For anyone that knows Jenna and Joel, they know the great amount of love they have for their animals and would do anything possible to help them. Over the years, Jenna and Joel have adopted 4 cats and a dog from local rescues in Thunder Bay.

Unfortunately, about a year ago their beloved cat Chili, who is going to be 3 years old in April, became ill and has since been on a rollercoaster of health ever since.

Chili has been diagnoses with FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), which is an incurable disease, where symptom management is the only known option in Canada. Jenna and Joel have been in and out of the vet for the past year treating her ongoing anemia with injection of steroids, vitamin b12, and antibiotics. Up until recently, Chili was stable and maintaining minimal symptoms with these treatments, however this treatment will only work for so long and Chili has not been taking to the medication like she has the past year. FIP has now been affecting Chili’s neurological status, she has low energy, poor intake of food and water, as she has not been responding to the treatment. Just when everyone thought this would be the end for our dear Chili, Jenna and Joel were informed from a vet of Thunder Bay about a new medication being used across the world to cure cats with FIP. GS-441524 is an antiviral medication that is being used in cats to help them fight this horrible virus.

Without a doubt, Jenna and Joel are going to do everything they can to save their Chili girl and that included trialing this medication in hopes for a cure. The medication is given by injection daily, over 84 days total. Chili requires bloodwork and assessment every 4 weeks as well as diagnostic tests to identify to progress being made. The medication itself costs around $4000, as well as the cost of monthly vet visits, labs, diagnostic tests, and supplies.

We are asking friends, family, and cat lovers around if you can please help by donating to go towards the costs of saving this beautiful girl’s life. Anything helps offset the financial strain, and we hope to help show Jenna and Joel our support through this GoFundMe. We would also appreciate you sharing this page on your social media to spread the word. Thank you for reading through Chili’s journey, as a friend I am excited to be a part of this miracle and watch Chili get better.

Further information is provided in the links below that expands on FIP and the medication and the goal for a cure.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X19825701?fbclid=IwAR1ptBaol62fW4fYGTpW3GhMlSK-9reLXb51HKSBOGmXMhIhmfNov1FMaaU

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6435921/?fbclid=IwAR3t2q7J-OhST0y0Qavo9a0DgH90Frz2gcuewCRMI4IYWFruNijZzuXl47M

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/05/remdesivir-cats/611341/?fbclid=IwAR1p8Kv7Ac1yatH1lKqblFE9emYLbChjhaCu0I9sTfgFgOFIhW1CQSTO_SY

https://www.thestar.com/life/2020/06/03/could-cats-be-part-of-the-covid-19-solution.html?fbclid=IwAR2o_sgXrXgkRK-Ntv5xTWn83-vfeAfMaavs_29lz9kMly5Boo5xFzKEOd8