Wednesday February 18, 1998 Part 3 11 Messages ====================================== From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 20:59:40 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: the energizer bunny Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheryl, I like to call him my magical, mystical Merlin. I am writing a story about him for a cat magazine in South Africa. Do you believe it? He is famous far and wide. That is the title: Magical, Mystical, Merlin. It's almost done. I just hope if it gets printed the wonderful gentleman that asked I write it for him sends me a copy. Might be the only thing I ever get published! Barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 21:29:04 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Smart Chloe Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Steve, How true. Merlin couldn't move a whisker, control his bladder,bowels, nothing. He was stiff as a board. The only thing he could do was drink fluids from syringe. There were times I thought I should let him go, but Jim and the others said "no", give him a chance. And here he is, sleeping on the couch that he can now jump down from. He often falls over while doing it, but....he is still here! We don't know what separates the ones that can't fight the fight and those that can. All the cats in this group get the best of everything but some can't make it. We don't know why. All we can do is keep the faith and take one day at a time. Barb -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Medication questions Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 20:45:42 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, Good idea. I have some in the frezzer. I think I'll make it for all of us Friday night. I can try it. They might just like it. Tried to get to your site, but couldn't make it work. I need to scan in photos of my little ones. Cheri G, Chaz and Kitty In memory of my little Mickey -------------------------------------- From: "James G. Wilson" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 21:23:59 +0000 Subject: The computer discussions Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hello everyone, Thanks so much to everyone who's participated in brainstorming ways for me to resolve my computer situation. However, I think it's time that I explained all of this a little better so that there are no misconceptions about what's going on. This is very complicated, so if you have no interest in this discussion, please delete now. People seem to be under the impression that the state agency (Illinois Dept. of Rehabilitation Services "DORS") that provided me with this accessible computer equipment is unfairly demanding it back. That is not quite the case. Their opinion is that, since I'm not using this computer for the educational purposes it was bought for (see the explanation below), they should take it back to give to someone else to use. However, as you are all aware, I am using this computer for "community services" purposes by providing everyone with access to treatments and information for their FeLV+ cats. That is why others on the list have asked you to send letters to my counselor showing proof of interest in the services I'm providing. Now, the reason this computer is not being used for "educational purposes" is because of a University's lack of interest in complying with the ADA laws (Americans with Disabilities Act). Since that mess is far too long to describe here, I'll leave it y'all to visit the web site I created to explain it all. It is located at: http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/sterling/20/niu.html It is very long and contains quite a few links to supporting evidence. In the end, though, I stood no chance of getting the education I was accepted there to receive because they were well established at "getting around" the ADA laws. Those experiences cost me personally over $13,000.00 in student loans that I'll never be able to pay back. Because of defaulting on those loans, I can not now hope to get an education- it's a "catch 22" type situation. That is why DORS now wants the computer back. Since I have no job (prejudice still runs high in my neck of the woods), I can't afford to buy one of my own. If I lose this computer and don't find a replacement, all of the works I've created (including the web pages, mailing list, soon-to-be newsgroup and newsletter, archives, etc.) will cease to grow. Although we've lost a few members of our group due to this nasty disease (Carol's Sasha, Jenn's Chloe, Michele's Benny, Irene's Topaz, and Kelly's Storm) and we all feel so helpless, I know that our work IS making progress for others to save their precious babies. Two such cats of note are Barb's Merlin and Steve Lackow's Chloe. It is these successes that makes me still get up in the morning and spend as much as 12 hrs. a day looking into as many options and treatments as the internet allows me. As of today, I've still heard nothing from DORS about the status of wanting to take my computer, but I'm sure that your letters have made them at least reconsider their views. Should they still wish to retake this computer, then other options will need to be implemented. I'll leave those ideas up to y'all since I don't know what else to do. However, I'd like to add to the suggestion others have offered about contacting news shows. People spoke of "The View" as an option. The way to contact them directly is: http://www.abc.com/theview/email/email.html There is a form on that page where you can submit your suggestions and such. There is also a link where you can email the individual hosts themselves on top of sending your comments to the show. I hope this helps. Some had suggested that I contact my local media sources, and tell them my story. Unfortunately, I live in a small town, and "the old boy network" runs pretty strong- I say this because the wealthy veterinarian that caused Vyvyan's premature death is part of that network :( However, if you'd like to write letters to the local paper to see if they might be interested anyway, you can write them at: Managing Editor Litchfield News Herald 112 East Ryder Street Litchfield, Illinois 62056-0160 (217) 324-2121 As a disclaimer, I am writing this note and offering these addresses and numbers as a way to further spread the word about feline leukemia and the newer treatments available. I'm not doing this for any personal gain. If we can find a way to get the word out to a wider audience, then perhaps this unfortunate situation can