Support Blaze's Surgery: Michelle's Loving Rat and Healer.

Help Save Blaze – My Albino Rat, My Heart, My Healer

Hi, my name is Michelle, and I never thought I’d fall in love with a rat. But Blaze isn’t just any rat—she’s my heart, my emotional support, and truly one of the purest souls I’ve ever known.

Blaze came into our lives by pure chance—or maybe fate. My daughter had a snake, and Blaze was meant to be a feeder. But the snake was shedding and didn’t eat her. The pet store wouldn’t take her back and said she needed to be “humanely euthanized.” That wasn’t something we could allow. She was barely alive—tiny, furless, eyes tightly shut—and yet she had this spark in her. I couldn’t let that little spark fade out.

I rushed her to a pet store and asked what I needed to keep her alive. They told me not to expect her to last more than a few days without her mother. But I looked the employee in the eye and said, “Show me what I need.” And so began our journey.

I syringe-fed Blaze kitten milk around the clock. She became my baby. Slowly, she grew into a fuzzy little snowball, then into a curious, sweet, brilliant girl. She made it—thrived, even. Blaze became a part of me in ways I never expected.

I later found out Blaze was female (after being mistakenly told she was male). She had a litter of 14 perfect pups, was the most attentive mother I’ve ever seen, and I found loving homes for all of them. After that, I tried to introduce her to other female cage mates—rats are social, after all—but Blaze didn’t want them. She just wanted me. And I realized, I only needed her too.

She has free roam on my bed and dresser, plays in tunnels I build from blankets and boxes, naps curled in my arm, and even climbs into my hoodie to snuggle. She grooms me like I’m her rat friend. She’s helped me through deep, dark moments. People scoff when they hear I have a rat as a pet—but they don’t know the truth. Rats are intelligent, affectionate, empathetic. They laugh when you tickle them (at a frequency we can’t hear). They dream about their day. Blaze isn’t just a rat. She’s family. She’s my therapy. She’s my home.

And now she needs help.

On July 17th, while we were playing, I noticed a a round lump near her front leg. It shifted under her armpit when I picked her up—slightly smaller than a golf ball. My heart sank. I hoped for a mammary gland infection (which is common in female rats), but when I took her to the vet on July 19th, I got the devastating news: it’s cancer. The mass needs to be surgically removed as soon as possible. If it ruptures, it could be fatal.

The surgery, including her exam, biopsy, and follow-up care, is estimated to cost around $900. I have the estimate and am happy to share it.

I just started a new job, I’m a single mother, and like many, I’m struggling to make ends meet. Let me be honest—those ends aren’t meeting at all right now. But Blaze is worth fighting for. She’s worth everything. And I need help to give her a chance.

If you can donate anything—no matter how small—it would mean the world to me. If you can’t donate, please share Blaze’s story. This little life has fought so hard to be here. She deserves more time, more belly tickles, more tunnels to run through. I can’t imagine my world without her.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you for helping Blaze.

With love and hope,

Michelle & Blaze