Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.64.0801022233150.19812@panix3.panix.com>
From: Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com>
To: Cyb <cybermind@listserv.aol.com>, Wryting-L <WRYTING-L@listserv.wvu.edu>
Subject: Boojum
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 22:33:36 -0500 (EST)
Boojum Our cat, Boojum, had to be put to sleep today, in our arms, two days after her 18th birthday. We were closer to her than most people. She meditated. She taught patience. We're distraught; she was a good friend, a companion who helped us through bleak times. She loved olives, asparagus, tomato sauce. She was beginning to close down; her last purring was about ten days ago. Losing a companion (Haraway's companion species) is as bad a loss as any other (in spite of my father, who said, It's not like losing a person you know). I can't do elegy after days of crying, running to emer- gency rooms, trying different foods and medication. Below is her Internet Index, within the crabbed space of my webpage. her name, boojum, jean-paul, others her name, boojum, jean-paul, others her name, boojum, jean-paul, others her name, boojum, jean-paul, others name, boojum, jean-paul, others her name, boojum, jean-paul, others her name, boojum, jean-paul, others her name, boojum, jean-paul, others hear the despair among the carbon cacti, boojum trees, even in the midst of the name, boojum, jean-paul, others her name, boojum, jean-paul, others her name, boojum, jean-paul, others her name, boojum, jean-paul, others hear the despair among the carbon cacti, boojum trees, even in the midst of the Aditya A boggart bogle bonachus bonasus bonedevil bonnacon boobrie boojum hear the despair among the carbon cacti, boojum trees, even in the midst forgotten. Now, 2007, we are bringing our cat Boojum, this May 29, to Hope 2003 Boojum the cat who adopted me in 1990, developed breast cancer. She The cat, Boojum, imagining her, the tenor of her fur, quality of her eyes, :Boojum Carter Comments by writer: Boojum is named after the Boojum tree in Baja fury of cancer and creation. Azure and I are beside ourselves, and Boojum Boojum, our cat, is checked now daily for a resurgence of cancer; we can't cat, Boojum, imagining her, the tenor of her fur, quality of her eyes, Boojum Carter Comments by writer: Boojum is named after the Boojum tree in Boojum Boojum, our cat, is checked now daily for a resurgence of cancer; cat, Boojum, imagining her, the tenor of her fur, quality of her eyes, Boojum Carter Comments by writer: Boojum is named after the Boojum tree in Boojum Boojum, our cat, is checked now daily for a resurgence of cancer; partner, Azure Carter, and their cat, Boojum. Boojum Carter (medical report four years ago) feline, aged 13 1/2, four years after our mother's death, biopsy diagnosed as follows: Microscopic: MAMMARY MASS ONE - This mass is demarcated and has a well localized appearance. It is comprised of a collection of neoplastic epithelial cells that are forming tubules. The tubules are separated by variably thick connective tissue septa. The neoplastic cells have ovoid stippled nuclei and a scant amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic borders are distinct. The mitotic rate is low and ranges from 0-1 per high-power field. Nonneoplastic tissue is forming margins. There are scattered aggregates of lymphocytes and plasma cells surrounding the growth MAMMARY MASS TWO - This is the larger of the growths evaluated. There are several large cysts. There is a proliferating population of neoplastic epithelial cells. The cells are organized in the lobules that are forming occasional tubules. The central areas of the lobules are degenerate. Neoplastic cells exhibit invasion. One or two layers of cells line the tubules. The cells have large round vesicular nuclei with multiple nucleoli. The cytoplasm is eosinophilic, scant and cytoplasmic borders are distinct. The mitotic rate ranges up to six per high-power field. Nonneoplastic tissue is forming margins. DIAGNOSIS: MAMMARY MASS ONE- MAMMARY GLAD ADENOCARCINOMA, TUBULAR, LOW GRADE MAMMARY MASS TWO - MAMMARY GLAND ADENOCARCINOMA, TUBULAR CYSTIC PROGNOSIS: Guarded COMMENTS: Feline mammary malignancies should be considered capable of metastasis and warrant a guarded prognosis at best. The first smaller growth evaluated is well localized and is not exhibiting invasion. This appears to be a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The second growth is exhibiting invasion and this growth should be considered as having potential for metastasis. Lymphatic invasion is not identified with any of the sections evaluated. These growths appear to be excised. Comments by doctor: Guarded. Felines tend not to recover. She might live six months, several years, or less. There is no way to tell. She needs immune system fortification. The doctor wishes her news would have been better. The question is whether or not the tubules remain within the body. The cancer could spread rapidly or even go into remission. Comments by writer: Boojum is named after the Boojum tree in Baja California. She is thirteen and a half. She exhibits no signs of illness. She has been my companion and is highly sociable and nervous, She has the personality, if not the skills, of a brilliant writer. At the moment she is sleeping, recovering from the removal of her stitches. She travelled with us to Miami, where she encountered, even indoors, new and interesting forms of flora and fauna. Azure and I pray that she will live forever. Comments: That cancer is always the same, disordered, disorderly, a tough go whose treatment is violent and invasive as well. The well-defined structure of the body begins to collapse as tunnels are formed through highly-organized tissue. Every organism is a world of miracles, and every creature dissolves in the fury of cancer and creation. Azure and I are beside ourselves, and Boojum Carter dreams now, not of death.