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日本語は後に続きます

It all started with coughs.

My cancer saga started with coughs, which had not stopped for three months. My complaining about the cough at the annual physical check-up at the beginning of April led from one thing to another, and they discovered my cancer with the upper GI endoscopy. And the rest is history. My cancer has been cured by chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

Ironically, however, I still cough a lot, and nobody can explain why. My oncologist has been insisting that our two cats (sisters) are culprits from his own experience; he is quite allergic to cats.

When I was in Maine last week, I felt that my coughing was cured and that I could stop taking the asthma medicine. Then when I came back home, I started coughing again.

Now our cats look very guilty and my oncologist looks very clever, but it is very difficult even to think about giving them up. Our cats being indoor cats, I feel very affectionate toward them, and they trust us like babies.

During the past two days, I have been wiping their fur twice a day with a wet, warm microfiber washcloth, hoping to prevent the hair and dandruff from falling off.

It works at least to get more affection from the cats. It must feel like kittens being licked by their mother. They surrender their body under the wet cloth in “nolo contendere” - do with me what you will - fashion. One of the cats started following me if I am carrying the washcloth.

It feels so good to be trusted and surrendered to so completely by your pet.

I hope that this wiping exercise works. Otherwise it is becoming more difficult to give up my cats.