Hello, my name is Linnea and I am Wren's mom. Wren is a beautiful, orange and white domestic short haired kitty who steals everyones hearts the moment you meet her. She's only 17 months old, but in those 17 months she has been through a lot in her purr filled life. She came to CO by way of Colorado Feline Foster Rescue from the big state of Texas. She traveled up here with her 2 other sisters and gorgeous fur mama, all of whom are orange and white beauties, how lucky and rare! I instantly fell in love with her the second I laid eyes on a picture that was sent of her from my cousin who was thinking of adopting one of her sisters. I knew we had a soul connection from the start and the process began to bring her home. I ended up adopting Wren and her sister, Ruby, while my cousin has their other sister, Lily.

Wren has been with me since May of 2022 where our souls connection instantly grew into a strongly bonded love. I am convinced she is the soul of two cat's I have had before her, a soul I will never know how to live without. Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, there is no doubt that when you see us interact with one another that there is something special going on. This kitty has every aspect of my heart and I would do ANYTHING for her. Which leads me to swallow my independent pride and ask for help in covering for her emergency medical bills that took us all by a great surprise this past week.

I took Wren into her normal vet's office on Monday Morning (8/21) after she was throwing up continually for a few hours. I knew deep down in my heart that something was wrong. After an examination and X-ray, I was told by her vet that it looked like she had what was known as a "Diaphragmatic hernia."

The diaphragm is the muscular partition that separates the abdomen and the chest. Tearing or disruption of this thin muscle is called a diaphragmatic hernia or diaphragmatic rupture.

One form of diaphragmatic hernia, a peritoneal-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) is congenital (present from birth) and may be due to defective development of the fetus. This condition is most often found in puppies or kittens and should be considered separately from the traumatic type of diaphragmatic hernia or rupture. Once a tear in the diaphragm is present, abdominal contents such as the stomach, liver, and intestines may enter the chest cavity. The abdominal contents compress the lungs and prevent them from fully inflating, causing respiratory distress, (difficulties breathing). The abdominal tissues may irritate the heart muscle, which may cause abnormal heart rhythms. Any way you look at it, it wasn't good news.

I was referred to Royal Vista Veterinary Specialists in Windsor, CO where an ultrasound would be given to confirm the diagnosis. It was confirmed, she had a PPDH. Her liver and her gallbladder were up in her chest where they don't belong and the only way to fix it was surgery. After given a rough cost estimate of $6,000-$11,000, my partner and I had made the decision to, of course, save her life and go through with surgery. Her doctors and team that worked with her were absolutely phenomenal and we cannot thank them enough for the love and professional care that they gave Wren to get her through her MAJOR surgery and get her home back with us to where she can heal up and live a normal, happy life. MANY thanks to those who knew of her surgery and sent love, light, reiki and good thoughts her way to get through her surgery as well. The entire vet office could feel it, it was magical to be a part of.

I have been a student at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism for the past year and everything I have/had went to my schooling. It pains me to admit, but I have absolutely nothing left after school and Wren's medical bills. I have always prided myself on my strong independence and never asking for help. I have always been the one to help others. Whether it was helping raise other peoples children as a preschool teacher/nanny for 15 years, as an immense animal lover and helping take care of others animals along with my families own that we have rescued, or as a person who just genuinely loves to show up for others in life and in times of need. If you know my family and I, you know we have been rescuing animals my entire life (over 100 animals thus far) and it has always been self funded. It should have probably been made into a non-profit with how much has been spent over 35 years, but that's another story. As I stated, I would do anything for this little girl of mine and that includes swallowing my pride and asking my community for help in my time of need with her.

I am currently trying to find a job that fits around my schooling schedule which starts back up again on August 31st. This has proved challenging as my clinical schedule varies a lot through the next 9 months...meaning I currently have no income coming in. If I could receive help on covering her bills, that would allow me to breathe a sigh of relief knowing her needs are being met and I can continue to work on my own personal needs. Her total vet bill was $6,552.43, plus an exam and suture removal in two weeks, and another X-ray in 8 weeks to make sure everything went back to where it belongs in her little body. That is why I am estimating her total care for this journey at $7,100. Every single cent will be put towards her bills and two future veterinary bills.

I know times are tough on everyone right now, and it literally makes my heart ache and race asking for this kind of help from my community. Even if you have nothing to donate, could you please, please, please help share our story in hopes of finding other animals loving souls that could potentially help out to Wren's cause? Every tiny bit counts. Infinite thanks will still not be enough to any help I receive, but I can guarantee a hand written thank you note to each person who donates and all the support I can give as a community herbalist once I finally graduate from CSCH in May of 2024.

If you've made it this far in our story, you are amazing and all of my love and gratitude go to you and yours. Thank you for reading and for sharing our story and donating to help my sweet, baby Wren get back to her fun loving ways.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.