This past week, we had to say goodbye to our sweet cat, Willow, a companion who’s been a part of our family since Christmas Eve of 2011.

My mom waited a long time to get a cat. She wanted the timing to be right, and she wanted the right kitty, and Willow was exactly that. From the moment we brought him home, he was ours. We joked that night that we should’ve named him Paparazzi because he hated having his picture taken. But he loved sliced ham, wrapping paper, and bird watching from the windowsill. The bottoms of his paws were so fluffy that when he got the zoomies, he’d slip and slide down the hallway and crash into the cabinets, making us laugh every single time. He could fit into any cardboard box, no matter how small. And when we were going through hard times, Willow always knew. He would curl up beside us without a sound, offering his quiet, steady love.

Willow has been our emotional anchor through so much for my mom, my brother, and me. He was family.

A few days ago, Willow suddenly became critically ill. What started as garlic toxicity revealed a heartbreaking truth: he had been quietly struggling with liver and kidney issues for some time. He didn’t show any signs until it was too late. We rushed him to urgent care, and my mom spent everything she had (including this month’s rent) trying to save him. He was put on fluids and fought hard, but his little body couldn’t recover from the shock. We had to make the impossible decision to let him go peacefully.

My mom and brother, who live together, are devastated. And while they’re trying to grieve the loss of this loving, silly, zoomie-prone little soul, they’re also now facing the weight of emergency vet bills and no money left for rent. That’s why I’m asking for help on their behalf. Anything we can raise will go directly to easing that financial burden so they can have the space to mourn without fear or shame.

If you’ve ever loved a pet like family, you understand. If you can donate even $5, or share this with someone who might, it would mean the world to us.

Thank you for reading about Willow. Thank you for holding space for our grief. And thank you for any support you can give. He was so loved.

With love,

Madeline