On August 19 a friend (Maddie) started a GoFundMe campaign in an attempt to help with the vet bills for her cat (Leia).
I shared the GoFundMe in a diary with the community here and the response was overwhelming. You were quick to offer your heartfelt advice, good wishes and donations. All of which I enthusiastically passed on to Maddie.
I am happy to report that she quickly met her goal which completely covered her bills. Even better, Leia is home from the pootie hospital and recovering quickly. She still has her feeding tube. But every day eats more kitty appropriate food and requires less use of the tube.
Once she’s completely transitioned back to real food the vets will remove the tube.
Below, I repost her campaign posting and updates as well as a special update for the Daily Kos community.
August 19, GoFundMe Campaign:
My poor kitty is very sick. She needs to be hospitalized for at least a few days, but I need some help affording it. Anything helps. I've tried selling stuff, but nobody has bought anything. So let me know if you're interested in any movie posters or funko pops! Otherwise, donations are greatly appreciated. According to her tests, they aren't exactly sure what is wrong with her, but she is not eating so she needs to be on fluids and a feeding tube. I'm very desperate. I love her a lot, and I live alone, so she is my only constant company. Please help if you can! Or share!
August 19, Update 0:
Update: I can't believe all the help I've received. I'm overwhelmed and never expected anything like this. You guys make me cry! I am definitely going to pay this forward once I am in a position to. I got to visit Leia in the hospital. She is doing well and recovering. Here she is in the hospital:
August 20, Update 1:
Leia gets to come home today! I am so grateful for everything everyone has done. I'm blown away by the response to this and it makes me emotional. The picture is of her in the hospital yesterday. She will still be on a feeding tube for several weeks, but she's on the mend thanks to all of you! I can't wait to pay this forward!
August 20, Update 2:
She's home with her feeding tube! She seems very happy to be out of the hospital. You guys covered the bill completely! I'm so so so grateful to every one of you!
August 21, Update 3:
I am ending the campaign now. You have all been more than generous and helpful! I am beyond grateful to all of you! Leia is very happy to be home and we are going to continue in her treatment plan. Next stop, full recovery!!
August 27, Update for Daily Kos Community:
Hello!
Thank you so much for all you've done for myself and Leia! When I started the GoFundMe campaign, I wasn't expecting much, just thought I'd see if I could get a little bit of help. I was blown away when the cost of her hospitalization was covered in full! Mostly by complete strangers! I wasn't sure how I was going to pay for it until then. I can't fully express how grateful I am that you went out of your way to share Leia's GoFundMe campaign! And that so many people were willing to donate. It makes me emotional! I am so, so very grateful!
Leia is doing well now! She is still on the feeding tube, but ate breakfast by herself on Tuesday and Wednesday! So that's a start. Once she is eating more than I have to give her through the feeding tube, it can come out! They aren't exactly sure what the cause is, but it's something to do with her liver, so she's on an anti-infection medication for that.
She felt good enough to interrupt my work and sit on my paperwork today! She hasn't felt well enough to do that for a while. She is now napping in a box. I've attached pictures of both!
Again! Thank you so much for all you did for Leia and I! I will update you when the feeding tube comes out.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
Maddie
Look at those bright beautiful eyes! Those are the eyes of a pootie on the mend!
I am happy to report that donations outpaced the bills and Maddie has enough extra to provide Leia with vet recommended cat food for her continuing recovery.
Thank you to everyone for the advice, the well wishes, and the donations. You’ve helped make a huge difference for a beautiful pootie and her human.
