Fearless is about 15 years old. She is the survivor of the worst abuse of any of my cats. A friend brought her to me when Fearless was only a few weeks old. Someone had poured kerosene all over her. She had lost all her fur and was suffering from chemical burns. She was also the scrawniest kitten I'd ever seen alive. Her little legs weren't as big around as my little finger. I rushed her to the vet (not the one I use now). The vet pronounced her unsaveable. I said no, she deserved a chance. She had several types of worms and ear mites, plus no fur, chemical burns and being extremely malnourished. I knew she had the will to survive though. She received antibiotic shots and salve for her burns plus something to take away the pain. When I got her back home she came over to me and fell asleep in my lap. How could she trust a human? A couple of days later I was sweeping my floor and she started attacking the broom. I named her Fearless because of her courage to survive and her attacking the broom.
As you can see, she survived. She now has the softest fur of any cat I've ever been exposed to. Unfortunately, she is afraid of everything. She is currently residing in my bedroom living with Weezer and Sweetie Pie. Ferdi and Pooka are allowed to come visit. Her favorite is Ferdi. People always joke with me and say I should have named her Fearful. She had the courage when she needed it most, though. I always say she used all her courage up surviving those first few weeks of life.
Fearless has had stomach and elimination problems her whole life. Rightly or wrongly, I've always blamed it on her having ingested kerosene. She recently (1998) was diagnosed with pancreatic enzyme deficiency. Basically she was unable to digest any of her food so she had the worst diarrhea. She also was vomiting. That is an illness that there is a cure for, unfortunately she won't eat her food with the medicine in it, which is the only way it is given. She has also been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. Basically, her entire digestive system is compromised from her pancreas all the way to the end. She receives different drugs because nothing seems to give her lasting relief. I try everything I can to get her to eat. She is constantly on a food rotation because she quickly stops eating each flavor or brand. I always want to make sure her quality of life is good. Recently, someone suggested I try J-Cat Awesome Alaskan Catnip (no commercial interest). Fearless went berserk (for her). It was the first time in months that I had seen her play and really enjoy herself. Her happiness has ended up making her eat more, so she looks and feels much better. 2 pictures are of her after she started getting the Awesome Alaskan catnip.
Just like before, she is coming through this episode of illness with strength, courage, and the knowledge that her human caretakers are looking out for her. She never stops purring and loving on the humans giving us the only reward needed.
7/23/00 The owner of the Alaskan catnip company introduced me to a woman that heals with alternative therapies. Her intervention gave Fearless a reprieve from all the drugs. Her intervention came at a time when I was sure I was about to lose Fearless.
11/23/00 Fearless is having a setback. The vet is trying a different drug and it has improved her condition. As always, she is loving life and very glad to be here.
04/01 Fearless is now consulting with a holistic vet. There has been improvement, especially emotionally. I'm very hopeful that this will be the help she really needed all this time.
06/02 Fearless continues to have good and bad spells. Her quality of life is still good. She has taken to laying on the end of the bed, flirting, and begging for tummy rubs, purring up a storm!!
01/04 Unbelievably Fearless is still with me. She has the absolute strongest will to live. I'm praying that I won't have to make the decision for her.
Graphics courtesy of:
Copyright 2000 - no text or image may be copied from this site. Background custom designed by Diabella.
Fearless passed over the Bridge on February 25, 2004.
She is now reunited with her boyfriend, Ism. They're playing and running together. Good - bye my sweet baby. I miss you so much.
Below is a tribute to Fearless that shows how very special she was.
I met Fearless a little over 4 years ago while searching the net for answers in dealing with kitties with leukemia.
My Lexus Marie had just been diagnosed as FeLV+ and everything I was told and read told me I had 2 ways to deal with it. Put her to sleep....or take her home....sequester her by herself .......away from the rest of the kitties......and watch her die.
I read for weeks on the net.....becoming more and more depressed as the days passed.........feeling more and more helpless against this horrible disease.
Until one night I literally stumbled across Fearless on a website designed to sell Alaskan Catnip.
I read about Fearless and I cried......my heart just broke thinking any human could be so cruel and vicious as to subject something so sweet and innocent to such a horror.
And as I read.......I was inspired by her determination to live.....to love.....and to share her story with others. If Fearless could go on....and thrive....then we could go on too.
If Fearless refused to give up.......then giving up no longer became an option for us.
At a time when I was ready to give up and just watch Lexi die.......Fearless inspired us to go on.......to keep looking.....to continue to challenge the norm......and believe there was hope.....as long as we were as determined as Fearless....we too could get beyond this disease and live a normal and healthy life.
Today, 4 years later, my Lexus Marie is still with me....alive....healthy....and happy. And my home has become an unofficial sanctuary for other leukemia positive kitties.
All because of you, Fearless.
There are no words to express our thanks.....except to continue on........carrying you in our hearts, always......and devoting our energy to all those kitties out there who, like you, just need a chance to show us how special you are. How much you enrich our lives. How much you have to teach us.
I was honored to know you....although only through your Mom and the net.
But my life, and the lives of the Meow Gang, have all been enriched witnessing your courage and determination to move beyond the horrors that marked your early life.
My eternal gratitude to your Mom for sharing you with us.
