THe whole DSL thing will get sorted, don't worry about that... in my experience most people have trouble at first because all the settings everywhere have to be right and it's just a matter of a digit here or womething there sometimes... but once you got it working you won't look back....

I'm sorry to hear about your kitty cat... it must be horrible to let go of something you have come to love so much, they just have a way of getting in your heart... (well some anyway, not the one who attacked my cat)

But you have to put yourself first, and just the fact that you are so tormented over this show how caring and selfless you are.... I wish you all the best... and give the DSL guys all hell!!!!