Life saving medication for Vicky
Hello all,
In the picture you see Vicky (Victoria Valentina), one of my 12 rescue kitties. Vicky is not even 4 years old, and in April she was diagnosed with "wet" FIP. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease caused by a feline coronavirus that affects wild and domestic cats. This type of coronavirus is different from the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in people.
Feline coronavirus is very common and usually doesn't cause any serious issues, aside from mild diarrhea. But when the feline coronavirus changes to a specific strain of the coronavirus, FIP can develop. In about 10% of infected cats, the virus will multiply and mutate, resulting in an infection known as feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) that spreads throughout the cat’s body. It can cause an extreme inflammatory reaction in the tissues surrounding the abdomen, kidney, or brain.
So far, FIP has been deemed incurable. The only thing vets can offer is palliative care. Cats can die from FIP within a matter of days.
When Vicky was diagnosed, I was devastated. Not even 4 years old, so small and fragile, had a horrid start in life, and now this. I started doing research online and came across some very promising reports and scientific studies. To cut a very long story short, I found the support groups of FIP Warriors and FIPfree Austria. I contacted the Austrian group, explained my situation, and was immediately assigned a personal advisor. I received the necessary information regarding a drug that has to be injected daily for 12 weeks, and chances are nearly 100% that the cat gets cured.
But .... this drug is not FDA approved, it is not available on the market legally, it doesn't even have a name. It is called GS-441524. The company that developed it (for a totally different reason than saving cats from FIP) refuses to have it licensed (Gilead Sciences), and thereby making it illegal to obtain, administer and use this drug.
However, on the black market, companies have set up creating this drug and making it available to cat owners. All the while pointing out that every person buying, administering, and using it is committing a criminal act. And this while thousands of cats are being saved daily by their owners who don't care if they are committing a crime.
Many vets and scientists have again and again appealed to Gilead Sciences to make this drug available to save cats from FIP. The company refuses.
I have ordered the drug and administered it to Vicky in daily injections. From a belly full of fluids, refusing food in any shape and form, and a lethargy that looked like death, Vicky has improved in 12 weeks to what looks like again her sleek and active old self. She eats with good appetite, she plays, runs, sleeps, as if she was never sick a day in her life.
At the end of the 12 week treatment another blood test was done. Unfortunately it didn't come back as good as we hoped. Although vastly improved, it shows that there still are traces of the mutant virus. This means we have to continue the treatment with nearly double dosage for another 28 days.
The drug is very expensive. A vial of 5.2 ml costs 59€. Vicky was receiving 1.1 ml daily, and a few times I missed the correct angle (the injection goes under the skin - subcutaneously) and had to inject her again. So far, including the drug, the vet visits, the syringes and needles, the test costs, plus the supplements Vicky needs during this treatment, I have already surpassed 2,000€. The next 6 weeks with 4 weeks double dosage plus the test at the end of this period will incur another 1,200€.
You all know me and my situation .... 12 rescues plus the dog, one income, and lots of bills to pay. So now I guess I have to ask for help. Anybody wanting to donate a penny towards Vicky's life saving drug treatment, can do so via this GoFundMe page or contact me for PayPal or bank details.
Thank you all, and Blessed Be xxx
