Help Sofia fight lung cancer

Hi, thank you for taking the time to hear my story! My cat Sofia, who is my world, has been suffering from a mysterious tumor which is cancerous in her left lung for the past four months. She has difficulties breathing normally while fighting an unrelenting high fever. Im told she may have a year or so left depending how quickly the cancer spreads. I’ve tried my best to get her the medical attention she needs as we continue to figure out her treatment plan forward but I’m simply overwhelmed as the vet bills keep adding up so quickly. She’s had multiple antibiotics, ultrasound, cytology, etc and may likely eventually need a risky surgery. I’m so scared to imagine life without her since she has truly been a furball of love and consistent joy. She is still a baby at only 5 years old, but she has been very very brave and I just know there is more ahead so anything helps. Thank you for your consideration and support for our little family!

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I’ve never quite liked hospitals before and recently I’m learning why. Hospitals require placing an inordinate amount of trust into the greater universe and is letting go of what little control you have. Yesterday, I took Sofia in to get an ultrasound done so we could get a better view of the tissue mass in her lungs. The doctor would also perform a cytology, which is a procedure requiring sedation so they can poke a needle into the organ to collect a sample of cells for testing. This would provide the most conclusive information on what the mass was, provided that they got a good test sample and the needle didn’t leave a hole in the lung and cause the chest to fill up with air. These were some potential risks that I was informed about before agreeing that this was the right step. Checking Sofia in, paying the estimated bill upfront was one thing as I had prepared myself for that part, but the feeling of signing medical waivers was brand new to me. One form I signed was for how how far they should go to resuscitate her in the event of cardiac arrest - would they perform basic CPR compressions, open up her chest to get to her heart, or just do nothing. Basic seemed like the right answer. The nurse came to take her in and said they’d call me to pick her up and like that, it was out of my hands. Trust.

I was hopeful for good news, an infection, something treatable with the right antibiotics. Six hours later, the vet informed me that the procedure went well and the cell samples had been sent off to the pathologists. I picked up a groggy Sofia who seemed to be in good spirits and doing alright minus the new rectangular patch where her fur had been shaved. That evening, the vet called to deliver the unpleasant results of the tests.

Sofia officially has Adenocarcinoma, which is a rare type of malignant cancer whose exact cause is undetermined. Usually treatment involves surgical removal of the infected tissue, in this case her left lung, and chemotherapy. Now, a CT scan is required to determine what grade the cancer is and how far it has spread through her body to see if she is a good candidate for surgery. She would have to undergo full anesthesia and have a tube shoved down her throat to keep her breathing, and have a histology where a larger tissue sample extracted for further testing. Then, of course if everything is looks good on paper, she still has to make it through the rest of the procedures without any complications. These risks are high! Without any further treatment, Sofia may have anywhere from a few months to about a year left.

When do I stop and say enough is enough? How do I prepare myself to make that call? What if taking one more step is the key to the miracle I want so desperately? Now I really understand the meaning of high risk, high reward. It’s strange to have to make these life and death decisions. Until now, I did not know the responsibility I have as a pet owner. When I found Sofia back in the spring of 2017 at a neighborhood yard sale, it was a pure impulsive love and I knew in my gut that we were simply meant to be. She opened up my heart and eyes in an uncharted way being the first creature I’ve ever had the full breadth of care for. Everything about her life depends on me. It’s easy buying the food, litter, toys, entertaining her, and so on. I always felt a little guilty when I went away on trips for a few days to weeks at a time, but I knew she would be okay. But now, her dependency on me is changing and making these not so fun decisions is expanding what unconditional love means to me.

If I had known beforehand that this would happen, would I still choose Sofia as my pet ? The answer is yes a thousand times over even though it hurts so much because I love her so deeply. Sometimes the highs are not worth the lows but in this case she is and I like that I am certain of that because it’s always been a personal challenge for me to find such conviction in my life. So that’s why when the vet bills are piling up and the prognosis isn’t looking good, I still feel strong and have courage to face what’s happening. I know are going to get through this, however it plays out.

I continue to pray for clarity and peace in this journey and am grateful for the kind words and financial support that I’ve received as people have poured their love into me in unexpected ways. Please help by sharing my story or contributing to my GoFundMe page. Thank you!

Our first time meeting Sofia melted in my arms and I knew she was the one!