Help Us Give Bori a Pain-Free Future

Her back legs may not work, but nothing slows this kitten down.

Bori (aka Mel) was found on a rainy May morning by two Townsend Harris students on their way to school. Through the rain, they heard cries coming out from underneath a parked car. What they found was a wet, muddy kitten meowing for help. They brought her in to the building, took her to a faculty member known for rescuing animals, and, like many at the school today, fell in love.

It's not hard to do. Despite her back legs not working, Bori is a sweet, mischievous, and active little kitten who loves making new friends. She jumps on her two new cat siblings and dares them to wrestle despite being half their size (and having half the functioning limbs). She zooms around her surroundings and uses the brute strength of her front two legs to climb to unthinkable heights. She regularly roamed the summer halls of Francis Lewis and naps on the laps of Townsend students. She loves cuddles, is generous with her kisses, and curious to discover new people and new places.

That's why we were shocked when her neurologist told us Bori is, and always has been, living in a state of constant pain.

From the start, we took her to three local vets to understand her condition and (hopefully) work towards rehabilitation. Her case was too complex and we were eventually referred to the Animal Medical Center, an animal research hospital in Manhattan. The staff there is incredible -- well-informed, compassionate, and clearly experts in their field. The lead neurologist of the team assigned to Bori's care let us know that Bori's condition is considered paraplegic, deep-pain negative. This is the most severe form of paraplegia, and means that she has absolutely no sensation in her back legs and little to no chance of ever regaining mobility of those limbs.

But there was something else that also concerned the neurologist. We moved forward with an unplanned x-ray and confirmed that Bori's situation is most likely a case of spina bifida, a congenital condition. Furthermore, they identified a small bump of what looked like soft tissue along her spine. When we pulled apart her fur to get a better look, the vet found that there was a small opening there and that it was actually her spinal cord bunched up and protruding through; that she can feel.

They made it clear our only options are surgery or trying to manage the pain through constant medication.

Medication can only do so much; it can't protect her from the very real threat of infection entering directly to her spine. It can dull her sense of pain, but it doesn't meaningfully improve her quality of life.

If we pursue surgery, the vets will go in, cut off the clumped section of spinal cord, and close the opening along her spine. She won’t regain mobility, but this operation will ensure that she no longer feels pain there and eliminate the threat of infection.

We want to do everything we can to advocate for her best care. Our goal of $20,000 covers:

We're grateful we were able to provide Bori the care she's received up until this point. As a family, we're optimistic about what the power of community can do. And we believe, with all our hearts, that Bori deserves to live a long, happy, and pain-free life full of lots of naps, lots of diapers, and lots of love.

Every little bit helps, from a dollar to a share. And for those who are invested not just in her care, we’ve made an Instagram account to follow alongside her journey: @callme_bori

Thank you for being here and please spread the word!