Sesame is my everything. She was my first pet in college and truly my best friend. When I moved away and started living on my own, she turned an empty apartment into a loving home. Her playful energy and affection carried me through lonely days, and she quickly became family.

Recently, Sesame was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart condition called cor triatrium sinister. This defect restricts blood flow in her heart and causes dangerous pressure to build in her lungs. We rushed her to the emergency hospital when she began having trouble breathing, and the costs of stabilizing her and running diagnostics were already overwhelming. There is a surgical option that could correct the underlying defect and give Sesame a real chance at a longer, more comfortable life.

I have been working closely with veterinarians and doing everything I can to manage her condition responsibly, but as an undergrad student, I simply cannot cover the cost of surgery, cardiology care, imaging, and ongoing treatment on my own.

My goal is not to keep Sesame alive at any cost — it is to give her the opportunity to live comfortably and happily, rather than relying only on medications that cannot fix the root problem. She is still eating, active, and full of personality, and I want to fight for the chance to preserve that quality of life.

Sesame's Story:

A little less than two years ago, we adopted Sesame from an animal shelter in Champaign, Illinois. Sesame was the loudest and the most energetic, climbing all over her small cage in the hopes of smelling and playfully biting at our fingers. She was the most adorable furry ball of love we've ever seen, and her presence warmed my home the moment she entered. She showed no fear, was full of curiosity, and showed endless affection. She brought so much joy and loving companionship into our lives, and I can't even remember how it felt before that. I can't imagine my life without her anymore.

Sesame always had the odds against her. She was left to fend for herself on the streets since she was only a month old. Even after she was rescued, she went through surgery for worms in her stomach until she could finally recover and be put up for adoption. Despite such adversity, Sesame continued to be her energetic, curious self, and nothing makes us happier than knowing that she's found a warm place to feel safe in, to receive the love and care she deserves.

But when everything seemed perfect, we noticed something wrong with Sesame's breathing. It seemed like she was putting a lot of effort into it, even when she was resting. In a moment of panic, we took her to our primary vet at Beumont Animal Clinic, where we found fluid accumulating in her lungs, and her gums were cyanotic. Our primary vet quickly referred us to the U of I Veterinary Hospital, where we found out that Sesame had a genetic heart defect called Cor Triatrium Sinister.

Cor triatriatum sinister (CTS) is an incredibly rare congenital disease that occurs 0.6% or less of cats, affecting less than 1% of the feline population. To provide some perspective, if you gathered a large room full of cats, almost none of them would be affected by this condition. It is a diagnosis so uncommon that my vets were surprised to see it.

This news was soul-crushing. Sesame had defied all odds, only to come to one of the most uncommon genetic diseases that could take her life in less than a few months.

She is currently on furosemide, a diuretic that flushes out fluids in her lungs, and Clopidogrel, a blood thinner in case of clots. Although she is stable for now, the diuretic is causing her kidneys to fail, and time is running out. Her prognosis was less than 6~12 months, and we're trying everything to give her the life she deserves.

This operation for her heart was shown to have very favorable outcomes; the prognosis with surgical intervention was shown to be good. Through consulting with the U of I Cardiology specialists, we found out that the membrane obstructing blood flow in her atrium was positioned in a way where surgery was optimal. We really want to take this chance to do everything we can to save her.

Please, we need your help to save our cat, Sesame. she is the most lovable, friendly cat we've ever had the pleasure of having. She's like a daughter to us, and every donation will go directly toward Sesame’s surgery and medical care. If you can contribute to or share this fundraiser, it would mean more than we can express. Even small amounts and shares make a difference. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can give.