Marley Goes to Surgery

When we noticed that Marley had difficulty with his eye, we took him to the veterinarian. The doctor examined our boy and explained that Marley had a corneal ulcer, a painful open sore in the eye caused by a viral infection. Marley went home with a prescription, and we diligently followed the treatment regimen. Our kitten turned out to be a great patient. He was exceptionally compliant with his procedures and allowed to put eye drops and ointment twice a day. In addition, Marley was wearing a cone collar to protect his eye from scratching and rubbing. Marley had the next doctor’s appointment two weeks later.

When we visited the clinic, the veterinarian said that Marley’s eye was not healing the way it should. The doctor offered more treatment options, including eye drops made of Marley’s blood serum. According to the free Medical dictionary, the serum is a fluid portion of the blood that remains after other parts, including white and red cells, are separated. The vet explained that the cornea tissue heals better when introduced its cells. We agreed and decided to move on with the new plan. The next, the vet technician carefully shaved Marley’s hair on one of the paws and prepared the cat for the blood draw.

When the blood was drawn and separated in the centrifuge, the doctor gave us a vial filled with straw-colored liquid, Marley’s serum. We received valuable medicine, and the bottle had to be refrigerated. We continued daily treatments, and Marley cooperated remarkably. At the same time, we didn’t make much of progress, and the doctor felt like the eye condition didn’t improve. After weeks of treatments, the sore was still there, even though it didn’t get worse.

After consulting with our veterinarian, we brought Marley to an animal ophthalmologist. An ophthalmologist is a doctor that specializes in eye diseases. The doctor checked Marley’s eye and recommended surgery. If the ulcer was left untreated, our boy could lose his eye. We scheduled Marley’s surgery at the end of the school semester, so we could dedicate enough time to care for Marley after his operation. The surgery required general anesthesia. The ophthalmologist removes the sore with a sharp surgical blade.

The doctor gave us instructions on how to prepare Marley for the procedure. The vet explained that a cat must have an empty stomach during surgery under general anesthesia. Such a measure is necessary to manage an airway safely and avoid vomiting in an unconscious animal. A night before the operation, Marley had nothing to eat. We removed the bowls with dry food. Marley looked puzzled and was wondering what was going on. Early in the morning, we drove to the clinic. Marley tolerated the trip well and was in a good spirit.

On the hospital parking lot, I opened the car door and carefully grabbed the precious cargo. “It’s ok, my boy,” I said, “everything will work out, and you will go home soon.” The receptionist gave me a treatment agreement. The document described the procedure and listed potential adverse events associated with surgery. One of the risks included a possible respiratory arrest in rare cases. When I read through this section, my anxiety took over. I could not help crying and had difficulty departing with Marley. When the doctor came to take my boy to the operating room, I kept asking how safe is the procedure. The team comforted me, and the veterinarian patiently explained that the surgery was safe and necessary to save Marley’s eye.

I left the clinic and returned home. It was the longest day of my life. I was restless and kept checking the clock. A couple of hours later, I called the hospital. According to the technician, the procedure was going smoothly, and the staff will let me know when to pick up Marley. A phone call disrupted my unsettled afternoon. Finally, the operation was over. Marley tolerated the procedure well, and it was time to pick him up. I remember how I ran and jumped in the car. I was ready to fly to the hospital and embrace my beautiful precious kitten.

Marley was sleepy and quiet in the carrier, and I could see his chest rising peacefully. I collected the instructions on how to take care of my kitten and received his pain medications. The doctor explained how to give the medicine. I felt overwhelmed with anxiety, fear, and finally joy and didn’t know how to thank her for saving our boy’s eye.

Soon, Marley was riding in the passenger seat next to me. I kept checking on him and making sure he was breathing. “We’re going home, darling,” I whispered.