Hi, my name is Christine Falardeau and on February 3rd, I came across a courtesy post shared by Kelly Ann Wilson in the Facebook group “Rescues in Need” – Ottawa. It was one of those posts that stops you cold. A young kitten—only 4 months old—had been abandoned on a farm in St-Robert, Quebec. He was terrified, alone in the cold, and suffering from a severe eye injury that was clearly causing him pain. The person who found him wanted desperately to help but didn’t have the means to get him the care he needed. They just wanted him to have a chance.

I couldn’t scroll past. I reached out immediately to Karine Marcotte from “Code Rouge Chats QC”, and together we made a plan. This tiny life mattered, and we weren’t going to let him be forgotten.

So on February 4th, 2026, I went to get him. When I finally had him safe, it was heartbreaking to see how much he had already endured. He was petrified, under-socialized, and clearly in pain, yet somehow still gentle. We named him Tumpa. Despite everything, he didn’t lash out—he just needed someone to be kind to him. For the first time, he was warm. For the first time, he wasn’t alone.

Since the rescue, Tumpa has been under veterinary care. The vet confirmed what we feared: his eye injury is serious and requires surgery for his eye to be removed to prevent ongoing pain and further complications. Blood work to rule out feline leukemia was done, immunizations were given and two veterinary examinations were needed to fully understand his condition and give him the best possible chance at recovery. Along with medical care, Tumpa will need time, patience, and socialization to learn that humans can be safe and loving.

This is where we need your help.

Rescue doesn’t end when an animal is picked up. That’s only the beginning. Veterinary bills, diagnostics, medication, and ongoing care add up quickly, and we want to do this right—for Tumpa, and for the life he deserves to live.

Tumpa didn’t ask to be born into hardship. He didn’t choose to be abandoned or injured. But he is choosing, every day now, to trust a little more, to be a little braver. He deserves a future without pain, a future where he can run, play, and finally know what it feels like to be loved.

If you are able to donate, share, or support in any way, you are directly changing the course of his life. Social media saved Tumpa once—together, we can make sure it saves him again.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for caring, for sharing, and for helping Tumpa get the chance he was so close to losing.

Last year in 2025, I lost both of my beloved cats. I’m still in debt $15 thousand for trying to save their lives. That’s why I’m asking for help to save Tumpa. Without your help he won’t get the surgery and all the treatment he needs. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and Tumpa’s heart.