Help Echo beat kidney disease

Dear friends of Echo,

Today, I celebrate 15 years since I adopted my best friend from the streets of Echo Park in Los Angeles, the neighborhood from which he got his name. From the moment I met Echo, he was unusually social and affectionate. A friend to all humans, (if not necessarily to all other cats). Echo has lived a rich and exciting life, first in his hometown and then in the suburbs of San Francisco, followed by six years in Amsterdam, including a stint as the beloved bar cat at Cinema of the Dam'd. In recent years, he has followed me to Boston, New York, Seattle, and finally to the outskirts of Berlin, where we've finally settled down in a rural train station. Over the years, we've kept each other alive. And, during that time, Echo has gotten and given a lot of love.

This past fall, Echo's health suddenly and sharply declined. He spent nearly a week in the hospital and was diagnosed with end-stage chronic kidney disease. He was discharged with over 3,000 EUR in medical bills and given only 26 days to live.

Despite this, I followed our vet's advice and administered daily subcutaneous fluids and kidney supplements. Through the holidays, my living room became a kitty palliative care clinic, as I prepared for the end. Several months later, he is back to his old self, and blood tests show that his kidney function is now stable. The vet says that he may be with us for months (or years!) to come.

Unfortunately, Echo does not have pet insurance, a common practice in Germany but coverage that he likely wouldn't have qualified for at his advanced age. Although his condition is stable, his kidney disease will need ongoing management and blood tests. And, while I can generally budget for these expenses, I am still paying down that massive hospital bill from last fall.

If you're able to help, Echo and I would both appreciate it. And, we'll be happy to send a personalized thank you photo or video to any donor who requests one. Echo and I thank you for reading this and hope you'll come visit us if you can. He still loves all humans (and a few cats).