Jess Peterson & Oscar

  "I got Oscar as a kitten from a craigslist ad.  Not knowing at the time that there was a reason they put him on craigslist. He was a giant. He is now full grown at a lean 30lbs. (every doctor who has seen him claims he is the largest cat they have ever seen)Well, as most people would know, Giants tend to have bone issues. So, when Oscar was about 3 or 4 he started limping. his bones were all out of wack and eventually we discovered he had a luxating patella, which is common in dog breeds. Debating for a long time about surgery and success rates I was eventually talked into it by my cousin who is an orthopedic vet surgeon. She said it was a routine procedure and she's done hundreds of them, and with his specific grade of luxation it was supposed to be no problem. One and done.It wasn't. He ended up having 4 surgeries last year. It's a lot to get into with each specific surgery that happened. It brings me to tears just thinking about it. It was the most difficult thing I have gone through in caring for another animal/being thus far in my life. It would have been impossible without the help of family and friends (most definitely my cousin and her hospital staff at Cornell Vet Specialist in Stamford). He became their favorite patient. With all the complications he actually ended up living at the hospital getting constant care for one month on two separate occasions. He even had acupuncture 3 times a week. I've never even had acupuncture.It was almost impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel at many points. On the day he had a successful x-ray - after the 4th surgery - it was the best feeling. I made him a hat for that day, a kitten cake, tons of cat nip and had some champagne.He just celebrated his 7th birthday. He has touched many lives. Mostly mine."@classic_jessJess is jewelry designer and painter living in greenpoint.