppress her seizure symptoms. The treatment is done so that Tobi's liver would have less taxing work and that Tobi would be ready for the surgery.

    Despite not having seizures, Tobi has been very jumpy and twitchy (as if she's about to have an episode). I suspect it is the medicines that are keeping her symptoms in check. I do pray that she would make it until the surgery.

    On a positive note, Tobi has been more energetic now that her liver does not have as much work to do. So she is actually moving around the house a lot more (mostly because she is looking for more things to eat). Also, she sniffs everything and sometimes licks me, which is pretty cute

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