Hi everyone. My name is Ashley. The pictures you see here are of my cat Nero, also known as Emperor Nero. He was a rescue kitten I saved 15yrs. ago when my friends got evicted from their home and nobody could keep him. I kept him in my room and walk-in closet for 2 months before anyone in my house realized I had him. My parents did not like cats and did not want me having another one (I rescued a kitten when I was in high school that they barely accepted who lived to the good age of 17 with me until last year. I miss him dearly still), but I wanted to give Nero a second chance at life. Luckily, I managed to convince them and Nero has been at my side every since, all 18 pounds of him (he is part Maine Coon). He is my pride and joy. He is a diabetic cat so I do have to keep on top of his health and diet, which I've been able to do successfully the past few years.

However, recently things started going down for him. There was a tiny mass that started growing on his lower eyelid, and it was recommended by two vets that we not do surgery because of the placement of the mass. We monitored it for a while and it did not get bigger. However, one day Nero scratched at it very badly for some reason. And now you see it as it is here in the pictures. His eyelid and related area is a bit infected and swollen. We are doing blood work and a biopsy to see what it is with an eye specialist for animals. The doctor thinks it may be squamous cell carcinoma. I am hoping it is not. If it is something else, we may be able to get him the treatment he needs to get his eyelid back to its normal size or at least to the point where it doesn't hurt him as much anymore.

I'm telling our story to see if anyone would be willing to help me with the costs for this treatment journey for him. His appointments for lab work and the biopsy are this coming week on June 11th and 12th. I've already been quoted an estimate that the biopsy would be nearing up to around $2,000 (I attached pics of what they're looking to do for the biopsy process) and the blood and lab work will also be around $480 or so, tentatively. And that does not include any medications that they may prescribe to help him or if anything else may happen when they do these procedures. If it turns out he does have cancer, considering his age, I may have to say goodbye to him sooner than I want to. I know I cannot afford any chemo or radiation therapy for him and do not want to put him through that. Considering his diabetes and how it's harder for diabetic cats to heal in general, his vet recommended it also would not be a good idea.

I just want at the very least find out what he has and work from there to make him as healthy and comfortable as possible in his old age. I want to say at least I tried and didn't give up on him right away. He is a strong boy, and I love him very much. If anyone can please help me out for him for at least this much, I would greatly appreciate it. If I need more assistance for some reason, I will reach out and see what I need to do. I will let you guys know how he is doing with time. Thank you for your help and consideration. We both appreciate it!