So happy for you and your new family member. At 26 and newly married, I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. We were living in a new city. My husband had to travel a lot , I was often alone through radiations and chemo. My Dr. suggested I get a pet, so we adopted a kitten, Pooka. Pooka was my best through it all. She lived to be 22 and I’ve just turned 75! I will never forget her, nor the love and comfort she gave me.
May 22, 2023·edited May 22, 2023Liked by Kelton Wright
I wasn’t expecting this, but then again I never know what to expect with Kelton, and I mean that in the best way possible. This story did not disappoint. I truly hope there’s a script brewing here and that I’ll be able to watch at least 5 seasons of unpredictable and beautiful stories about being human.
I've been moping around for weeks. Should I get a dog? No, I can't. Should I get a dog? Okay, lemme inquire.
I looked into a Bernese Mountain Dog to the tune of $3500 from a breeder. Called another breeder in Utah, same price, puppy will be ready by September. I'm number 4 on the waiting list.
After reading this I'll revisit going to the shelter and either foster or adopt a cat before moving forward with a dog.
Great writing - first laugh out loud today... sometimes I find humor in tragedy, or I'll sink into hysteria inside the bubble of current depression.
Malloy sounds like the perfect female roomie. An unsung hero. I hope you're still in touch with her.
Oh. Em. Gee. The most hilarious horrifying and ultimately heart warming thing I’ve yet read on Stack. I can’t believe what you went thru with a tumor and poor Philippe!!! And all the other details. We need your book of essays.
One hell of a story. I’m not a cat person - but totally an animal person, so I understand the power they have to make our life better. Thank you for sharing and making light of what had to be a very rough and scary time in your life.
Thank you so much for taking in the kitten & cat, and I hope the Siamese finds a home. I love your Instagram posts.
But here’s the head-spinning thing for me: You’re the only other person I know who went through the same kind of tumor surgery and terror I did! I was 26, and over several months, a pea-sized bump behind my ear grew to a large marble size, sprouting on my parotid gland (which makes saliva). It was totally random, mystifying and frightening. The doc did a biopsy which was benign but he suspected it was pre-cancerous and needed to come out because it’d keep growing. The thing was, to get to it, they had to delicately go through the web of facial nerves. They told me to prepare for the likelihood I’d have nerve damage, causing a droopy cheek or lopsided smile. I mustered my courage & gratitude I was preventing cancer but I was terrified. It was successful however, the only nerve damage being to my lips (I couldn’t tighten them to drink from a straw or whistle, but it went back to normal after a year). But I had the same gruesome blood drainage bag as you, and a giant safety pin through a scar in my neck. You brought this all back with your vivid story. It’s crazy how our bodies can go haywire, then heal! Thank you, sorry this is so long.
Thank you for writing this, I absolutely loved it! I think fostering animals is one of the best things I've found my way to in life, and passing by my polaroid wall of former fosters gives me the warm fuzzies every time. There's truly nothing like the feeling of helping an animal feel safe and loved enough to display their full personalities ❤️
We got into fostering under similar circumstances, and like you, promptly "foster failed" with our very first foster cat. But since then, we've fostered dozens more (@atlantafosterbnb on Instagram if you want to see some serious cuteness!) and repaid that debt 😂
So happy for you and your new family member. At 26 and newly married, I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. We were living in a new city. My husband had to travel a lot , I was often alone through radiations and chemo. My Dr. suggested I get a pet, so we adopted a kitten, Pooka. Pooka was my best through it all. She lived to be 22 and I’ve just turned 75! I will never forget her, nor the love and comfort she gave me.
Mallory!! A hero among roomies. This was beautifully written. Animals are just the best.
I wasn’t expecting this, but then again I never know what to expect with Kelton, and I mean that in the best way possible. This story did not disappoint. I truly hope there’s a script brewing here and that I’ll be able to watch at least 5 seasons of unpredictable and beautiful stories about being human.
I know this is newsletter 87 but I feel like it would have led with this. Lol
I've been moping around for weeks. Should I get a dog? No, I can't. Should I get a dog? Okay, lemme inquire.
I looked into a Bernese Mountain Dog to the tune of $3500 from a breeder. Called another breeder in Utah, same price, puppy will be ready by September. I'm number 4 on the waiting list.
After reading this I'll revisit going to the shelter and either foster or adopt a cat before moving forward with a dog.
Great writing - first laugh out loud today... sometimes I find humor in tragedy, or I'll sink into hysteria inside the bubble of current depression.
Malloy sounds like the perfect female roomie. An unsung hero. I hope you're still in touch with her.
Happy for you and new fur babies!
I loved everything about this so much. (Well, except the dead cats, and the cancer worries, obvs, but everything else, my god!)
Had to share this. The most horrifying, hysterically funny story ever about adopting pets. Who wouldn't want to run to their nearest shelter?
Oh. Em. Gee. The most hilarious horrifying and ultimately heart warming thing I’ve yet read on Stack. I can’t believe what you went thru with a tumor and poor Philippe!!! And all the other details. We need your book of essays.
One hell of a story. I’m not a cat person - but totally an animal person, so I understand the power they have to make our life better. Thank you for sharing and making light of what had to be a very rough and scary time in your life.
Thank you so much for taking in the kitten & cat, and I hope the Siamese finds a home. I love your Instagram posts.
But here’s the head-spinning thing for me: You’re the only other person I know who went through the same kind of tumor surgery and terror I did! I was 26, and over several months, a pea-sized bump behind my ear grew to a large marble size, sprouting on my parotid gland (which makes saliva). It was totally random, mystifying and frightening. The doc did a biopsy which was benign but he suspected it was pre-cancerous and needed to come out because it’d keep growing. The thing was, to get to it, they had to delicately go through the web of facial nerves. They told me to prepare for the likelihood I’d have nerve damage, causing a droopy cheek or lopsided smile. I mustered my courage & gratitude I was preventing cancer but I was terrified. It was successful however, the only nerve damage being to my lips (I couldn’t tighten them to drink from a straw or whistle, but it went back to normal after a year). But I had the same gruesome blood drainage bag as you, and a giant safety pin through a scar in my neck. You brought this all back with your vivid story. It’s crazy how our bodies can go haywire, then heal! Thank you, sorry this is so long.
Gosh I love you. 🤍
Thank you for writing this, I absolutely loved it! I think fostering animals is one of the best things I've found my way to in life, and passing by my polaroid wall of former fosters gives me the warm fuzzies every time. There's truly nothing like the feeling of helping an animal feel safe and loved enough to display their full personalities ❤️
We got into fostering under similar circumstances, and like you, promptly "foster failed" with our very first foster cat. But since then, we've fostered dozens more (@atlantafosterbnb on Instagram if you want to see some serious cuteness!) and repaid that debt 😂
"Foster framed" - I love it.
I also love this whole story, beginning to end. Thanks for the laughs and gasps and okay, fine, a few small tears.
Quite an ordeal—wow!!
This was just brilliantly written and compelling from start to finish.
Thank you so much for sharing this. Animals save us as much as we can save them.