Hannah’s Hospital – A Legacy of Love and Healing

Meet Hannah Banana – the pig who defied all odds.

Hannah was born on a commercial pig farm without any hooves—her bones simply stopped growing where her ankles should’ve started. On factory farms, any piglet born with even a mild disability is immediately culled. But one farmer couldn’t bring himself to follow through when he was told to kill her. He saw something in her—a little spark, her will to live. He risked everything to save Hannah, but he knew she was special, and that single act of kindness sent her down the path that led to us.

From the moment she arrived at Sisu, Hannah showed us—and the world—that she was so much more than her disability. She learned to navigate life in her own way, never letting her challenges define her. She was an entire force of nature. And while we knew we likely wouldn’t have long with her, (a pig without hooves would never make it to old age) we were determined to make every single moment beautiful. And we truly did.

Hannah loved being fed grapes like a Greek goddess, poolside.

She loved Elmo—especially the Halloween special—and would squeak (yell) at us to turn it on every night before bed. She danced to the techno vegetables on her tablet, snuggled on her pink couch with her little brother Mr. Pancakes, and had a deep appreciation for Lionel Richie. She wore pretty socks only if Joseph wrapped her feet, and she’d throw dramatic tantrums if anyone touched her stuff.

She stayed up late on her beach and slept in (til noon) like the diva she was.

She adored room service and chariot rides around the farm.

Hannah didn’t just survive—she truly lived. And she loved her life. She was joy. She was resilience. She was stubbornness and softness all in one tiny, perfect body. And she stole the hearts of everyone she met.

We fought so hard for her—through dozens of surgeries, chronic bone infections, hernias, setbacks, and miracles. She was our pink princess, our tiny tornado, our teacher, our baby. And even though we knew we wouldn’t get forever, her passing still shattered us in a way we never saw coming. When the infections finally overwhelmed her body, we brought her home so she could say goodbye in the place she loved most.

Since the day she left, we’ve been working to build something in her honor—Hannah’s Hospital.

Not some giant, flashy facility. Just a modest, sterile, fully equipped surgical suite here at Sisu. A space where we can perform life-saving procedures without rushing 4–6 hours away. A place where animals like Hannah can receive care before it’s too late. Because we watched what happened when Hannah had to spend months in hospitals out of state. We watched her get so homesick, she stopped eating. She gave up. And we never want another soul to go through that again.

Hannah’s Hospital – A Life-Saving Initiative

One of the hardest realities of sanctuary work is time. When emergencies strike, we are 4-6 hours away from the nearest veterinary hospital that can treat pigs like Hannah. For too many animals, that’s simply too long. They don’t have the luxury of time.

In Hannah’s honor, we are building a Critical Care & Triage Hospital at Sisu Refuge—so that animals like her won’t have to wait. This on-site facility will allow us to:

Provide urgent medical care for critically ill or injured sanctuary residents.

Stabilize animals before transport to a full-service hospital.

Offer emergency services to other sanctuaries in need.

Give animals the best chance at survival—right when they need it most.

We Need Your Help

This is an ambitious project, but it’s one that will change lives.

Every dollar raised is more than just a donation—it’s a lifeline for the most vulnerable, voiceless animals. Your support will mean:

✔️ Faster response times for life-threatening emergencies

✔️ On-site triage and stabilization for injured or critically ill animals

✔️ Less suffering and more second chances for those who need them most

Hannah’s life was a miracle. Now, we want her legacy to save lives. Will you help us build Hannah’s Hospital?

Donate today to be part of this life-saving mission.

Share Hannah’s story to spread awareness.

Join us in ensuring no animal suffers simply because help was too far away.

Thank you for believing in this dream—and in Hannah.

With love and gratitude,

The Sisu Refuge Team (and Hannah too )

Follow our journey:

➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sisurefuge

➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sisurefuge

➡️ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sisurefuge