With humility and regret, I acknowledge that I need help paying for Shepard's care.

Shepard is not quite seven-years-old. He loves his big brother, Frankie, and he loves me. He was found as a tiny kitten, struggling to survive, after apparently being dumped.

Although he has suspected FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), that diagnosis is one of exclusion: we are treating him for FIP, but fear there may be other disease lurking.

He may soon be headed to the Internal Medicine department of NC State Veterinary Hospital, and he will continue treatment with his local veterinary team. The costs to save him are going to be greater than I can manage.

His preliminary veterinary bills and medical needs have been substantial for me. Some of you know that I, too, had a lengthy illness with multiple complications recently. The combined circumstances are simply too much.

Shepard has an excellent chance to survive and live a long life. He and his brother are certainly the lights of mine.

I am setting this fundraiser at $5000 to cover some of the debt I have incurred and future predicted costs of his care. I believe in transparency and can provide copies of veterinary bills and estimates for future care.

Thank you for reading this. I understand that it isn't possible to donate to every cause. Perhaps, in whatever spirituality you follow, you could hold a good thought for my beloved Shepard.