Support Fenton's Recovery from the ICU

Hi friends. I am humbly asking for help for my sweet baby Fenton. Fenton is 8 years old. He gets regular wellness checks, all vaccines annually, lab work, dental cleanings, everything. I have done my best to do everything I can to keep him healthy and happy, and despite this my worst fears have been realized, and Fenton has become very sick over the last week and a half. It has turned into a critical illness that requires care I fear I cannot afford. There is hope, but we are going hour by hour at this point. Below is Fenton’s story and an explanation of what exactly is going on.

It started with what seemed like an upset tummy, then I came home and he didn’t greet me at the door like usual. I knew something was very wrong. We got him into his primary vet for an exam, labs, and fluids. He got medications and prescription food and came home. I monitored him through the weekend, rectal temperatures and all. He did not improve. He’s was lethargic, feverish, and visibly uncomfortable. His appetite has been poor for days at this point.

On Monday, our vet admitted him for IV fluids, IV antibiotics, an ultrasound, and medications for nausea and pain. We still don’t know what’s wrong, but now he has a fever at 105. On Tuesday, supportive care continues and the ultrasound comes back. His labs looked good but his ultrasound shows severe inflammation of the pancreas, liver, part of the small intestine, and the entire abdominal cavity. He has fluid in his belly and it’s become distended. Despite fluids, antibiotics, and ice packs in his bedding, the fever won’t come down. At this point they recommend he be transferred to a hospital over an hour away where he can receive 24/7 care and further testing.

After a long car ride (he hates those) and waiting for the doctors to see him, he was admitted to the ICU. He now has a feeding tube, more IV fluids, and pain meds. He’s had labs, X-rays, another ultrasound, and tests to check for a variety of things including heart disease or cancer. The doctors have been so informative, keeping me updated.

At this point, it looks like Fenton probably has Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). This is essentially an immune reaction to a mutated form of coronavirus. It affects only 5-10% of cats who have been exposed to the virus. It’s hard to diagnose and you wouldn’t ever suspect it until the symptoms are severe. In the past, this disease was fatal to cats. In the last year, a drug to treat it has become available and it’s been very successful. While we wait for his results, the doctors are ordering the drug and planning to start asap. Reading about FIP survivors is keeping me hopeful at this point. Feeny could have a chance. But it all depends on what the next 48-72 hours hold. And as much as I hate it, it depends on how much I can financially contribute to his care. At this point he may need supportive care through the weekend. In the best case scenario, he becomes less critical and can come home. But if he has FIP, I’ll have to provide at home care, likely including a 12 week course of medication, subcutaneous fluids, and possibly a feeding tube. The medication will be somewhere between $1000-3500… But if it works, there’s a good survival rate.

Right now I am terrified of losing my boy, but mostly I am sad for him. He’s in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. He’s sick and he doesn’t know why. He has been the best boy and gotten me through my darkest times. He brightens my days with his mischief and his funny personality. He’s shown love to me and those close to me. He doesn’t deserve this. He deserves to watch the birds through the living room window and play games of hide and seek with me. Mostly, he doesn’t deserve to die without a chance. At the very least, he deserves to be comfortable.

You never think you’ll be in this situation. Not my baby. Then you find yourself $2500 deep putting down a $4000 deposit at the animal hospital wondering how on earth you’ll make this work but you have to try. You have to try for your baby because they deserve a chance. I’ve accepted that he may not recover and that if he does there’s still a road ahead of us. Either way I have done as much as I can to make him comfortable, and I am prepared to make a hard decision if I need to. My ultimate goal is to make sure he isn’t in pain and he knows he is loved. But this has come at a great cost to me and it’s not over yet. So I am here, baring my heart and Feeny’s story and asking my friends, family, strangers, anybody who sees this to consider donating to my Feeny bean’s care. Anything helps. There’s so many causes worthy of our time and our money, I just hope you’ll think my Fenton is one of those causes.

I’ll post the estimates, updates, and any other information I have for full transparency.

With all my love and deepest appreciation,

Meghan

UPDATE 5/8- I just picked up the medication for Fenton in NJ to bring back to the hospital tonight for him to start asap. The doctor said he’s not doing great but is stable today. We’re expecting another 48 hours in the hospital at least to keep the supportive care going, start this medication, and see how he responds. They will give me another bill estimate when I get there tonight, and I will post that here. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated and shared. I am so touched by the support and eternally grateful to all of you.

UPDATE 5/9- We delivered Feeny’s medication to him at midnight last night and he got his first dose. They said he’s still stable today and for the first time he looks “bright.” We have 1-2 more days before we expect to see a real change but that is promising. My hope is guarded, but it’s there.