My happy, snuggly cat Rye was recently diagnosed with cancer, just weeks before her 11th birthday, May 14th. After months and months of exams, tests, and medications, we found out Rye has a nasal lymphoma. She needs urgent radiation and chemotherapy.

In July, she started having cold and sinus symptoms. She was her usual happy, goofy self and a trooper through months of vet visits, lab work, chalky medication, a month of nasal drops, specialist vet visits, more medication and tests, more specialists, as well as longer and longer car rides. But one night, despite her being on medication, I woke up to her so congested that she was panting and had a bloody nose.

If you've tried to get into specialist vet care, you know it can take months to get an appointment, and we had already been trying to get her well for months. I called over a dozen practices, and kept calling, until I found one with a cancellation and brought Rye in the next week. That same day, after her CT scan and biopsies, they told us they found cancer. My heart immediately broke. We have morning and bedtime routines. She boops and licks my nose in the morning if I sleep past breakfast. She'll perch on my shoulder if I'm on my computer too long. Her first priority every day is snuggles. She is a little walking piece of my heart, and every day is better and brighter because of the joy and silliness she brings.

I'm asking for help with Rye's cancer treatment so her brother Whiskey and I can have more happy, loving years with her. Her oncology team has a treatment plan that can give her many years of a very, very spoiled life. No treatment would mean her quality of life would decline as the cancer spreads, and she'd have just a few short months to live. BUT this type of lymphoma responds well to radiation and chemotherapy. As you can imagine, it's just expensive, and I've already spent thousands on tests and other treatments over the last 8 months.

Your help would mean a lot. Whiskey and I can't imagine our home without Rye. You wouldn't know anything is wrong with Rye. She runs up and down our hallway, plays with her brother, and brings toys for me to throw. And we are hoping to keep it that way for as long as possible.

We hope to raise funds to do a course of radiology and then chemotherapy. Throughout it all, there will be multiple CT scans, medications, consults, and many follow-up appointments.

If you’re able to help, we would be so very grateful. This is a hard time for many people right now. Please don't feel pressured to give if you cannot. You can help by sharing the link, sharing ideas for grants or fundraising channels, and just being you.