Help Rio Live Another 9 Lives

My dear friend Gigi faces a stressful situation that anyone with a pet who is a beloved family member can appreciate. Her cat Rio, a 12-year-old sweet, charismatic kitty, is suffering from an operable tumor in her ear.

I have organized this fundraiser in the hope that friends of Gigi and others who may not know her but who understand what it is to love a pet can perhaps contribute to help Gigi defray the expenses for the operation Rio requires. 

Unfortunately, Gigi has faced financial challenges after having to shutter her therapeutic  massage practice last year due to the COVID pandemic. Unemployment benefits have been sporadic and are only enough to cover basic living expenses like groceries, gas, and utilities. Gigi has now been fully vaccinated and hopes to reopen her practice in a few weeks, but it will take time to rebuild her diminished finances. 

Meanwhile, Rio’s tumor is growing deep into the ear canal. Her veterinarian performed an inpatient procedure to see if the tumor is a polyp that could be easily removed but it was not. The only option is to have it surgically removed in a procedure performed by specialist veterinary surgeons. Rio’s vet referred her to Charleston Veterinary Referral Center. 

Rio was examined by the veterinary surgeon and she recommended surgery that will involve a total ear canal removal as that is the only way to fully remove this type of tumor. The surgery is expensive. The low range of the surgical costs is $3,900 and it could go as high as $4,500. The surgeon believes Rio’s prognosis is good if the tumor is benign and if it has not already broken through her skull. Prior to surgery, a CAT scan will be performed to check for this condition which could affect whether it is safe to perform the surgery.

In the earlier procedure at her regular vet, they were able to remove some tissue and it biopsied as benign. Unfortunately, the veterinarian who will perform the surgery said that biopsy result is not 100% conclusive since it only involves tissue at the outer edge of the canal. The deeper tumor will need to be biopsied, as well. 

Everyone who meets Rio loves how affectionate and loving she is. She has a big personality and loves to play and demand attention. She is like a child to Gigi, and it pains her that she cannot easily provide Rio with the veterinary care she requires.

I have organized this fundraiser in the hope that friends of Gigi and others who may not know her but who understand what it is to love a family pet can perhaps contribute to help Gigi defray the expenses for the operation that Rio requires. 

Any size donation is deeply appreciated and will help. If you are unable to contribute, please consider sharing the link to this GoFundMe effort and asking your network of friends if they wish to donate or share the link. Gigi and Rio thank you from the bottom of their hearts!