UPDATE: I have adjusted (lowered) the amount being raised as someone generously donated towards Nona off-platform.

*****

Hello, Nona's Guardian Jen here.

It's been a rough few months regarding Nona's health, but thanks to a wonderful team at AID Animal Hospital in Gangnam (and thousands of dollars) Nona's kidney disease is stable and well-managed! However, during the process of getting her kidneys back in working shape, we discovered a large tumor in her back left femur which after a bone marrow biopsy was confirmed to be osteosarcoma. Bone cancer, any cancer, is very malignant and the only treatment for her case is amputation of the leg. Without amputation the cancer will spread to her lungs, giving her a painful death in a few months. With amputation, the vet expects her to live a few more years pain-free. I have spoken at great length to her and others in animal medicine and all agree that amputation is the right move. I have been assured that cats adjust quickly and well to being tri-pawd and unlike humans, do not suffer depression due to loss of limb. She is in moderate pain now (limping) and the vet says that the sooner we do the amputation, the better. Not just to ensure the cancer doesn't spread, but also to remove my sweet girl out of pain.

Its been a rough few months, and expenses related to her care are piling up. I'm lucky that Korea has far more affordable vet care than the US, but post-pandemic my business just never rebounded. I know all too well how hard times are right now for many, and dollars are precious. Any possible help to defray the amputation surgery would be appreciated from the bottom of my heart.

Never in a million years did I ever think I would launch a GoFundMe for Nona. I've donated to so many animal vet bills over the decades and thought I would escape being in this situation myself, but here I am because life comes fast and hard.

The expected cost of the amputation surgery, including a 3-day hospital stay and aftercare and meds is 1,800. I do expect it to be more, but with exchange rates of USD to KRW being in my favor (I'll take whatever good news I can get) I do not expect anything higher than that in USD per written communication with the vet. Again, any help defraying towards this is greatly appreciated. Nona has been my ride or die for almost 16 years and is expected to have a high quality of life post-amputation for a few years. Hopefully we can schedule the surgery ASAP, possibly as early as the weekend of December 14th.