I live on a boat. 

 

I have two companions that I adopted two years ago as feral kittens. Void is black as night, with short hair. Abyss is his bigger, fluffier brother with the resting homicide face. They're my boat panthers. They comfort me when other people fail their saving throws in spite of my best efforts. 

 

I am devastated. 

 

I'm sitting in the parking lot of Sequim Animal Hospital. I've been here since 8am. (it's now almost 3pm) 

 

Void (the one in the back) has been feeling crappy recently, and breathing a bit rough sometimes, so I made an appointment for him. 

 

(assuming FIV positive complications, 'cause his brother and him were both ferals from the same mama). 

 

He passed the blood work with flying colors (FIV Negative), although they had to sedate him 'cause he tried to kick their ass. 

 

... then they took x rays and ultrasound. 

 

So now we know why he hates being picked up, and he's so skinny. 

 

*deep breath* 

 

Diaphragmatic hernia. 

 

Half of his digestive system is on the wrong side of a hole in his diaphragm. 

 

(His intestines are in his ribcage with his lungs) 

 

The only option is surgery, and it isn't a procedure most veterinarians can do. 

 

They tell me he needs a full blown trauma center. I have the names of 4 places in the state that can do it. 

 

Two are saying 8 to 10 thousand, the other two aren't answering their phones. 

 

I simply don't have it, and I have no way to get it in anything like the timeframe we're talking. 

 

Crying in a parking lot waiting for one of my boat panthers to not be too stoned to go home is not a good look for me. 

 

I can't do this anymore. 

 

I can't lose him. 

 

My friends are telling me to make a GoFundMe, so here we are.

If you are able to contribute or donate to helping Void get this surgery it would mean so much to us.
Times are tough, and if you can't, a share would help so much as well.
Anything helps.
If you've made it this far in reading, thank you for taking the time.

Update:
He's stratospherically high, but comfortable.
We're going home:

Update: Void and I are home now.

Update: I'm glad one of us can sleep.