The Salvation of Frank Gallagher

I'm Simone McCarthy and a week ago I with the help of two wonderful women,(Mary & Nanette) rescued a cat. Here's the story : It’s funny how fast you can get caught up in something. Within a blink of an eye, you can find yourself in the midst of something so evolving and fast paced that sometimes you act just to stay one step ahead. For several days I’ve been following of a thread on the Neighbors App. Outlining this story of a poor cat, who appeared to be critically injured and was just an absolute mess.. Initially I was just a casual observer until I saw the picture and it was heartbreaking, everyone pleading to something, but this cat kept roaming around, and it was being very evasive. So I posted to the thread, telling the author if she could catch the cat somehow I would make sure that medical attention, or at least an evaluation would happen. And there I stood where the quicksand began… a caring woman named Nannette brought an entrapment cage over, and the wonderful author Ms Mary was able to contain the cat and messaged me immediately. Now being familiar with cats, I assume that is injuries were somewhat serious, but no way in dire straits. I I said point out. It was after 6 o’clock when I picked up the cat so most veterinarians offices were closed. A friend pointed me in the direction of a local vet tech and I brought the cat to her home where she evaluated him. As it turns out, he was a well behaved, sweet neutered boy I thought 5 to 7 years of age, but he had some serious injuries, externally, and some sort of issues with his jaw. The vet tech provided triage care and guide with me with instructions for care during the night and suggested several local vets for the next day. Now I should point out at this point I too had an appointment because as it turns out, I had bronchitis. So after a quick visit to my doctor and meds on board, I saw a treatment for this cat and I called all over. No one with the exception of Bridge Street was willing to see an emergency visit on a patient that wasn’t alread a client.  it was at this point that I jumped from the edge of the quicksand directly into the pond loaded the cat and headed off to Cornell University. I had called the hospital using both tears and diplomacy, and was told to come asap.  now for anyone who is familiar with Cornell , the small animal Hospital is about the size and stature of Upstate Medical Center perhaps even better! Cornell is the forefront of veterinary medicine and it was my hope that someone somewhere there would feel the compassion and would help heal this poor unfortunate cat.. on the way up ,I gave thought to what would we call him and as I looked at him as I’m driving , barely meowing trying to purr sitting reticent in the cat carrier it occurred to me , was there anyone more pathetic than this middle-aged white cat, with abrasions, contusions, bites, marks, draining eyes, emaciated, with a protracted jaw.  It. Came to me, this was a Frank Gallagher. This is who Frank Gallagher would look like if he were a cat.. in poor shape on his last leg and pleading to be rescued. I don’t mind sharing. I cried most of the way on the trip which was short due to my speeding on 81. I foolishly thought who is going to pull over an old woman trying to save a cat! We arrived safely and they took Frank in immediately to be evaluated , I stood in amazement as I watch these people execute the finest care and make use of their skills and education.   I sat back in the waiting room as they called in dental surgeons, and the trauma veterinarians who all carefully evaluated Frank and formulated a treatment plan. After an 90 minute wait , this wonderful veterinarian called me in and there is Frank hooked up to an IV taking in both pain, medication and fluids, seemingly content , such a sweet boy. He looked over at me with what I imagined I’m sure was a look up appreciation and laid his head down.  The veterinarian, however, was not so content , among the many injuries that Frank had his most severe was his jaw, which was broken on the left side, along with a fractured eye orbit. Several open wounds from a dog attack. And he was severely malnourished. As she continue to speak, I sunk lower and lower in the chair.  His bloodwork had come back, and he was slightly anemic, but his electrolytes were off, and it is been a apparent he had been out on his own the vet estimated for about 2 to 3 weeks with these injuries. Frank needed to be stabilized. The dental team could not do a CAT scan presently, because Frank needed to first be stabilized then their game plan was giving him fluids and nourishment for 24 hours then attempting a CAT scan to determine the extent of his dental injuries.  we now came to a serious conversation.  It was here that I had explained again that this was a stray, who is the subject of a thread and an app online, and that I had just taken him in the night before.  I asked her are these injuries survivable , can he overcome where he is right now? The vet was very honest and straightforward. She outlined the most critical issue right now, is stabilizing his weight, his temperature and his electrolytes. This is going to take a few days then a CAT scan , then he could be transferred as long as he was stable back to the dental unit and he would become a candidate for surgery, however they needed a deposit to provide care for the cat.  I could feel my face burning and the tears welling up again I could hardly breathe for 30 seconds I tuned everything out , and I just thought how, why does it always come down to this… jolted back to reality she gave me a figure they needed for initial deposit and they required it immediately. I wish I could say that I acted without thought or foresight a million things ran through my mind. How nuts was I, I didn’t even know this cat, his cat wasn’t even mine, what am I getting myself into? You absolutely don’t have the money for this., this is only a deposit down along road, you’re a senior citizen literally with pennies in the bank and a girl going to college next fall. What the hell were you doing? The vet sat with me patiently as tears run down my face. And I looked over at Frank.  