In the last few years, I have done a few of these campaigns to help others, but I never thought I would need to do one for myself.  I am trying to do everything I can to save my little baby, my best friend, Taters.

I know it may sound ridiculous to call my cat my best friend or my little baby, but the truth is, I have never been loved more perfectly, or loved anyone more perfectly, than Taters. She has been my home base through over a decade of upheaval, without fail, my comfort, my companion. 

So far, everyone who has met Taters has acknowledged just how exceptional she is. She is not your average kitty. She loves humans, plays fetch, and is the ultimate empath, always knowing when you need to be consoled, kept company, or a laugh. Taters has taken great care of me through the years, and I just need to make sure I am doing everything I can to return the love she has given me.

In June 2019, my cat Taters went from perfectly healthy to close to death. She seemed to have a severe cold, which kept her from breathing and thus, from eating and drinking. 

Since then Taters has undergone pretty much every test under the sun, taken all types of medications, culminating in a rhinoscopy this time last year. The rhinoscopy showed only inflammation, no tumors or polyps, etc. She was diagnosed with chronic rhinitis. We started treating more aggressively with antibiotics and antiviral.

After that procedure, Taters has had mostly good days. I actually thought we were out of the woods there, for a minute. However, last month, her symptoms came back with a vengeance. She now has severe swelling in her head and her eyes, what seems like abscesses or inflammation of the sinuses. She seems to have an infection of sorts, that we just cannot get a handle on, as we cannot find the source. She tries to eat, but struggles to breath and chokes during her attempts. She stays out and about with her kitty brothers and besties, and still loves keeping her humans company.  Her mystery illness seems so simple, a really bad cold. I joke, if only I could teach her to blow her nose.

Truth be told, if I knew for a fact that Taters had something more severe, that she was in pain, that she was really struggling, it would break my heart, but I would make a tough decision. But when she is able to breath and eat, she is her old self. I cannot consider giving up on her.

I just cannot do that knowing this could simply be a blockage in her sinuses that a simple surgery could fix. That said, I have one remaining route to explore: a CT scan. The cost of the consult and the scan alone will be at least $2600, and most likely with additional costs.

Normally, I would get the funds together myself, move mountains as I have up until now, but it's been a really difficult year and a half. 

Taters's initial symptoms were the first tumble in a series of pitfalls: I lost my brother, I broke up with my ex-partner and had to move in with a friend, I had to shut down my businesses for Covid, and have had to permanently close one of them. I am trying to rebuild my life right now, and it breaks my heart that I am not in the position to pay for this on my own. It breaks my heart to think that when I finally get on my feet, Taters won't be there. 

If you can spare even a single dollar, I would be eternally grateful. I know times are really hard for all of us now, so if you cannot donate, please share. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. <3