further that goal. Thanks for listening to all of this, and I invite everyone to email me personally if they have more questions about all of this. I apologize to all of those that have emailed me privately in the past couple of days that I haven't yet gotten to respond to- personal matters, observing Vyvyan's six month aniversary of his passing on Sunday (the 15th), and trying to get some of these other projects underway (newsgroup and newletter especially) have taken alot of my time. I should be caught up again by tomorrow, though. Take care, and thanks again for all of your support and understanding, and I hope I don't let y'all and Vyvyan down. In loving memory of Vyvyan: March 20, 1988 - August 15, 1997 James G. Wilson phaedrus@ctnet.net, phaedrus69@hotmail.com, felv@angelfire.com http://www.angelfire.com/il/felv/ http://www.litchfieldil.com/members/phaedrus/ http://www.fortunecity.com//skyscraper/sterling/20/niu.html -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 23:11:45 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Medication questions Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheri, Ick! I can't stand liver, so he gets it all. Let's try my site again. I could have gotten it wrong, I often do. http://members.aol.com/newtanator/multicat.html I think I stuck a www in there before that shouldn't have been there. Barb -------------------------------------- From: macat@webtv.net (belinda sauro) Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 20:25:04 -0800 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: The View Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Kelly, Hi, Kelly I can't get this address to work is it the right one? www.theview@abc.com Belinda Happiness is being owned by cats... Come see why I'm so happy... www.geocities.com/heartland/estates/7122 -------------------------------------- Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 22:41:15 -0600 From: Cheryl and Michael To: "felvtalk@MailingList.net" Subject: news shows Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Thanks for clearing up any confusion there may have been regarding your computer. No matter what the situation is on why your computer may be taken away doesn't really matter to me. Although after reading your explanation it is more frustrating than I originally realized. I just think it is a great idea to attempt to get recognition for this terrible, terrible problem and all of your efforts. As your email inbox must reflect you have helped so many people. We were all lucky enough to find your site, but there is still such a low percentage of people that don't have the access or knowledge to use the Web. I think this story, specifically your efforts to help and educate, should get as much attention as possible. How many other people out there simply just don't know where to turn? I wrote to all the abc shows tonight and I will continue to find others. Thanks to everyone that did the leg work in finding the addresses and the creative brainstorming! Hope everyone is home, comfortable and snuggled up with their little ones for the night! We are currently getting a wonderful thunderstorm! Some success, Copley only ate a couple of bites, but I finally saw a glimmer of interest in food. Please keep your fingers crossed for a more successful tomorrow. :) Cheryl -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: Medication questions Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 22:51:43 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, Got your home page. It's beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. I love cats and would have more if I could. At first I felt very guilty about having Chaz get FeLV. I brought him home and two weeks later Mickey died. That's when we discovered they all were positive. I do know that Mickey, Kitty and Chaz have had an excellent life. Even though Mickey died young, he was only a year old, if I hadn't rescued him he would have died at four weeks. My husband and I found him under an empty house in Oct in the Colorado mountains. We brought him inside and two days later there was over a fot of snow on the ground. Kitty was also a stray in the mountains. The mountain lions or bears would have gotten her eventually. I know they are happy and I, like you, will do everything in my power to keep them healthy. It means my doing without sometimes and a partime (second) job is sometimes necessary to keep up with the vet bills, but it's worth it. I have volunteered as a foster home at the local no kill facility for FeLV positive cats. So far I've not been asked to take one in. I need to call the other vets in town. My vet helps the Humane Society. I do have one question: Have you introduced any new cats into the house since you found out about FeLV? Does it put additional stress on the cats already there? I worry about how my two will handle it if I have another cat in the house. It may never happen but it's something I think about. I know stress can cause FeLV to go into an active mode and my two are very healthy right now. Better go. Thanks for listening. Cheri G, Chaz & Kitty In memory of my little Mickey -------------------------------------- From: "Cheri Gardiner" To: Subject: Re: news shows Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 22:53:29 -0600 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Cheryl, Let me know what the shows say. I'll write them too. Do you have e mail addresses? Cheri G., Chaz & Kitty In memory of my little Mickey -------------------------------------- From: "Claude Horstmann" To: Subject: com-puter Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 23:45:01 -0500 Reply-to: felvtalk@MailingList.net I had just returned to the FeLV mailinglist when your letter came through, and my heart sank ! I just left a LONG LETTAH for BABA WAWA and submitted it right there in The View.. and NOW you're going to "clarify" the situation with DORS ? After reading your message, nothing changes, and I'm glad I sent my letter off. .marilyn. -------------------------------------- Date sent: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 23:20:22 +0000 From: LawBet Organization: Home for Wayward Felines To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: the energizer bunny Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Sister Dear, I assume you will provide me a copy of your story about Merlin when it's finished. Afterall, he is my nephew. Maybe some of his fame will rub off. Big Bro (The Lurker) -------------------------------------- END