I wouldn't have been able to survive even half of the treatment if it weren't for my Lily...

24-year-old Faye Talbot was confined to her bed in a critical care unit. Now she's sharing her incredible story with the world...

An incredible story told in the first person

I first became ill at the age of 12. It all started with stomach problems, then issues with my knee. Then the doctor discovered scoliosis (a curvature of the spine). However, three years ago, I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. This is what caused the gynecological problems, dislocated joints, and heart and blood pressure issues. As a result, I also developed stomach problems, intestinal peristalsis was disrupted, and the doctors had to feed me through an IV. Only through my veins could I be "fed" and maintain my strength. Besides these ailments, I have a host of other ailments, including osteoporosis, scoliosis, and bleeding disorders.
So it turns out that I spent almost the entire three years either bedridden or in a wheelchair. I spent several months in various hospitals, was in intensive care three times, and had numerous major surgeries.

New friend

We got Lily in 2004. I had been ill for several years and the prognosis was not good, so we decided I needed a cat to keep me company at home.

We went to our local cat rescue organization and saw lots of kittens, but none of them really caught my eye. I didn't really like any of them. Then, on our second visit, there was a pregnant cat there, so they told us to come back when she had her kittens. We returned when the kittens were three weeks old, and as soon as I saw Lily, I knew she was meant for me. She came right up to me and let me pick her up, playing with me—it was like she was giving me permission to keep her.

I remember the first night we brought her home; she sat on my chest and just looked at me all night – I will always remember the way she sat with me that night.

Lily got used to the house and to us very quickly. She's the best companion I could have dreamed of. One time, I was in the bathhouse, and she was walking along the edge, and I said to her, "Be careful, Lily, or you'll fall!" Five minutes later, plop, she fell! When I pulled her out, she ran down and sat by the fire. Lily looked like a wet rat! And I warned her, but she didn't listen. Never mind—this will teach her a lesson!

Just recently, I visited a "missing persons" organization because my beloved cat had gone missing. We couldn't find her for hours. My dad and brother went for a walk around town looking for her, but to no avail—they didn't find her. They didn't come to my place because they didn't want to worry me, but luckily, my mom heard the bell on the cat's collar ring, and we finally found Lily. She was hiding behind a closet! She loves to hide in small spaces, and we often couldn't find her because she'd shrunk down to a miniature size!

The ideal night nurse

When Lily was a kitten, I could still force myself to climb the stairs. One day, when my cat's catheter blocked—the alarm went off—Lily became very agitated and nervous, and started meowing loudly at my mom to come upstairs. And now, every time the alarm goes off, Lily runs and calls for my mom! Lily is very smart, and when I called my parents, she would jump off the bed, run, and find them for me. We never taught her to do this; she just learned it all on her own!

Whenever I go to the hospital, I always take a picture with my beloved Lily. And when I'm sad or hurt, I look at her picture and imagine what she might be doing at home now. It helps me calm down while I'm away. We miss each other when I'm in the hospital. When Lily was younger, she got very sick due to stress because I was in the hospital for a long time. The vet told us it was because she was so far away from me for so long.

Lily sleeps next to me on my bed at night. We joke and call her "my night nurse." She's already 10 years old, a little older and grayer, so she's not as lively as she used to be. But Lily still fills my life with laughter! She plays so merrily with her toys, despite her age. She's been my constant companion since I brought her home. She gives me her love without asking for anything in return.

I truly can't imagine my life without Lily. I feel like as long as she's around, I know everything will be okay. Lily is the light of my life, and I couldn't have gone through half of what I've been through.

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