So - okay. Something personal.
There is a person in my life who is sweet, loving, infuriating, passive-aggressive and pretty much omnipresent. His name is P-Chan. He is a friend and constant companion who happens to be a cat. A big, handsome coal-black domestic shorthair mutt who is extremely mouthy, affectionate, gentle and at this moment the only person who genuinely, physically needs me to be there for him on a daily basis. A couple years ago, some of you were generous enough to help pay for his initial care, and so I share this.
P-Chan has a huge mass behind his left eye that has been growing for a couple months. I have been terribly concerned about him and so took him to Veterinary Specialists Of The Valley to have really expensive tests done. ( you just DON’T want to know) I was very very afraid that, after our brief time together, I would have to send him to Summerland before I was ready to let him go. He is, after all, eleven years old already and such things are often found to be fatal in cats of his age.
The really great news I got yesterday is that it’s not cancer at all, but an abcess. It can be treated by drugs, or at the last, by surgery. I’m really happy about that. Only someone who has feared cancer in a loved one or pet and been told that it isn’t can understand my relief.
So, he’s on aggressive antibiotics, but it’s only the second dose tonight, and he’s now obviously in pain. Anyone who’s knowledgeable about cats will tell you that when a cat actually begins to show that he’s hurting, he is really, REALLY hurting. So, I called the vet (24 hours, thankfully) and they have prescribed some pain meds just to make him comfortable while the other drugs get a chance to work.
So, I may not make tonight’s update, because I will be out getting good drugs for P-Chan. I may, but maybe not. Definitely have been working on page 616 - shall have it up before long, but I have something a little more important to attend to at the moment.
After all, don’t want P-Chan to be sporting wings in real life until he’s ready. 
Warmest regard,
JED
September 4th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
Don’t care that much about the timing of the update. Take care of your kitty. They are some of the best companions in the World. When one has established that kind of relationship it is necessary to take care of them, they would take care of you as best as they are able.
September 5th, 2012 at 12:17 am
Pets and cuddles to P-Chan, if he’s ready for it.
September 5th, 2012 at 2:27 am
Poor P-chan. I hope he gets better soon!
September 5th, 2012 at 3:50 am
seriously, cats first, everything else later. as a cat lover, i feel your pain (and relief to the good news). Please tend to him and take all time you need!
September 5th, 2012 at 7:57 am
Update when you can. Your fur buddy comes first. A very well-known writer once wrote that how we treat cats in this life determines our status in the next. I don’t think Mr. Heinlein was wrong in that.
September 5th, 2012 at 8:28 am
Take care of your friend man. You’ll both be better for it when he’s better. The internet hordes will still be here when you get to us.
September 5th, 2012 at 8:29 am
I am a cancer survivor, and recently had a thyroid thing that was declared “completely benign”.. so know that I am celebrating and dancing with you in complete understanding of how amazing those words are. I also know that pain meds are a wonderful thing. Healing and love to you and your furry companion. The web artistry can wait for the real life magic.
September 5th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Cats are family, take care of yours. Said a little prayer for P-chan and sending good, get well vibes his way.
September 5th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Love and luck! <3
September 5th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
My sympathies to you as well. You don’t need to apologize for delays in general, not just particularly when there is as important a reason as this.
September 5th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Typical cat. Makes you get his drugs, but also makes you get your own. ;P
Seriously, that’s good news to hear and we can wait. If we don’t, P-Chan just might do something violent to your cables.
September 5th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Having had a dog whom we lost to a very aggressive cancer, I can honestly say you have your priorities straight. As much as I love Zona, she can wait. Some things are more important. But you already know that. Healing thoughts for you and your loved one. Peace.
September 5th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
I lost my old-man cat to cancer two years ago. I still miss him. I am very glad to hear that P-Chan is on the mend (and I hope you win the lottery so that you can take care of any other unexpected vet bills!).
September 6th, 2012 at 12:28 am
Anything we can do to help with the bills? If your conscience twinges at the thought of asking for help, JED…well, there’s always a fundraiser; for every $10 donation sent in, you’ll send out a copy of a specially crafted image/wallpaper of P-Chan in the Zona universe, perhaps?
September 6th, 2012 at 1:15 am
That is a great idea for a fundraiser! I bet (hope?) the limit would need to be higher, but still a good idea overall.
September 6th, 2012 at 1:26 am
I understand your relief at finding out P-Chan doesn’t have cancer. I also understand the love and affection of a cat and how nerve racking when sometone you love so much is in pain and suffering. I’m sending good thoughts and well wishes and hope for a speedy recovery for P-Chan.
September 6th, 2012 at 5:40 am
Take care of your cat, Jed. Updates can wait. Cats are family. I had to have my own beloved Burmese cat Moria put to sleep a few weeks ago; I am very glad that P-Chan has a chance. Moria was almost eighteen and I had known for a while that this was going to be the end, but… it was still hard.
I’ll drop something into the donation bin to help pay the bills. Good luck and hope the kitty gets better soon!
