Support Nugget's Urgent Medical Needs

Monet Jackson is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hi, My name is Monet and I've created this GoFundMe on behalf of my cat Nugget (aka Nigel Hollywood James Jackson). Nugget was recently diagnosed with Large Cell Lymphoma and I am in urgent need financial support.

I have had Nugget going on 5 years now. I first met Nugget while working in a small town in Maryland after graduation. I had started renting for the first time ever and the previous tenant was looking for someone to take on caring for Nugget when she decided to move. I gladly took Nugget as my own. When I first met Nugget I was sleeping on a couch in the living room of my first rental experience and he decided to crawl right on top of my chest and plant himself right over my heart. Purring loudly as ever. I was instantly attached.

He is my best friend and daily comfort and I am his (or at least he acts like it most days). Nugget and I have been through a lot. He was my biggest support during the COVID19 lockdown, he moved with me 6 times (twice to a new state), he has comforted me as I grieved multiple losses in my family and he's met so many of the important people in my life and I know they see him as family.

Nugget loves everyone he meets and his love is big. I never feel lonely because of him. With every mental health struggle I have endured, he has been by my side. Even now, as I am out of work on unpaid medical leave in daily outpatient treatment for my mental health, he is always waiting at the door to greet me when I get home.

But in less than 2 weeks, this changed along with so many of his habits and behaviors.

On May 23rd, Nugget started to exhibit changes in his eating and drinking habits. His demeanor began to change and Nugget began acting sullen and depressed. He started being less social and vocal. He is typically a chatterbox. By the morning it was obvious he hadn't eaten, drank water or went to the bathroom.

On the morning of May 24th, I took Nugget right to the vet. They did a full exam and got bloodwork done. He showed a higher white blood cell count and some things seemed to be off with his kidney values. They sent me home and told me to continue monitoring. him. They provided me with an appetite stimulant that did help motivate Nugget to continue eating. He was eating but nowhere near how he used to.

For a few more days, I watched Nugget closely and although he wasn't vibrant he seemed to be relatively stable.

The night of May 27th (coincidentally my birthday) Nugget started to lay in his litter box. Something he has NEVER done. What scared me even more was when he stopped sleeping in bed with me. He is normally extremely clingy and wants to snuggle right up to me but this has not been the case since. He started isolating himself in the closet around May 31st. At this point, I was very concerned as this kind of behavior from a cat can mean he is very ill or hurt.

By the evening of June 3rd, I decided that if his symptoms didn't change I would take him to the emergency vet in the morning. Sure enough, Nugget had not gone to the bathroom, eaten, or drank water for about 12+ hours.

Nugget was very dehydrated from the lack of food and water. Unfortunately, adding water to his wet food didn't support him enough due to his lack of appetite. The vet gave him fluids and an anti-nausea injection to see if this would soothe him for the time being.

The next day, I took Nugget to his primary for an ultrasound. This appointment broke me down. The vet told me Nugget has Large Cell Lymphoma. Cancer was never even in my mind’s eye. I can’t comprehend how my beautiful, loving, sweet baby boy could be ravaged by cancer.

Now I am sitting on my couch with Nugget writing this to ask for financial support as I try to cover the costs that led up to this diagnosis as well as the expenses that come with treating Nugget and making sure he stays comfortable.

My biggest financial setback right now is that I am on medical leave from my job getting treatment for mental health reasons and it is unpaid. I have been out for 2 months and did not anticipate this reality. Vet bills have been exorbitant. The ultrasound alone was $450 out of pocket. The biopsy that will determine prognosis and further treatment will be upwards of $700 out of pocket.

I have asked for help from my parents, grandma and others in my circle… and everyone has given all they can. I urgently need funds to support his treatment, pay his vet bills and to continue getting him the care he needs. Please consider helping Nugget and I endure this difficult time. My heart is in tatters. Along with financial support, words of hope and comfort would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much.