contentedcats.org

01/25/2024

This link is for anyone who wants to get updates or know when I need help. My friend Mary made me this so everyone can stay updated. I wish I could update everyone personally but I don’t have the energy for it at present.

Lotsa Helping Hands

01/23/2024

First chemo done! Woo hoo! My family showed up with shaved heads too so we could be a badass team. Mary made me this beautiful quilt for my chemo days and it’s going on my bed because mostly I have bed days now. It’s so happy and cuddly.

I had a heated recliner with 2 tray arms and charging port in a window. It was so sunny in that window that I was sweating. My nurse offered to pull the shade but I was like “Nooooo!!!” I am a sunshine girly. It was so nice soaking in the rays and it felt like I was at the beach. Mary and my dad kept me entertained with stories and we laughed. My dad read me the book he wrote.

I had a small hiccup- started to have an allergic reaction with my throat and rang the bell. Within a second I think 10 people were in my room including my cancer nurse from my drs office. People went right to work unhooking my chemo iv and adding more allergy meds iv, taking my vitals, etc. The team is amazing! After the throat symptoms stopped, we all breathed a sigh of relief and laughed. This is why I went to Boston. They are amazing. I have 21 allergies in my chart and they double prepared my whole treatment knowing something could go wrong. I will always have the same chemo nurse and I love that. She said unless I don’t feel a connection with her and then no hard feelings- I can have a different nurse. But I’m staying with Marissa. 🙂 At the end, Marissa congratulated me on finishing my first treatment. I came home with a printout calendar with all the meds I need to take, symptoms I will most likely have day by day, and 24 hour contact numbers. I’m so grateful we are near Dana Farber and my family so graciously is taking time off from work to get me to and from Boston. There are lots of appointments and I’m not an easy case. I usually have to go in extra for follow ups. I’m so grateful to them! ❤️

01/21/2024

Dear cat family and friends, Thank you for almost 8 wonderful years of being a par… Gwendolyn D'Aguiar needs your support for Christmas Cancer Diagnosis

01/06/2024

A little update: yesterday was my 56th bday. ☺️ I’ve never had so many dr appointments in my life! I didn’t foresee being at the dr on my bday but my friend Mary made it great, drove me to Boston and we had Thai food after, matcha icecream, and a clothing store trip where I got some fuzzy, cozy pj like pants and sweaters/ sweatshirts to cuddle up in. ❤️

I chose Dana Farber and they are excellent. Monday I go for exploratory surgery to figure out the best way forward. I have ovarian cancer. I was told it’s very rare and there’s only a 1% change of getting it. I think maybe the loss of my son just really stressed my system but who knows. I may have had it longer or came down with it either way. My poor dog seems to be having the same symptoms as me. The vet said it’s more common than one thinks. I’m at the vet with her now making sure she’s ok and comfortable before I go to Boston on Monday.

Thank you everyone for the continued prayers, well wishes, estate planning, cards, pet food, and adding to my go fund me. I’m able to be here getting my dog care at the vet because of you. ❤️ I so appreciate the outpouring of love.

I am taking things day by day and being positive and saying that I got my miracle. That I beat this and will be enjoying many more years with my children.

12/29/2023

ME all day every DAY!

12/24/2023

Dear cat family and friends,

Thank you for almost 8 wonderful years of being a part of your lives. I have been so blessed and touched to have shared in your every day lives and also milestones- small and big joys, marriages, celebrations, graduations, birth of grandchildren, illnesses, and even death. You are more dear to me than you can imagine. My heart has been so full being able to be here to support you on your kitty adoption journeys and your life journeys. ❤️

I am sorry to say I will be closing the cat room. I can no longer board kitties. I went to the er this week with pain and fatigue and was diagnosed with Peritoneal Carcinamatosis. More tests are needed and I will be seeing a specialist in Boston before starting treatment in about 3 weeks. At this time we don’t have the stage or where it originated but most likely it’s ovarian cancer that spread. I wish I could stay in business but the possible treatment plan is most likely 6 months long. I can’t have little furry people depending on me when I don’t know what my health will be. I am also very exhausted and cat care involves a lot of cleaning, bending, phone calls, emails, scheduling, paperwork, emergencies, cat health issues, meds, etc. I work 7 days a week from morning to night and have to wear all the hats myself.

My daughter will be taking over the home visits, so those will stay available at this time but we appreciate your patience as we navigate my health and trying to find time and energy to teach her the business owner side of it all.

