Benji came into our lives after my husband and I suffered a loss in our family. He quickly became another family member—like a child to us—and formed a special bond with our older cat, Aurora. Benji is sweet, loving, and kind, and seeing him struggle now is heartbreaking. Recently, he was diagnosed with F.I.P., a disease that requires a lengthy treatment, and his hospital bills for testing have been overwhelming. The vet found fluid around his lungs, making it hard for him to breathe, and there is a chance he may have cancer. At just one year old, Benji has already been through so much, and it’s devastating to watch him fight for every breath.

Our family has faced a lot this year. My husband fell at work and broke his heel, leaving him with a permanent disability and chronic pain. We are still paying off his medical bills, and now Benji’s illness has added to our financial and emotional stress. Every day, we give Benji four different medications, which upset his stomach and make him scared. We love him so much and cried when we first heard the news, but we are holding onto hope. FIP is a recently discovered disease that is now treatable, but only with consistent, expensive treatments. It has been proven to cure, but there is always a chance of relapse, which is scary after all he’s been through at such a young age.

If Benji gets the treatment, he will be able to live a happy, healthy life with us and his best friend, Aurora. She also faced her own health battle last year and needed all her teeth removed, which was another big expense for our family. Benji deserves the chance to play again, not be alone, and be loved as every animal should. We are very religious and pray for him every day. Any support you can give will help us give Benji the chance he deserves. Thank you for caring about our sweet boy and helping our family through this difficult time.