Ash is my sweet 11-year-old silver boy who loves all things sparkly, stringy and blue. He politely waits for the best part of his day: the sound of a sink or shower flipping on, to run to and get soggy. Typical bengal behavior. He also performs the biggest stretches in front of an open fridge and insists on saying hello belly up, after a yawn-squeak. He prefers drinking loudly from cupped hands, and likes to watch bluebirds bathe until he starts snoring. He likes to be flung over shoulders and carried like a panther perched on a branch, and turns into a stoic gargoyle on couch arms. He goes crazy for a bag of carrots (not to eat—just to lay on...for vibes), and jumps onto the backs of anyone washing their face face. Most recently, he has discovered the shake plate.

This past week has been the ultimate shake up for us both. On Sunday, Ash needed emergency surgery for a urinary blockage.

I moved from Boston to Brooklyn earlier this year, because I knew this was a place built on community, mutual aid, with more affordable housing, and more support networks. Being introduced to Positive Tails felt like proof I made the right choice. Thanks to their generous grant, Ash's 2-night hospitalization at VERG Brooklyn has been supplemented with what I couldn't cover by myself. He's now stable and recovering in the hospital under the care of Dr. Katherine Wagner, Dr. Nicole Trainer, and their skillful colleagues.

Fortunately and unfortunately, they found the likely cause: an infected tooth / mouth abscess. He needs further imaging to confirm, and will likely need a tooth extraction. Another urgent surgery to 1. ensure the abscess is not a tumor, 2. to remove the infection before it spreads further and 3. prevent another blockage or other complications.

Ash came into my life as a kitten ten years ago in Oklahoma City, right before a string of losses. Animals are uniquely poised to deal with grief in a way humans just aren't. For a decade, he's known when I needed weight on my feet, my joints, my heart.

I've worked in education now for seven years, and I'm so thankful that my income is stable, but this economy leaves such little room for surprises. I'll be quick selling my car this week, but another surgery is still more than I can manage alone.

Every donation goes directly to his surgery, x-rays, and recovery care.

Ash has carried me through so many hard chapters. I'm doing everything I can to carry him through this one.

Thank you for reading, and for helping us get to the other side of this together.