UPDATE:

Zimba had a successful surgery yesterday and is back at home recovering for the next two weeks. We have a follow up visit in 10 days to confirm that all the cells were successfully removed and hopefully no chemo or radiation is needed.

Thank you to everyone who have helped raise funds thus far. We will continue with our fundraiser with hopes to meet our goal. Please also share our link on your social to reach others to help.

As always, we send you love and gratitude!

Hello Family, Friends, and Animal Lovers-

We’re reaching out to you with heavy hearts and a lot of hope for our beloved cat, Zimba. Many of you know him—our big, orange fluff ball who looks like a real-life Garfield (minus the lasagna, though he would eat it if we let him). Zimba isn’t just a pet—he’s family. He’s our travel buddy, our vacation tagalong, and my emotional support animal through some of life’s toughest moments.

Zimba has been with us through everything—long road trips (he actually loves the car!), lazy park weekends, quiet nights at home, and some really hard days when his purrs and snuggles were the only thing that got me through. He’s sweet, expressive, affectionate, and so much more than "just a cat." He's our fur baby, our companion, our comfort, and a huge part of our family!

Many of you have met him, cuddled him, or seen photos of him lounging in sunbeams or trying to sneak into our laps during Zoom calls.

Six weeks ago, we found a small lump on his lower back. After some tests and biopsies last week, we learned it was a fibrosarcoma—a fast-growing and aggressive form of cancer. In just a short time, the tumor has grown to five times its original size, and surgery has now become urgent. If we wait any longer, the tumor may begin to attach itself to his spine or spread to his organs, making treatment even more difficult and reducing his chances of recovery.

We were devastated by the diagnosis, but even more so when we found out how much the surgery and aftercare would cost.

Zimba is still so full of life. He’s playful, curious, and always there when we need a little extra love. He’s not ready to give up—and neither are we. But the truth is, the medical bills are more than we can manage on our own, and we need help. While we will be covering a portion of the costs ourselves, we’re asking for help to cover the rest.

We’ve already spent a significant amount on diagnostics and vet visits, but the upcoming surgery, treatment, and recovery care is going to cost an additional $6-8k, and that’s more than we ever expected.

If you’re able to contribute anything at all, we would be so incredibly grateful. Every little bit helps and goes directly toward Zimba’s surgery and recovery. If donating isn’t possible, sharing this with others or simply sending positive thoughts our way would mean just as much.

Thank you so much for loving us and loving Zimba. We and his surgeon truly believe he has so many good years left—and with your help, we can give him the second chance he deserves.

With love and gratitude,

Rachel, Miguel & Zimba