This is my cat, Olive, and she is my best friend…my right hand arm (man)…my everything…my confidante…my silly rabbit.

Jokes aside, she is the light of my life who came into my life during a very difficult period, and I cannot be in a room at home without her. Importantly, she’s given me much joy when things seemed hopeless, and now she is sick.

I noticed she began having difficulty breathing about a month ago; it was labored and punctured by intermittent heavy gulps, coughing fits, and persistent wheezing.

I became worried and took her to a vet, whose service was poor; she barely examined her and concluded it was just a cold, and gave her some Lysine and decongestant drops.

She got worse, and I was able to schedule a same-day appointment with a local animal hospital where they were quickly able to identify the problem: a growth in her pharynx, above the back of her tongue.

At this point, we don’t know if it’s malignant or benign, so a CT scan will be necessary to determine whether it’s the former and has spread to her bones and organs. This will likely cost thousands, because it will require anesthesia.

But ultimately, surgery is the only way forward, even if the growth is benign, because it continues to impede her breathing. And this, as one might expect, will cost more than a CT scan.

If I am unable to pay for the surgery, at minimum, I will have to face the grim likelihood of euthanizing my best friend in the next month or so— something that would leave me broken.

These past few years have been difficult for me, with multiple hospitalizations and chronic health issues, compounded by the loss of my job and any income I could use to pay for these procedures.

In those dark days, Olive was there with me— I’m serious when I call her my friend and little comrade. And I’m trying to fundraise to keep my friend and little comrade around. I want to continue being able to return home from organizing and local actions to be greeted by her little chirps. I hope you’ll share and consider supporting. ❤️

Donations received in excess of the goal will support mutual aid efforts.