Hi my name is Megan and I run a self funded cat/kitten rescue. Brie, who is only a little over 1 yrs old came to me as young kitten and has always been just the sweetest little girl.

She started having issues with her eyes and squinting at the end of July this year, which just got progressively worse with time. In the beginning of August she made a trip to her vets which unfortunately didn’t provide any relief or answers as her eyes were too swollen for the vet to see what the problem was. She was sent home with ointment to put in daily and some oral antibiotics..I naively hoped the problem would resolve itself but it didn’t. So at this point I made an ophthalmology appointment at VEC in Alhambra, as they came highly recommended to me. It was almost a month before they could see her and the time couldn’t go fast enough as it was clear she was barely able to see, keeping both eyes closed most of the time.

It was truly agonizing to wait, as Brie is normally one of my happiest and playful rescues, who loves to play and cuddle. But during this wait she was sad, not interested in playing or interacting too much, it was beyond heartbreaking to see this sweet baby in pain like this.

Finally, August 21st came with her much awaited appointment date with Dr Chang at VEC, I was nervous sick with anticipation..but Brie was in a great mood, she was so good during the car ride to their office and quickly endeared herself to the staff and Dr. It almost seemed like she knew they were going to be able to help her!

After a detailed examination Dr Chang confidently announced that he saw what the issue was, both eyes had Corneal Sequestrum, ulcers and Entropion on the lower lids. The Entropion had most likely caused the ulcers and sequestrum as the lashes growing towards the eye irritate the cornea. These issues would make her permanently blind if not corrected.

He told me she would need surgery to remove the sequestrum and ulcers (keratectomy) and also Entropion correction.

I Knew this all sounded very specialized and also expensive..I waited for them to bring me a written estimate of the surgery. It was initially estimated to be between $7,500-$8,500.

I told them I would need to figure out the funds and I would schedule the surgery. It was never an option to not have it but I felt truly desperate and sick worrying about where I would get that sort of money for the surgery. After some back and forth with VEC, Dr Chang very kindly agreed to do the surgery for $5,000..we set the surgery date for September 3rd.

I was extremely grateful to a friend who loaned me the cash for the surgery as it had to be paid the morning of the surgery.

But I have to pay it back asap.

So my friends, any amount of money will help.

As you all know, these rescues don’t come cheap.

Keeping up the regular amount of money to feed and house everyone is already around $3,000 per month.

I’ve exhausted my personal savings over the past 4 and 1/2 years saving hundreds of cats and desperately want to continue helping them all , but I really need help.

Thank you all so much!

Megan and Brie.