Help Santana Heal: Support His Medical Journey

Update:

4/30/25

The culture that was sent out came back today. He does not seem to have any issues with antibiotic resistance. The only factor they can come up with is possibly stress. They put him on Prozac to hopefully help minimize it It takes about a month to kick in. Sadly things at home are stressful for him as well as myself. Heres the final bill from Saturday. His insurance should kick in again soon. Either way he is going to need on going care and stress management. For now I’m still trying to figure out a way to make him comfortable here with the added medication.

I had to leave him in hopes they can sedate him and get the samples they need.. please share and donate if you can. This is just the deposit for some of today I have to pick up at noon and will have full price

The handsome boy pictured here is Santana. Over the past year, he has faced a series of health challenges that have truly tested both his resilience and my heart.

Around this time last year, he was struck with stress-induced pancreatitis—a condition I had never even heard of until we found ourselves in the emergency room, panic gripping my chest. The experience was harrowing, but thankfully, he recovered fairly well. However, it was evident that something had shifted within him. He became more reserved, his once vibrant spirit dulled by apprehension as he navigated a world that now seemed fraught with uncertainty. The ongoing stress he has experienced has left a mark on him, and I can’t help but worry about his emotional well-being.

Fast-forward to December 2024, when we faced yet another blow: Santana was diagnosed with his first UTI. The battle against this infection was not easy; it took several rounds of antibiotics before we finally saw improvement by the first week of February. To ensure he was on the right track, I brought him back to the vet in March for a urine culture, and I was relieved to hear that the bacteria level was zero. Yet, despite this pawsitive news, I can't shake the feeling that the stress of vet visits may have contributed to his current UTI.

Now, he is almost finished with his antibiotics, but the weight of his medical expenses has been overwhelming. Since late December, I've spent over $2000 on his care, including special food and supplements, and the need for a second opinion is looming large on the horizon.

Santana has an important appointment scheduled at the Summer Street Cat Clinic on Saturday, April 26th. The second opinion will start at $158, with the deposit has to be paid today and it’s likely he will need another urine culture sent out for more comprehensive testing. Additionally, I anticipate that he may require another full panel of bloodwork and possibly medication to help manage his stress levels. Any donation you can provide will go directly towards his expenses, as they are going to be life long. Please help me keep my boy!

Update:04/17/2025

His appointment is confirmed and deposit put down. He’s definitely not feeling so great today. He had an accident on himself last night and this morning. He’s currently sleeping from his Melatonin treats and was eating and drinking like normal.