Laura Vargas and her beloved cat "Bear" are both sick right now, drowning in medical bills, and would greatly appreciate your generous contributions towards care until Laura can recover from surgery. Laura is having surgery in the next several weeks. Bear's treatment is ongoing. He requires medication and a prescription diet.

Laura had a partial colectomy in Dec 2023 to treat complicated diverticulitis. In spite of the surgery, Laura began to experience daily pain and symptoms 3 months later. She has dealt with Level 10 pain daily while struggling to work and find out the cause of her symptoms. After multiple hospitalizations, doctors discovered that Laura's first surgery did not heal correctly, leaving her with an aggressive colon infection. She is trying to have a second surgery as soon as possible.

Laura was laid off from her job as an entertainment paralegal in July 2024 for unrelated reasons. This has created great financial strain as she struggles to care for herself and her two kitties.

Bear is a beautiful, easygoing, 14-year-old male cat who is the apple of his mom's eye. He began losing weight rapidly around Nov 2024. The vet has diagnosed Bear with lymphoma or chronic Irritable Bowel Disease. It is impossible to tell if Bear's illness is cancer without a biopsy, which Laura is currently too sick and broke to afford.

Feline lymphoma and IBD can be treated similarly -- with steroids and nutritional support. Laura's chief concern is to save Bear's life and nurse him as much as possible until the time of her own surgery, when she has arranged for a friend to care for Bear during her hospitalization.

Laura's surgery may be a major, open-abdominal surgery, which will leave her in need of home health care while she recuperates. WILL YOU PLEASE HELP LAURA AND BEAR GET THROUGH THIS CHALLENGING TIME? Each donation is a blessing that's deeply appreciated.