Donations for Peanut's medical expenses (RIP)

Request for donations:

Our sweet cat Peanut was hospitalized from January 13-15th and unfortunately passed away on January 16th from end-stage kidney failure. All of Peanut's medical bills from this time totaled around $7,000. While we did submit a claim to his pet insurance, unfortunately they denied coverage. Peanut had a borderline abnormal creatinine level before his insurance coverage started, and they deemed this a preexisting condition, despite him having no clinical signs of kidney failure (and after attempting an appeal, they denied it again). So we are covering these costs out of pocket, which is obviously a hefty bill that we were not expecting. We have no expectation of donations from anyone, but a few people have reached out asking how they can help. If you are able to donate any amount, or even just share this GoFundMe with others, it would be so very appreciated. ❤️

Peanut's final days:

On January 13th, our sweet cat Peanut was taken to the emergency vet hospital due to what we thought was just vomiting and constipation. He had also been very lethargic that day (we thought due to vomiting) and was a little wobbly when walking (but he was a tripawd, so he was always kind of wobbly anyway). That evening, we learned shocking news that Peanut was likely in kidney failure, despite acting completely normal and happy prior to this day. It took a couple more days of imaging, lab work, and observation to confirm the diagnosis.

On January 15th, after being told Peanut definitively had end-stage kidney failure and that he would not recover, we chose to take him home for a final 24 hours together. Jacob and I spent the evening cuddling with Peanut, giving him lots of kisses and love. By this point, Peanut was completely unable to stand up or even sit on his own, he would not eat anything, and he had multiple seizures at home with us; while those last 24 hours were absolutely heartbreaking and traumatic to experience, it gave us peace of mind knowing that it truly was Peanut's time to go. On January 16th, an in-home vet came to help Peanut cross the rainbow bridge. He passed peacefully at home, on his favorite spot with his favorite blanket, with me and Jacob by his side.

I like to imagine that Peanut is now running around on a farm (with all 4 legs again) with a bunch of new kitty friends (and McDonald's french fries). All Peanut ever wanted was love and companionship. He absolutely had that since the day I met him and until the day we said goodbye.

Peanut's obituary:

Peanut grew up as a farm kitty for the first 8 years of his life in central Illinois. Shortly before I adopted him, he was sent to a rescue group after a bad leg fracture, and they were able to get him medical attention which resulted in a leg amputation. I adopted my sweet tripawd in June 2021 shortly after his surgery as he was learning to navigate this new way of getting around.

Peanut was able to spend his last 2.5 years in a warm, comfy, loving home with me and Jacob. We always joked around that this was Peanut’s retirement, but it really kind of was. He was able to enjoy endless belly rubs and chin scratchies, eat lots of food and treats, have warm and comfy blankets all around, and of course he loved his festive bandanas/Cubs gear. I’m so thankful that we were able to give him his best life these last couple years.

I adopted Peanut at a time when I really needed him, and he provided me with just as much love and comfort as I provided to him. He would sit next to me all day every day while I worked from home or watched tv. He would greet me at the bedroom door every single morning when I woke up, ready to be picked up and carried around as our morning ritual together. He has been told by numerous vets that he’s the most well behaved, calm, and friendly kitty they’ve ever met. He was the absolute best boy.

It took less than 72 hours for him to go from his normal happy self to us being told he has end-stage kidney failure and will not recover, and we are still trying to process the shock of all of this. After 3 days of hospitalization we chose to take him home for one final night of comfy warm blankets and cuddles and lots of love. He crossed the rainbow bridge today peacefully.

My heart is absolutely and irreparably shattered. I have no idea what my life will look like without Peanut in it, but I am trying to just remain thankful that I had this time with him in the first place. “We’d all be lucky to have a love like that in a lifetime.” Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me/Jacob or sent good vibes to Peanut. He loved every human he ever met, and he was so, so loved.