Help Bring Callie Home

My name is Erica, and if you’re able, please consider donating to my sweet girl Callie’s hospital bills. Callie got sick suddenly last week and has been in the ICU for over a week now on oxygen therapy for respiratory distress. The docs are still trying to figure out the cause of her symptoms. However, the emergency room is very expensive. I know she’s receiving the best possible care, but the cost has become overwhelming. Her treatment includes multiple medications, oxygen therapy, X-rays, echos, consults with internal medicine and cardiology, daily emergency and patient care, etc. Her current bill is about $15,000.

 

Callie is almost 2, and if you know me, you know she’s the light of my life. ❤️ She typically plays with her mouse toys, on her cat tree, in plastic bags or hides under blankets when she’s not sleeping on my lap. She is very chatty when she’s not purring and is typically very energetic. I like to think she exercises for both of us! She’s the sweetest, snuggliest, and cutest baby kitten who stumbled into my life. Callie loves to nibble on my face in the morning to get me up for breakfast, loves getting fresh air out on the patio, climbing on things she’s not supposed to and loves attention.

 

 

Here’s a little more about what’s been going on over the past week and a half.

 

On Sunday, January 2, I noticed some sudden changes in her behavior and demeanor. She was very lethargic and not eating or playing like she usually does, and she was having a hard time breathing.

 

I took her to the Animal Medical Center of Kansas City. They examined her and took some chest X-rays, which revealed some inflammation and mucus in the lining of the air pathways in her lungs. They diagnosed her asthma. They sent us home with a couple of medications and rescue inhaler.

 

I took her back to the vet a couple of days later when she wasn’t improving. Her new X-rays revealed a slightly enlarged heart and possibly some fluid in her lungs. So they immediately referred us to Mission Veterinary Emergency and Specialty to see the cardiologist there.

 

While they were able to rule out heart failure, they were still concerned about the size of her heart. Since she still had fluid in her lungs, they told me she likely had pneumonia or non-cardiovascular pulmonary edema (NCPE).

 

They decided to admit her to the ICU and start her on oxygen therapy. They began treating her for pneumonia, hoping it would clear up. They also tested her for Covid since my roommate was positive. Although rare, it can spread to cats and dogs.

 

 

After a few days in the ICU, her respiratory rate was still high, ranging from 60-the 80s. The ideal RR is below the 30s. Luckily, I can visit her a couple of times a day, but It’s been so hard to watch her suffer without a known cause.

 

 

It’s now been a week with only minimal changes to her condition. A few days ago, they thought they would be able to discharge her. To say I was ecstatic was an understatement. But when I came to pick her up, they told me her respiratory rate had spiked back to the 80s, and they had to put her back on oxygen, meaning she’s still oxygen dependent. My heart sank.

 

Her new doc is their internal med specialist. She wanted to take more X-rays, start her on new meds, and do a couple more tests. The next day her condition worsened. Her respiratory rate was back up to the 80s. Her X-rays now show there is fluid or inflammation in the air sacs of her lungs. This was a significant step backward in her progress.

 

 

 

 

Her doc says it now looks like ARDS - Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. And the best thing we can do is ride it out and see if the new meds help clear it up.

 

When I go to see her, it completely wrecks me. I can tell how badly she wants to get better and come out of the glass case she’s in for oxygen therapy. Sometimes she looks like she’s doing okay, and other times, she’s struggling so much that I can’t even pet her. Those are the visits I can barely keep it together for.

 

 

 

 

As of today, she’s been in the ICU for eight long days. She seems to be having a much better day today. Her respiratory rate has stayed in the 20s-30s, and she seems to have more energy. We’re still waiting for the results of her Covid test, but I’m hopeful we’re past the worst of it, and she will continue to get better.

 

 

Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported us through this. I truly appreciate all of you! Callie means everything to me, and I wouldn’t be able to afford her treatment without your kind and generous donations.❤️. I ask that you continue to pray she makes a full recovery. I will keep you updated on her progress as we continue this journey.