First we just want to enjoy the holidays and try to keep it normal. I am still the same me. I love to spend time with my kids, laugh and play, be curious about life, learn, care about what’s going on in others lives, etc.

Thank you to all who have sent cards, gifts, and encouragement. People want to help and have been asking how they can. I have my dad for rides and dr appointments. In reality what I need is financial help. I’m just putting it out there. I thought of making a go fund me and I’m making a list of needs and some wishes. I applied for social security but was told that can take 6 months and I know it’s not a lot to live on. Since I’m widowed and lost my oldest son 2 years ago, I don’t have financial support/backup.

https://gofund.me/59c87eac

I have pets with health issues that are costly. I won’t have any money coming in for January. It’s kinda scary- more real than the cancer diagnosis right now because life doesn’t stop because you stopped working. I also need a will and to pay off my house for my kids so they won’t lose their family home. It’s a lot of big asks but they say to put it out there and be at peace. So I am. ❤️

Wishing you all much love now and always. ❤️
Life is short. Live your best life and love hard.
The only thing I will miss if I leave this world are my friends and loved ones. My best way to spend my last days would be to spend time with my friends and loved ones. It’s that simple. Life is about love. That’s what it really boils down to.
Wishing you all lots of love in your lives.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your life journeys.

Needs and Wishes
Lots of prayers/positive energy for myself and my family ❤️

Help paying for an estate lawyer or free help if you’re a lawyer 🙏

Car repair -Pelham auto service
Food, food stores, restaurants

Help for cat with diabetes and a dog with congenital heart failure which includes ongoing care, medicines, and special diet:
Tractor Supply
Valley Vet Hadley and Mill Valley Vet Belchertown
Chewy
Smithland Supply

Home loan payment- contact me to get details
Verizon cell phone bill
National Grid electric bill

🙏 Need a floor fixed- which includes subflooring in the closet. It’s a small room and I need it fixed so I can take down the cat suites and have my home space back and get a couch so my family can visit me 🙏

Help paying off bills

Things to do with my kids like movies, Groundings (Florence ma) healing sound bath, see the ballet/shows/concerts, events, lunch out, Hakim Noah Massage Therapy, Sweet Birch Herbals in Ashfield to get herbal support and pain cream, etc.

Audible credits to get a book

Small joys are the best and bring about such gratitude and wonder. I had a client give me the gift of maple syrup this autumn. 🙂 It was from Maine and the best maple syrup I’ve ever had! I think it would be fun if people sent me a small personal size bottle from any state they visit. My kids and I like to line up and taste test things and we could see which state has the best syrup.

Same goes for fruit, chocolate, etc. such as a small gift basket of different varieties of oranges or chocolate bars to see which type is our favorite. New foods, regional foods that are your favorite or different from what you think we might have locally. I don’t have a lot of energy to do active things. I can certainly lose a few pounds (I have tried and tried to no avail!) but my dr said this isn’t the time to limit food. So things like this would be fun to try.

Paper cranes! (Google the story of Sadako Sasaki 1000 paper cranes) I have always wanted to make a mobile out of paper origami cranes but I can’t do origami for the life of me! So if you can make a crane and feel inspired to send me one- I will keep take each one and make it into a mobile. ❤️

I was hoping to start a drum circle and take it to the farmers market and nursing home this year. We need more places to make community to have fun and laugh.

I also wanted to get crystal singing bowls and offer sound baths to others. I was excited and thought I could bring my singing bowls to peoples gardens and do a gratitude sound bath outdoors by gardens to honor the earth before planting and to give back to Mama Nature.

I also wanted to see the Upper Peninsula and enjoy the nature there.

Life bucket list is to see the Grand Canyon,
Yosemite Park, and the Redwoods.

I’m keeping hope to be able to do these things. I was going to save for these things- I wanted the singing bowls for spring- but now can’t financially do that. If you have some you’d donate I’d be thrilled. Or drum circle things- rain sticks, etc. I will practice from my couch and learn since I don’t have energy to do much else.

Dear cat family and friends, Thank you for almost 8 wonderful years of being a par… Gwendolyn D'Aguiar needs your support for Christmas Cancer Diagnosis

12/19/2023

Fun morning on the cat room. ☺️

11/28/2023

🥹

The MSPCA-Angell is searching for special adopters for an 11-week-old kitten with severely deformed back legs.

11/25/2023

A heart felt thank you! Thank you for 7 heartwarming memorable years of caring for your fur kids. Wishing you and your loved ones joy and health this season.