Save Merry: Urgent Medical Help Needed

9/4/2024 FINAL UPDATE

We finally got a diagnosis for Merry. She wound up going back to the vet, where they took xrays & we discovered she suffers from asthma. This along with her compromised immunity & virus she picked up really hit her hard! The good news is MERRY STARTED EATING AT THE VET'S!! They her some prescription high calorie food that she gulped down & she was sent home with more for a few days. She will need to be on asthma meds but won't start for a few weeks because of the steroid shot she received. I have never been happier to see a cat eat! For a bit there i was really afraid i was going to be loosing my best friend. She has been there for me through so much. She's my little kitty with big shoulders, i tell ya! I'm including pics of the final charges, & have adjusted the funding goal total based on the sum total of the 2 bills, $501.80, with a little extra to cover GFM charges. Currently we are just $50 shy of goal! (Also, a Pic of Merry eating. Again, Yay!)

Merry ate a tiny bit yesterday after her appointment, & a tiny bit more this morning. She however threw up later after being given some appetite stimulant. We contacted the vet, & they want to do an xray/see her this afternoon. Yesterday's appt & bloodwork totaled $310 & the xray & visit today is another $196. Whether or not they think an antibiotic shot is necessary will be determined at the appointment & would be an additional $70. The main thing is to get an xray which will give us additional information.

9/3/2024UPDATE!!! Merry has an appt today & 1pm with our vet. She is weak, a bit disoriented, & no longer drinking water that I can tell. Please send prayers & powerful blessings. Ty!

Hello. My name is LuAnne & I'm raising funds to help my kitty Merry.

I am a disabled woman who lives in Montrose, CO. I have 3 emotional support kitties, all of whom have been infected with some kind of unknown virus. My cat Nikko (7) had it first and recovered in about a week. Kuma (5) caught it next and wound up going to the vet twice due to not eating for almost 3 days. He actually saw 2 different vets during that time. The first vet was who was available for the emergency, where they did X-rays, took blood, gave Kuma subQ fluids, a Convenia shot, a B12 shot, and steroids. The vet said to give it overnight for it to kick in. The next day, Kuma was still not eating and exhibiting the same symptoms, whereupon he was taken to my regular vet, who was previously unavailable for the 1st exam. After doing an ultrasound and an exam, including rectal, Kuma was diagnosed with exhibiting signs of colitis with gastritis. My vet wanted to give it another night for the meds previously given to kick in before adding more to what was already given. Fortunately, Kuma ate a little that evening and has continued to eat and slowly get better since.

The symptoms of this virus are nausea and vomiting, lethargy as well as being listless at times, refusal to eat (temporary anorexia with potential temporary loss of smell), periodic frequency to the litterbox, where it's like they're trying to poop but nothing comes out, crying, abdominal pain, and periodic fever. (Both Kuma's bladder and bowels were checked and there were no blockages, and both were completely empty.)

Merry, my 3rd kitty, is 14 years old and she's immune compromised. Due to her advanced age and compromised immune system, this virus has the potential to kill her. She is currently exhibiting vomiting and nausea, lethargy, some litterbox frequency, and refusing to eat. This all just started today, 9/1/2024. She will need to be seen by a vet first thing Monday. I am asking for financial assistance with her vet visit, which I'm expecting to run about the same as Kuma's initial vet visit, as it's most likely Merry will need fluids, a potential overnight stay, meds, and more.

Please help me help Merry! She has been with me since she was about 5 weeks old when I found her as a sick kitten in the backyard where I lived. Merry has been with me through housing challenges, as well as homelessness, unemployment, illnesses, surgeries, and even a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

I am including a photo of Kuma's initial vet visit, which came to almost $600. (A very good friend put it on her credit card, and I will be making payments to her to pay it off.) This doesn't include the almost $300 I paid myself for the 2nd vet visit. (Making the total for Kuma's needs almost $900.)

Being disabled, my income is extremely limited, and after paying rent, bills, etc., it leaves very, very little for discretionary spending, with the majority of that going to groceries, cat food, and regular meds. Hence the reason I'm asking for help.

(Nikko takes medications for feline hyperesthesia and anxiety. Kuma takes pain meds for hip issues, and Merry is on a pricey raw diet that is the only thing she can eat due to her compromised immunity issues. This also all comes out of what funds I have left over after paying rent, bills, etc.)

The amount being asked is a little higher than the sum total of Kuma's bill due to fees taken, etc.

We don't know what this virus is or where it came from. All my cats are inside-only cats, so it most likely came in on someone's shoes. Our own, or the caregiver I have, who also has cats, that visits me twice weekly. Please help if you can!

*(any additional funds raised will go towards Kuma's bill or be returned to donors. Donor preference)

Thank you