This is my sweet kiddo, Apollo. Most of you know him as my freshman year dorm cat, a chronic plastic eater, and the chattiest boy to ever exist. To me, he is my best friend. I adopted him when I was 16 years old for a whopping $19 at the Humane Society and have had the privilege to travel with him throughout college and introduce him to everyone I know. He’s literally gone everywhere with me - three colleges, two trips from Nebraska to Florida, countless flights, etc. Now, as a senior in college, I live half a country away from my family and he’s all I’ve got left of them here.

At only five, Apollo has suffered two medical emergencies in the past five months. He’s thrown two urinary blockages that have required emergency removal; both times, I was within hours of being forced to make the decision to lose him forever. Both times, his blockage has cost me $1500 to remove. To help correct after his first emergency in June, he’s gone on the best food I can get him, supplements, and literally only drinks bottled water from a fountain (spoiled, I know). However, he threw again two weeks ago. As a Maine Coon mix and a boy, blockages aren’t unheard of; however, it’s extremely rare to throw this quickly again with such intense preventative measures.

His vets have recommended a perineal urethrostomy, which basically opens up the area where blockages can occur so he can pass them naturally. It is a specialty surgery, and he’s been referred to a vet with a significant success rate an hour away. They have said this is the only way I can prevent these emergencies from continuing and my only shot at saving his life. He easily has another 15 years of healthy life due to his breed, and has bounced back from both of the procedures he’s undergone. I’m just not quite ready to give up on my soul cat when I know he’s fighting to stay healthy and stay with me and his brothers.

His final surgery has been quoted between $4000-6000 and needs to be completed before he blocks again; this is what I desperately need help raising money for. The vet recommended at MAX that it be done within the next two months. His consultation is scheduled for November 17, and I’ll have a more accurate quote then. I’ve called several local places for help and will continue to do so. It has been a slow process, but truly anything helps in making these debts that much more manageable for me as I finish out college.

Please, for me and my baby, consider donating or sharing this if you can. Most of you know me, and know I am the last person to ask like help for this. However, if you know me, you know this little guy is my entire world and I will continue to do everything I can to give him the life he deserves and the life I promised him when I adopted him years ago. Thank you in advance, seriously.

All of our love,

-Alana, Apollo, Finn, and Javi<3