COURAGE WITH PAWS: AMAZON BEST SELLER
In her new book, Courage with Paws: The Heart of a Siamese Cat, Cal Orey shares a tale about a cat who battles an unexpected heart adventure. Cal Orey tells this story vicariously through the eyes of her Siamese-mix Cat, given the most royal name of Sir Whiskers McPurrington. Living in the high country of Lake Tahoe, one sunny afternoon Sir Whiskers felt odd – short of breath – and his heart began racing. “Rushed to the animal hospital things got serious quickly,” the narration explained. The story goes into an NDE, near-death-experience, telling how Dr. Furryheart saved Sir Whiskers. The doctor recommended surgery saying, “Time is running out, Mr. Whiskers. Your heart is very, very weak.” But “No” said Sir Whiskers, relying on his sixth sense cat-intuition to avoid further risks...
Courage with Paws combines many elements showcasing Cal Orey's finesse of creative writing. Artfully interleaved with excellent illustrations to highlight the theme of the story, along with photographs bringing in credibility of this being a true story, plus with the icing on the cake of having whimsical character names in the genre of Dr. Seuss, the book congeals into an art form with a stern message; that being to understand heart-health. -- Pacific Book Review
Yes. In the Spring of 2023 I thought my little cough was allergies due to pet dander and pollen. Then, one day I called the paramedics and I said, “I think something is wrong. It’s difficult for me to breathe.” Fifteen minutes later, I was at the ER room in our local hospital. I was anxious. Then, I don’t recall anything. Blackness.
Q: What happened at the local hospital?
One and a half years later, a South Lake Tahoe nurse told me she recalled the unforgettable event. “You didn’t have a pulse. I called out ‘Code Blue!’ CPR was done.” She said I was put on a ventilator. My sibling was asked about my DNR wishes. I still only recall fragments of my time in ICUs; those memories still haunt me like ghosts.
Q: One day later after the cardiac arrest, you were transported to another hospital and told you had severe coronary artery disease despite your overall good health; and needed open heart surgery. What did you do?
A surgeon spoke to me after an angiogram. He told me seventy percent of my severe heart disease was due to genes--not because of comorbidities. Also, the compassionate doctor was the only one who advised against open heart surgery. He said it was likely my healthy lifestyle allowed me to live a healthy life for decades. And the doctor suggested taking medication for heart disease. Other doctors and nurses disagreed. I was told I would never walk again. I was told I would die in one day if I didn't say yes to major surgery with up to six months recovery time--and no guarantees of making it through the ordeal.
Despite the dire warnings I followed my instincts and was feisty. I declined. I discharged myself from the hospital. As the days passed, I continued to say no to going under the knife. My sixth sense kicked in and I didn’t feel major surgery was right for me.
Q: During the summer of 2023 did you regain your health?
No way. My condition got worse. I was put on statins which made me tired, nauseated, took my memory, and made me frail. So, I once the lean, active health author was now in a wheelchair! My weak heart affected my overall health and well-being. I had swelling of the legs, coughing, and fatigue. Enter: congestive heart failure.
Q: Were you scared?
I knew I was getting worse. My sibling who took care of me (he is Barkley, the loyal Australian shepherd in my book Courage with Paws) was scared I was going to die (again). Then, a local cardiologist (when he looked at my angiogram his jaw dropped like the kind in the film Home Alone when he saw my clogged arteries) referred me to a gifted cardiologist and professor at UC Davis. He offered to perform a risky Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for my complex case, a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked heart arteries--angioplasty and stents.
Q: Were you scared before the high-tech procedure?
No. I put my trust and faith in the heart doctor's skill set for accepting complex cases. I knew that we both were taking a risk, but it was one that felt right to me. It was meant to be and scheduled on October 20, 2023. Five days later after the hospital stay, I was back home. One week later, my life changed drastically. No cough. No swelling. No brain fog. My energy levels—mind and body—was off the charts! I was back. Every day was like a Christmas present. I felt wonderful!
Q: One year later: It is December 2024. What is the outcome of your heart adventure?
The PCI was very successful. As one nurse recently said, “You reversed your heart disease!” I am no longer in heart failure. My ejection fraction (EF) is near normal. My blood work is back to normal. A chest x-ray, EKG, and echocardiogram all show good results and show my heart is functioning well. Yes, I still have coronary heart disease. I have stents like one well-known cardiologist I know from Newsmax (the media outlet promotes our health books), and even actor Susan Lucci.
I continue to make healthy lifestyle and diet choices. Translation: I take a blood thinner and one baby aspirin every day, and a few other meds—but no statins for me (they do not work well for everyone). I maintain my ideal weight, BMI, eat a strict Mediterranean diet (fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, olive oil—repeat), exercise daily, and live like a health-conscious nun. But my life is normal. I have been cleared to do anything!
The bottom line: I feel blessed to have gone on a heart journey and survive despite some medical naysayers who predicted an opposite outcome. Not everyone is as lucky as I have been. While luck may have played a role in my comeback so did having a brave heart surgeon (with the heart of a “Wizardly lion like Professor Pawsworth”) in my book Courage with Paws. And my survival instinct, like a feline who falls out of a high-rise window but has a righting mechanism that allows it to land on its feet, helped me make a remarkable recovery.
Praise for Courage with Paws:
"I love cats, and I love this book. It's clever and heartwarming, and a charming and unforgettable tale. You will love Sir Whiskers, and his story will make you appreciate your kitties even more. Cal Orey deserves many treats!" --Stephen Spignesi, popular author of The Cat Book of Lists
"A cat's eye view of a comeback from a crisis with the help of a companion dog and many human helpers that are difficult for a cat to fully understand. A gentle, multileveled and enjoyable story." --Stanley Coren, Ph.D., bestselling author of The Intelligence of Dogs
CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, romance, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, the Rescue Me! trilogy, Soulmates with Paws, and the new book Courage with Paws, and is currently completing Book 1: The Ghost Ships series. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is www.calorey.com
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