A little over 1 year ago, I adopted Seraphina. Her litter was the result of poor finances and was the product of incest; it was unplanned and unwanted. Homes were needed for all of the kittens, and I had been caring for my roommate's cats for some time while she traveled for work, so I decided I was ready for a baby of my own. She was a strange little thing. I knew things might have been a little off due to being inbred—the bow in the stance of her hind legs, a slight wobble in her balance. But she was healthy, playful, happy, affectionate, and so full of life. We just celebrated her 1st birthday on August 16th (the day after mine), which is also the birthday of my late best friend, Maria Hernandez. Seraphina felt like a gift, a sign from Maria that I could celebrate instead of grieve, that I could love again.

Last night on Aug 26th around 4 pm, I received a call that she was breathing rapidly. I dropped everything and rushed her to the ER immediately. They took her back immediately to do radiographs and cardiology. She was going into heart failure due to a congenital defect, and there was fluid in her lungs and chest cavity. By the time they took me to her, her breathing was so labored, and she was making horrible sounds. She must have been so scared and in so much pain. She looked me in the eyes, and I knew she was leaving me. I was able to pay the $900 bill at the ER, and I decided not to take her home for burial because I just couldn’t do it. For her cremation service through the vendor connected to the ER, it is going to be another $400.

I am absolutely destroyed. I feel like I've been working so hard and trying to push on for her, so she can have the things she needs, and we can have a safe, happy home. Now I feel that I don’t have anything left to fight for. Due to working in the auto industry, it’s imperative that I’m focused at work. I’m not sure how many days I will need, but I know I am going to be missing out on a significant portion of my paycheck. Anyone who has lost a pet knows this pain. I’m making this attempt to be able to pay my rent and bills this month after taking this devastating loss emotionally and financially. I don’t know what else to do. I have no family to turn to for funds. If you can’t donate, a kind message or a piece of art for her memorial would be incredibly meaningful. Thank you all.