September 6th, 2012 at 5:44 am
to you and strength to P-Chan in his recovery. One of my cats is seventeen years old (and still pretty spry!), so I know you and P-Chan can have some good times ahead.
September 6th, 2012 at 5:45 am
Meant for the first word to be HUGS!
September 6th, 2012 at 7:29 am
P-Chan is lucky, and so are we. Do what you gotta do, man.
September 6th, 2012 at 7:37 am
take care of your friend. he’s the most important.
All the best for him and his recovery.
September 6th, 2012 at 9:38 am
Lighting candles for a quick recovery, we lost our Bubby to cancer 3 years ago, but we’ve also had cats that lived into their late teens and even early twenties, so with luck and care he may be with you for a very long time, yet!
September 6th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Seriously, if he likes catnip let him have it. It acts as febrifuge (diminishes fiver) and also abates pain and aids sleep. Don’t be surprised if he eats it rather than rolls in it–just get organic and fresh.
September 6th, 2012 at 11:28 am
diminishes FEVER!
September 7th, 2012 at 12:35 am
Catnip is a good idea, a healer for the kitties.
healing to P-Chan and don’t stress us an d the update. I check in/vote daily, it’s the only schedule conscious thing I do, I’d not know of you were a day late but 2-3 days and I’d be worried about you personally.
Scott
September 7th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
I’m glad that your decision to do everything for P-Chan and order those tests had such a rewarding outcome.Good luck with the meds and catnip.
September 8th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
You are all extremely wonderful, and I am deeply grateful. Thanks.
So, for the last couple of days he seemed like he was beginning to circle the drain. Hiding under the bed, not coming to the door when I get home, major fight to get the meds in him, pathetic mewling - and I could not see any improvement. And he can’t sit still or take affection for any period of time, having starts and jumps inexplicably - the works. So I called the doc who did the diags on him and asked if it wasn’t time for surgery - because this thing has gotten through his skull and is pressing on his brain. He said probably, and so I made an appointment to consult with the surgeon. And then last night and this morning he starts acting like there’s nothing wrong. No reduction I can see, still the bloodshot nictating membrane that doesn’t go away, but he’s mowing in his normal irritating way, sits in my lap for half an hour or longer, curls up all relaxed out in the open and now I’m thinking - “whaaaat?” So we get to the vet this morning with Act 5 of Cyrano DeBergerac going on in the cat carrier and they tell me that I was supposedly left a message (there was none on the home or the cell phones) that the opthalmologist and the surgeon had already consulted together on the case, and we should let the antibiotics work for a little longer. We’ll be going in for another con$ultation on Thursday with the opthalmologist. So - missed a guild day and endured being called every name in the book by my beloved stoopid cat on the drive to and from Encino for no good reason. But that’s life with cats.
As to donations - well, Uncle John can always use money, and no honest generosity will be refused, nor any request for swag or a commission. When P-Chan gets over this, perhaps I will be able to put him in the Otherwhen, but just now he’s not terribly photogenic.
Warmest regards,
JED
September 8th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Thanks for the update on P-Chan, Jed; keeping him in my thoughts and prayers - like others here, I’ve lost fur-buddies and my late wife to cancer. I hope the antibiotics work fast, and the meds (and catnip!) reduce his pain.
Keep taking care of P-Chan and don’t worry about Zona updates; your fur-child comes first. We can and will wait
September 8th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
I saved 2 cats from Cancer, using Pitcairn’s Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats, plus one trick. I told my friends, get well, or it’s another car ride. They knew darned well what that meant, so we had team healing occurring… also meant I didn’t needed to recover from the bloody trip myself.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:38 pm
You gotta admire all the love that the fans here are showing, my grandpa died a few years ago from lung cancer and their are probably more in my family that has it so I understand the fear of losing someone, take all the time you need so that your personnel problems can be solved and know your fans understand
September 10th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Best wishes for you and your feline friend. Oddly syncronistic, I just discovered yesterday that one of mine has a hasty abscess, but in a much easier location - her back leg. She was obviously bitten by one of the other cats in a “dispute.” She’s been grumpy and hiding until yesterday morning, when she jumped up into my lap and wanted to get pets. Pets lead to hand down the back and into the really nasty smelly discharge from the opened abscess. She’s doing well now with some antibiotics and a clean up. I suspect your beloved has had a similar abrupt drainage, only internally. It’s a good sign, and I hope he’ll have a swift and total recovery.
September 11th, 2012 at 2:00 am
Glad to hear P-Chan is feeling better…and if he’s calling you names, then he’s probably on the mend.
My cats Munchkin and Speed Racer both also send their kitty love and good wishes. I hope P-Chan continues to get get better and you can avoid surgery altogether.
November 28th, 2012 at 4:22 am
Poor kitty, and poor you. Whenever I have to take mine to the vet he convinces everyone on the bus that I am Evil mistress of Evil with all the pathos and wailing. Good luck to you both. PS I *adore* Zona. I wish she could meet my heroine - I think they’d get on!