Lux the Cat and I Need Your Help
Donation protected
Hello friends.
If you know me or have ever met me, whether IRL or only online, you probably know of my cat Lux. She's small, black and adorable -- and is my whole world. She's not feeling very well and we need your help.
I adopted Lux in the winter of 2009, a few weeks after I made another life changing (and much needed, as some of you may know) decision to stop drinking. It was dark times leading up to that November. After arriving home from one of my first few meetings I found that someone I lived with had "accidentally" let my cat Izzy escape. I was heartbroken and tried to find her but she was feral and gone for good. A few weeks later I adopted Lux as a tiny kitten (called "Cookies" at the time) from ACCT in North Philly. I decided to make her birthday my sobriety date as it was close enough to her actual date of birth, and that way I could trick you all into coming to her birthday parties (my anniversaries) ;). As I got healthier and became a better human, she too grew into a happy, healthy, sassy, food-loving little lady cat that is my best friend and a boundless source of comfort and joy. She loves me through thick and thin, and has always helped me feel like I was worthy of getting better when I was struggling with depression, drinking or life in general.
Things have been pretty steadily terrific for quite a long time now, though. We have both been happier and healthier than I can ever really remember. We enjoy having fun with your usual summertime activities (she always has a killer tan!), and we share similar interests - like watching Law & Order in bed together every night while sharing some ice cream, or sometimes just snacking on treats for her and candy for me.
The past 2 months or so I noticed her losing a little weight, very gradually, and showing less interest in food. (Which, for her, is VERY unusual.) I was hoping maybe it was just the warm weather or some sort of phase, but I finally took her to the awesome Dr. Lauren Cohn at Fishtown Animal Hospital on Wednesday. This morning the bloodwork came back and showed some cause for alarm, her red blood cell count was very low and there are signs of kidney disease. On Dr. Cohn's recommendation I took her to VSEC for hospitalization and to be put on IV fluids and antibiotics. How her kidney and red blood cell levels respond to treatment will help them assess what damage has been done and how to best treat her moving forward, as well as an ultrasound and further diagnostic testing. Hospitalization is $700-800 per day, and all of the tests and procedures run at least a few hundred apiece. She also may need a blood transfusion which can be several thousand dollars. I will very soon be out of savings and don't have any other way to pay than to ask for your help. ANY amount you can help with makes a huge difference. I know some of you aren't cat lovers but she is really so much more to me than just a cat. She is young and from what they can tell me so far it's entirely possible she will be able to share many more years with me -- with treatment, monitoring and probably some medication. Prayers and good vibes are also accepted and are hugely appreciated. Thank you all for reading and feel free to share anywhere with anyone. <3
If you know me or have ever met me, whether IRL or only online, you probably know of my cat Lux. She's small, black and adorable -- and is my whole world. She's not feeling very well and we need your help.
I adopted Lux in the winter of 2009, a few weeks after I made another life changing (and much needed, as some of you may know) decision to stop drinking. It was dark times leading up to that November. After arriving home from one of my first few meetings I found that someone I lived with had "accidentally" let my cat Izzy escape. I was heartbroken and tried to find her but she was feral and gone for good. A few weeks later I adopted Lux as a tiny kitten (called "Cookies" at the time) from ACCT in North Philly. I decided to make her birthday my sobriety date as it was close enough to her actual date of birth, and that way I could trick you all into coming to her birthday parties (my anniversaries) ;). As I got healthier and became a better human, she too grew into a happy, healthy, sassy, food-loving little lady cat that is my best friend and a boundless source of comfort and joy. She loves me through thick and thin, and has always helped me feel like I was worthy of getting better when I was struggling with depression, drinking or life in general.
Things have been pretty steadily terrific for quite a long time now, though. We have both been happier and healthier than I can ever really remember. We enjoy having fun with your usual summertime activities (she always has a killer tan!), and we share similar interests - like watching Law & Order in bed together every night while sharing some ice cream, or sometimes just snacking on treats for her and candy for me.
The past 2 months or so I noticed her losing a little weight, very gradually, and showing less interest in food. (Which, for her, is VERY unusual.) I was hoping maybe it was just the warm weather or some sort of phase, but I finally took her to the awesome Dr. Lauren Cohn at Fishtown Animal Hospital on Wednesday. This morning the bloodwork came back and showed some cause for alarm, her red blood cell count was very low and there are signs of kidney disease. On Dr. Cohn's recommendation I took her to VSEC for hospitalization and to be put on IV fluids and antibiotics. How her kidney and red blood cell levels respond to treatment will help them assess what damage has been done and how to best treat her moving forward, as well as an ultrasound and further diagnostic testing. Hospitalization is $700-800 per day, and all of the tests and procedures run at least a few hundred apiece. She also may need a blood transfusion which can be several thousand dollars. I will very soon be out of savings and don't have any other way to pay than to ask for your help. ANY amount you can help with makes a huge difference. I know some of you aren't cat lovers but she is really so much more to me than just a cat. She is young and from what they can tell me so far it's entirely possible she will be able to share many more years with me -- with treatment, monitoring and probably some medication. Prayers and good vibes are also accepted and are hugely appreciated. Thank you all for reading and feel free to share anywhere with anyone. <3
Organizer
Jennifer Sage
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA