Help Gretchen Save Gizmo's Life

If you’re reading this, you probably know Gretchen Sinn — and if you know her, you love her. She’s an incredibly talented hairstylist who’s made so many of us look and feel our best. But what really stands out is her kindness and willingness to help others, even when it’s not convenient. I’ll never forget the time years ago when I got a terrible haircut the day before a trip overseas. I reached out to Gretchen, even though she hadn’t cut my hair in years, and begged for her help. Without hesitation, she told me to come to her studio after her last appointment. She worked on my hair until 10 PM, transforming it into something beautiful again. I was so grateful! I’m sure many of you have similar stories, where Gretchen came through when you needed her most.

You probably also know how much Gretchen loves animals. She treats her pets like family, going to any length to make sure they’re happy and healthy. As a fellow cat lover, I was so excited when Gretchen called to say she’d adopted a kitten she'd seen on a website, and named her Gizmo! No one else wanted her because of a quirky tooth that stuck out from her jaw, but to Gretchen, that was exactly what made Gizmo so special. I couldn’t wait to meet her!

But soon after, Gretchen reached out in distress: Gizmo was gravely ill. The breeder wasn’t helping, the vet bills were stacking up fast, and Gretchen was worried Gizmo might not make it.

Here's what’s happened so far:

Gizmo came home on December 6th with a certificate of health from the breeder, but that same day, she started coughing and had green discharge from her eyes and nose. When Gretchen called the breeder, they suggested giving her human allergy medicine. Gretchen wisely took her to the vet instead. Gizmo was diagnosed with a severe upper respiratory infection and put on medication. Unfortunately, things quickly worsened.

Over the next few days, Gizmo’s fur began falling out, and she developed severe diarrhea. The breeder’s "helpful" suggestions were both unhelpful and irresponsible — coconut oil and a diet change — as if those would fix a sick kitten. Then, without warning, the breeder stopped answering calls and blocked Gretchen entirely. By December 17th, Gizmo was skin and bones, and rapidly deteriorating. Her condition was so critical, Gretchen had no choice but to rush her back to the vet, this time seeking the expertise of a feline specialist.

In addition to the respiratory infection, Gizmo now had a severe yeast infection in her ears, scabs all over her body, and the doctor suspected ringworm. Tests done that day came to over $600, and a few days later, results confirmed a positive ringworm diagnosis. The treatment would take 8 weeks, and Gizmo would need to be isolated from Gretchen and her dog, Lexi, during this time.

But that wasn't the worst of it: poor breeding had cause severe genetic abnormalities of Gizmo's facial, oral and nasal bone structure. Gizmo’s cute wonky tooth — the one Gretchen adored — turned out to be a sign of a much more serious problem. When the vet examined her mouth, he discovered Gizmo had a disease called Stomatitis. Her teeth were rotting, some had fallen out, her gums were swollen and covered in pus, and there was already significant bone loss. She was in excruciating pain.

The vet’s notes read:

“Gizmo's dental disease is severe. Full mouth extractions are necessary due to widespread inflammation, pain and bone loss, interfering with her ability to eat. This will require removal of all remaining teeth."

The estimated cost for this procedure? $3068. And Gretchen’s bills had already reached $1600 at that point.

When Gretchen reached out to me, she was heartbroken. She had been crying for days, primarily from the anguish of Gizmo's suffering but also from the overwhelming costs. She had no idea how she was going to pay for it all. The expenses are expected to total $4500 to $5000.

That's why I decided to start this GoFundMe. It wasn't Gretchen’s idea — she would never ask for help. But I know how many people love her, how many of us have been touched by her kindness, generosity and expertise. She’s done so much for others, and now she’s in need of support.

If you’re able to donate, even a small amount, it would mean the world to Gretchen. She’s devastated over the neglect and cruelty Gizmo endured at the hands of an unscrupulous breeder, and every dollar will go toward giving Gizmo the chance to be healthy, happy, pain-free and loved. If we exceed the goal, Gretchen and I will donate the extra to an animal charity.

If you can’t donate, sharing this campaign with others who know Gretchen — or who love animals — would also be incredibly helpful.

Thank you so much, from me, from Gizmo, and of course, from Gretchen. ❤️

PS: When I spoke with Gretchen last night, Gizmo had refused to eat anything at all yesterday: the pain in her mouth is too excruciating. The surgery cannot happen soon enough for this sweet girl!

Rest and get well, little Gizmo. You are loved. ❤️