Help Save Leo’s Leg

I never imagined I would be asking for help like this, but I am doing it for someone who cannot speak for himself — my kitten Leo.

In September of 2025, Leo was found underneath my travel trailer. He was cold, soaked from the rain, and shivering. I took him in, bottle-fed him, and raised him. I had no idea that only a week later I would suddenly lose my job, but even through the uncertainty I kept him because he had already become part of our family.

During one of the hardest seasons of my life, Leo became a small light that helped me keep going.

Around that same time my first pet and best friend, my black cat Rorek, became very sick. Despite veterinary care, tests, and medications, his health continued to decline and I eventually had to make the heartbreaking decision to let him go. Losing him shattered me.

That night while I was crying, Leo did something I will never forget. My cat Rorek used to gently press his head against mine whenever I was sad until I smiled again. That same night, baby Leo climbed up to me and did the exact same thing, as if he somehow knew I needed comfort.

Since then Leo has been a constant source of love and comfort.

Recently I was finally able to return to travel nursing and have been working hard to recover financially after months of unemployment and unexpected expenses. We are slowly rebuilding, but unfortunately we are still living paycheck to paycheck while maintaining two households.

Then yesterday everything changed.

My partner called me urgently saying Leo was suddenly unable to use his front leg. We rushed him to the emergency veterinary hospital hoping it was something minor like a sprain or a dislocation.

After sedation, X-rays, and a radiology consultation we received devastating news.

Leo’s humerus is broken.

The only treatment options are orthopedic surgery to repair the bone, amputation of his leg, or euthanasia.

We refuse to give up on him.

The emergency visit alone cost $850, which a kind friend helped us cover, but the surgery required to repair Leo’s leg can cost between $3,000 and $7,000.

On Monday morning Leo will be seen by an orthopedic surgeon at Helping Hands Veterinary Surgery and Dentistry of Florida in Orlando, a clinic known for helping families afford critical surgeries.

We are doing everything we can, but we cannot do this alone.

If you are able to donate anything at all toward Leo’s surgery, it would mean more to us than words can express. Even sharing this fundraiser would help give Leo a chance to heal and continue living the happy life he deserves.

Leo saved me during one of the hardest times of my life.

Now I am asking for help to save him.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

❤️ Stephanie, Oli, and Leo