Help Save Kiara
Donation protected
Since I was a little girl I dreamed of having a black kitten of my own (my Dad was allergic to cats my whole life growing up). After college when I moved to Stamford, CT by myself from my hometown in Maine for a job opportunity, I found Kiara, the kitten of my dreams. She was 8 weeks old and a veterinary clinic found her outside on the steps in a cardboard box, she was left there all weekend in the pouring rain. She had a bad upper respiratory infection, was super scared, but still purred in my arms and I knew she was the one. I brought her home and tried to nurse her back to health.
After a couple weeks of her not getting any better, I took her to Cornell University Vet Specialists where they found a huge mass in her throat (what they called a polyp) that was causing all her symptoms. $7,000 dollars later, lots of complications and a even a phone call on Christmas Eve saying she might not make it another day, she survived. She has been my shadow ever since; sleeps with me every night, follows me around the house everywhere I go, and greets me at the door every time I come home. Anytime I have anxiety or severe stress, her head butts and purrs calm me down. I don't know what I would have done without her by my side these last 4 years.
About 3 months ago, her breathing started sounding weird again, very similar to when she was a kitten. Nervous about another polyp, I brought her back to Cornell. After bloodwork and xrays (another $1,000), they said they not only found 1 mass, but two. They recommended a CT scan but were going to charge me $4,000 just for the scan. I ended up bringing her to another hospital called Central Hospital for Animals where they did the CT Scan, more bloodwork, and aspirating one of the masses and sent it to the pathologist (all for $3,000). The next night I got the most terrifying news I could have gotten: the pathology reported soft tissue sarcoma: AKA: CANCER. The last thing I ever wanted to do was put my cat through any suffering, make her go through months of chemo/radiation and several surgeries for my benefit. They said she maybe had 6-9 months to live unless I wanted to put her through chemo/radiation and 3 surgeries. I was absolutely devastated, thinking about putting my baby through that much absolutely killed me, plus theres a good chance the cancer would come back.
Since the news I tried everything to keep her comfortable; CBD, steroids, high protein diet, fish oil, acupuncture, chinese herbs, you name it, I've done it. I cried every night with her next to me not knowing when would be the right time to put her to sleep, praying to the Universe and God they would give me a sign when the time is right. Then.... about a week ago I found a woman on Instagram who was known as the best Oncologist in the country and found that, what do you know, she lived 10 minutes down the road from me. I figured what's the hurt in at least getting an appt with her and seeing if there is anything else I can try. I thought there would be month long waits, but, luckily an appt opened up and I got to see her within the week.
After meeting with the Oncologist, she told me news that literally made me almost fall out of my chair: "I don't think your cat has cancer."-- WHAT?! She looked over the CT report and the pathology report with the surgeon she works with and they both agreed they are 99% sure both of the masses are just polyps and in one surgery they can get rid of both polyps, remove the ear canal so soft palate where the polyps have been growing so they never grow back and she never has an issue again, and she will live a long, healthy life. The only bad news, the surgery estimate is $6,000-$7,000 dollars. I've already over $4,000 on her to get to this point but if getting her this surgery would save her life and allow her to live another 15 years, I HAVE to try to find a way.
I know it's the holiday season, everyone has their financial struggles, but this cat is everything to me. Even if I had a bunch of people donating $5-$10 dollars, it could seriously add up and help me afford this surgery to save my cat's life. She is only 5 years old and has a full life ahead of her if I can afford this surgery. Please consider. Thank you so much,
Samantha, James & Kiara
After a couple weeks of her not getting any better, I took her to Cornell University Vet Specialists where they found a huge mass in her throat (what they called a polyp) that was causing all her symptoms. $7,000 dollars later, lots of complications and a even a phone call on Christmas Eve saying she might not make it another day, she survived. She has been my shadow ever since; sleeps with me every night, follows me around the house everywhere I go, and greets me at the door every time I come home. Anytime I have anxiety or severe stress, her head butts and purrs calm me down. I don't know what I would have done without her by my side these last 4 years.
About 3 months ago, her breathing started sounding weird again, very similar to when she was a kitten. Nervous about another polyp, I brought her back to Cornell. After bloodwork and xrays (another $1,000), they said they not only found 1 mass, but two. They recommended a CT scan but were going to charge me $4,000 just for the scan. I ended up bringing her to another hospital called Central Hospital for Animals where they did the CT Scan, more bloodwork, and aspirating one of the masses and sent it to the pathologist (all for $3,000). The next night I got the most terrifying news I could have gotten: the pathology reported soft tissue sarcoma: AKA: CANCER. The last thing I ever wanted to do was put my cat through any suffering, make her go through months of chemo/radiation and several surgeries for my benefit. They said she maybe had 6-9 months to live unless I wanted to put her through chemo/radiation and 3 surgeries. I was absolutely devastated, thinking about putting my baby through that much absolutely killed me, plus theres a good chance the cancer would come back.
Since the news I tried everything to keep her comfortable; CBD, steroids, high protein diet, fish oil, acupuncture, chinese herbs, you name it, I've done it. I cried every night with her next to me not knowing when would be the right time to put her to sleep, praying to the Universe and God they would give me a sign when the time is right. Then.... about a week ago I found a woman on Instagram who was known as the best Oncologist in the country and found that, what do you know, she lived 10 minutes down the road from me. I figured what's the hurt in at least getting an appt with her and seeing if there is anything else I can try. I thought there would be month long waits, but, luckily an appt opened up and I got to see her within the week.
After meeting with the Oncologist, she told me news that literally made me almost fall out of my chair: "I don't think your cat has cancer."-- WHAT?! She looked over the CT report and the pathology report with the surgeon she works with and they both agreed they are 99% sure both of the masses are just polyps and in one surgery they can get rid of both polyps, remove the ear canal so soft palate where the polyps have been growing so they never grow back and she never has an issue again, and she will live a long, healthy life. The only bad news, the surgery estimate is $6,000-$7,000 dollars. I've already over $4,000 on her to get to this point but if getting her this surgery would save her life and allow her to live another 15 years, I HAVE to try to find a way.
I know it's the holiday season, everyone has their financial struggles, but this cat is everything to me. Even if I had a bunch of people donating $5-$10 dollars, it could seriously add up and help me afford this surgery to save my cat's life. She is only 5 years old and has a full life ahead of her if I can afford this surgery. Please consider. Thank you so much,
Samantha, James & Kiara
Organizer
Samantha Ramsdell
Organizer
Stamford, CT
