Our names are Edward and Shannon, and we are here to ask the community of GoFundMe to help us recoup the veterinary expenses we have incurred in saving the life of a young kitten. On Thursday, 07/07/2022, Shannon was driving home from work when she found this kitten abandoned on one of the busiest, dirtiest freeways in Northern California, literally feet away from oncoming, rush hour traffic. Shannon pulled to the shoulder, braved the bustling freeway to retrieve the kitten, and brought her home. How this kitten got to where she was is a mystery to us, but it’s nothing short of a miracle that she is alive.

We have named this lucky one Septima, meaning “seventh,” though she has since taken on the nickname of Juice. Despite her weakened and battered state, her spirits are strong, and she has the appetite of a T-Rex. After bathing her to clean her up and calm her down, we found visible trauma to her anus and vulva in which a massive infection took hold, and her left eye was nearly overcome with severe conjunctivitis (we worried that she had lost the eye altogether). We then noticed that she struggled to use her hind legs and feared that she either had broken a limb or was partially paralyzed.

Two days later, when we had her evaluated at our primary vet, a set of x-rays brought us some unfortunate news. Her right leg had been shattered, disconnected at the knee, with the cap coming completely undone. Additionally, her pelvis was thought to be fractured as well. I’ll be frank, here. Our vet, in consideration with his substantial experience of thirty years, and in conjunction with her grim outlook, recommended euthanasia for this little one. Sparing the details of a hefty and emotional deliberation between us, we elected to bestow mercy and say goodbye to Juice, then made our way back to the vet. We were mere moments away from giving the go-ahead to end her pain…but we didn’t go through with it. We couldn’t - not when this kitten continued to show us her unyielding strength when she saw us enter the exam room. We called off the euthanization, took her back home with prescribed antibiotics and betadine to treat her infections and wounds, then got in touch with a specialist for an Orthopedic consultation to evaluate a possible surgery. And though we had to wait a further five days for the appointment, Juice showed considerable improvement during that time.

Upon meeting with the specialist, he had determined that her pelvis had in fact not been fractured, though the break to her leg was substantial enough to warrant possible amputation if a repair was unsuccessful. The surgery was then conducted on the late afternoon of 7/14. To our great relief, the surgery went amazingly well and her leg was able to be saved. Juice is now safe at home with us where we are able to monitor her 24/7 (thanks to our work from home policy) as her leg heals, and we are continuing to manage her infections with antibiotics, and careful cleanse her wounds.

Thankfully, and luckily, this kitten’s situation went from dreadfully grim to outright promising. Through all of this, we were able to give Juice the fighting chance she deserves. And, as many would presume, doing so dealt a fairly substantial financial hit to the both of us. We need the help of donations in order to recoup from the heavy cost of the surgery and aftercare, so that we may also place ourselves into a more secure position to further her treatment.

With that, we ask that you lend a hand, and play a part in helping Juice, our Septima, reach her full recovery.