I didn’t become Frank’s savior that afternoon., I just couldn’t become his executioner! I didn’t have it in me to say no, and for that, I cried because it was going to cost me. I walked over to Frank gave him a couple of sweet Pats and kissed him and told the vet you’re going to save Frank Gallagher. And with that I walked out of the office into the billing and gave them my debit card and drove home. Now at this point, my mind is a whirlwind, thinking about how several people had offered to contribute to Frank’s care in that initial thread and I thought as desperate people think we can start a go fund me account people will care others will come forward. It’s a wonderful story, then reality would hit me in waves. What if no one cared? What have I done , we agreed on three days hospitalization to stabilize Frank and then what if he does get better , then there’s still the fees for the surgery. I could feel the quicksand over my head, my cheeks burned my stomach churning.  I ask myself what are you thinking? Just how crazy are you. Right about the time I pulled into the driveway calm had returned. I thought Simone you’re going to take this step-by-step you’re gonna go back to the initial thread give everyone an update and appeal for donations. Then you’re going to create a go fund me and from there your going to have faith. We’re going to let things unfold and we’ll get through this. I finished up my day and that evening I received an update from Cornell about Frank. His electrolytes were still dangerously low. They had worried about his caloric intake, and how he would be handling a regular diet after starving for three weeks he hadn’t gotten worse, but he was making little progress , some but little, I thanked her for the update and we both agreed that we would give Frank till Sunday evening to turn his electrolyte imbalance around stabilize so that he could be transferred back to the dental unit. As I got off the phone, I chastised myself and again review the facts. What if he did get better?  what if he did? Stabilize was that prepared for the additional thousands of dollars to be paid out for your surgery? What if he didn’t get better? Did I had the ability to stop treatment..? sick exhausted and unable to concentrate. I called it a day and went to sleep. I woke up Friday to a positive voicemail stating Frank had a well rested night , did fabulously well with his diet, and they saw slight improvement in his electrolytes in which they were testing every eight hours. I was grateful for the news, but in the back of my mind, I was trying to calculate how much, each test was costing. Finally I put it aside and went about my day. About 3 o’clock. I received another voicemail from Cornell giving me an update on Frank. He had become a local celebrity in the critical care unit. Everyone loved his name and his story so quite a few people were pulling for him. He continue to improve with both nourishment and blood work, and things look positive, but that also cautioned me that he was still weak and things could turn around very fast but all in all it looks good. And then about 4 o’clock I received a message. It was from one of the women who helped rescue Frank, it seems there was a woman two streets over who was missing her white cat. He was an indoor cat, which is why he wasn’t chipped, he had gotten outside, and he had been missing three weeks, and after looking at the picture on the thread, she believe this to be her Teddy! Mary forwarded me the woman’s phone number and I called her immediately and she asked me did this cat have one blue eye, and one green eye, the answer yes we have found a Frank Gallagher’s mother. Apparently this woman also had dogs and two of the dogs had attacked Frank in the fight that followed Frank got out. And had not been heard of since .I cried I cried so hard I cannot tell you why I cried. I cried for Frank. I cried for this woman I cried for myself I explain to her Frank’s condition, and where he was, she had told me that they were desperate to find their cat that he was their beloved family Pet . We spoke for about 10 minutes and then came a difficult part of the conversation as I didn’t know this woman well, the fact is, I didn’t know her at all, and I had to explain to her in order for Frank to receive treatment…. She cut me off immediately and told me Simone please believe me when I say I will make you whole , I am so grateful you did what you did! I explain to her that Cornell would not give her any information until I called down there and explain the whole situation. I stress to her that Frank still needed extensive care. and I agreed to give her any updates that were given to me until she could establish her ownership Monday. I got off the phone and I don’t mind telling you I cried tears of both joy and relief. I was off the hook. There was nothing more for me to decide Sunday.  And. repeatedly, she assured me she would make me whole. In retrospect, I don’t know if this is a testament to my character or my stupidity. admittedly, I didn’t have the strength not to act, but I kept thinking there are people out there that would care and would help also. I don’t know how successful we would’ve been but I’m grateful I don’t have to find out well at least let’s hope I won’t have to find out. It’s not Monday morning yet so… I am going to have faith…. Just like Frank…

So Frank has had a few days in Intensive care unit where his Electrolytes have stabilized as have his vitals. Frank is now on the way for Sugery to repair his jaw. A delicate procedure which will require the expertise of the Dental Surgical Unit there at Cornell. As you can all guess the bills are now into the thousands...and Frank's actual owners ,(who like I could not say no) are also faced with an enormous debt which compounded with supporting elderly parents is heart wrenching.

There are many who may have chosen to say no, but I believe there are just as many who will understand and say YES. I get it....Frank has the ability and the will to recover these injuries. He survived 3 weeks out in the wild before receiving aid. He's a warrior just like Frank Gallagher. So I ask of you all please...a donation ...anything no mater how small will help this fine boy return to his well being and his family....I initially paid this deposit because I did not have it in me to let Frank down, please together we can all support Frank in his recovery.

Please know that Franks current bills well exceed over our goal here so rest assured all funds will be specifically used to cover his Vet bills there at Cornell. These are good, humble people and they will welcome any donations you make. Thank You