Update on Chiana and Her Treatment Plan

I posted this in the FeLV Warriors Group to share an update on Chiana's progress and treatment.

Viral Load and Weight Data

Date	Viral Load	Weight (Vet)	Weight (Home)
10/8/24	17.10 x 106 = 17,100,000	13.3 lbs	13.2 lbs
12/20/24	45.91 x 106 = 45,910,000	13.6 lbs	13.4 lbs

Switch to Dolutegravir

On 12/21/24, we started her on dolutegravir (50 mg/day). We plan to retest her during the first week of February and will also conduct a CBC test to monitor any effects on her organs.

Why We Changed Drugs

We have two theories about why raltegravir stopped working:

1. Possible drug resistance.
2. Underdosing: Chiana, at 14 lbs, should have been on 400 mg/day, but we were giving her 200 mg/day due to:
• Cost: The drug is expensive!
• Physical limitations: The dosage size is significant and hard for her to swallow twice daily.

Husband's Theories on Dolutegravir

Positives:

• There was one study on dolutegravir with cats, though it focused on FIV. As with raltegravir, the drug didn’t work for FIV but may work for FeLV.
• For humans:
• The pill is smaller and taken once daily.
• Dosage is less than raltegravir.

Our Theories:

The dolutegravir study on cats used 2.5 mg/kg/day. My husband believes this is too low. Using the raltegravir dosage as a reference, we calculated a starting dosage of 7.87 mg/kg/day. With her weight of 6.35 kg, that comes to 50 mg/day. We'll see how this works when we get her test results in February.

Has anyone used dolutegravir at such a high dosage for a cat? If so, do you have any results to share?

Current Status

Chiana has been on dolutegravir for over a week. My husband finds it easier to give her the medication once daily (in 4 smaller pieces), and she’s less stressed about it. So far, she hasn’t shown any side effects.

Final Note

Please let me know if you have any questions about Chiana’s treatment plan. We’ll share updates in 2025 as we learn more!

By Faith: Word of the Year: Engage

Do you have a word of the year? I do. For the past three years, I’ve chosen a word to guide me through the year. It started when I began exploring year-long Christian devotionals, and the idea just resonated with me.

Here are my words so far:

• 2023: And
• 2024: Nuance
• 2025: Engage

This year’s word surprised me because it came to me early—in November, during my early morning Bible study and devotional. The word engage kept appearing in my thoughts, almost like a quiet nudge. I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first.

Later, while volunteering at church as part of the Volunteer Central team, I found confirmation. Another team member shared how her word came early, too. For her, the word is ascend. She’s not entirely sure what it means yet, but as a Christian counselor stepping into more management roles, it feels significant. We had a great conversation about how these words shape our perspectives and paths.

Reflecting on my previous words, I’ve gained a lot of insight over the years. In 2023, I struggled with seeing things in shades of grey. I was very much a black-or-white thinker. The word and challenged me to embrace complexity—to hold together ideas, emotions, and situations that didn’t seem to belong.

In 2024, nuance became my guide. It taught me to let go of rigid expectations, especially in relationships. I often wanted more from others than they could give, and learning to appreciate subtlety and small shifts was a challenge. But when I accepted those moments, they brought peace.

Every time I think of engage, I picture Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation, boldly commanding the Enterprise into new frontiers. That image inspires me to step into the year with intention and courage.

What about you? Do you have a word of the year? I’d love to hear about it.

From CaringBridge (January 2024) to Blogger (???? - Present)

In January of 2024, I had a revelation: our FeLV story was so much more than numbers and test results. For my husband, the goal of documenting Chiana’s journey was clear. He hoped her data could become the foundation for meaningful research into the use of raltegravir and other antiretrovirals for cats. For me, the purpose was less defined but deeply personal. I wanted to share our story, to let others know they weren’t alone in navigating the heartbreak of an FeLV diagnosis.

I knew the "black hole" that loomed ahead—the uncertainty, the emotional weight of knowing Chiana’s life would be far shorter than we hoped, and the constant fear that her journey could end abruptly. For months, I wrestled with the tears and grief that came with her diagnosis.

But I also wanted to find a way to channel those emotions, to turn our pain into something constructive. I’d heard of CaringBridge, a free online service designed for documenting the journeys of those facing serious illnesses. It offered a space to write publicly while maintaining some privacy. Although the platform emphasized "family members," I wondered: could Chiana be considered family? For me, the answer was an unequivocal yes.

Finding My Voice

At the time, I didn’t know the first thing about blogging. I wasn’t sure how to start or whether anyone would care. But during this uncertain period, I connected with a coworker who shared my love for cats. Her encouragement was a lifeline. She believed in my idea and bolstered my confidence to give it a try. Without her early support, I might never have taken that first step.

When I launched the CaringBridge site, I didn’t promote it widely. It became a quiet repository for Chiana’s story—old anecdotes, test results, and reflections. With the support of a few trusted readers, I allowed myself to reveal what I learned as I learned it. Surprisingly, the site became a resource. When someone reached out to me about her kittens’ FeLV diagnosis, I shared the link, and she found the information she needed to support her own journey. Knowing our story could help someone else was deeply rewarding. You can find that old site here: www.caringbridge.org/visit/chianawill

A New Chapter

By summer, changes to the CaringBridge platform made it clear that it was time to move. I needed a space better suited to my goals and the needs of others who might stumble upon Chiana’s story. That’s when I decided to explore blogging more seriously.

In September 2024, I enrolled in a free online WordPress class. I was nervous but hopeful. I had specific goals: I wanted a free blog with a simple, old-school design. This wasn’t about flashy visuals or monetization; it was about authenticity—sharing my journey with Chiana and creating a resource for others.

While I’d dabbled with WordPress before, I’d found the free options limiting and often abandoned my attempts. During my research, I discovered Blogger. It wasn’t flashy, but it had been around for ages and seemed to meet my needs. Plus, as an old Google property, it felt familiar. I even found a few ancient blogs I’d created years ago and promptly deleted them to start fresh.

With my husband’s IT expertise and with ChatGPT's help, I created a basic but functional blog. The ability to backdate posts allowed me to transfer content from CaringBridge seamlessly. In early 2025, the new site was ready to go live. I was thrilled to have a dedicated space to continue sharing Chiana’s story and, hopefully, connect with others navigating similar challenges.

An Open Invitation

If you’re considering starting a blog to share your own story—whether it’s about a beloved pet, a personal journey, or a cause close to your heart—know that you don’t have to be an expert to begin. Platforms like Blogger and WordPress make it accessible, and there’s a supportive community out there ready to cheer you on. 

Chiana’s story is still unfolding, and this blog is just one chapter in our journey. If you’re interested in creating something similar or want to connect, I’d love to hear from you. Together, we can turn stories into a source of comfort and strength for those who need it most.