In Loving Memory of Grampa

Dear community, I'm reaching out with a heavy heart and a plea for assistance. Just a few days ago, I lost Grampa, one of my cherished colony cats, in a sudden and devastating manner. Grampa, who arrived in my colony two years ago in dire health, became my practice of love. Despite being the grumpiest and spiciest cat, I dedicated myself to nursing him back to health. Grampa and I formed a unique bond over two years of tireless efforts. It took a year to earn his trust enough to even pet him. Last year, we became best friends, and I held onto the hope that one day he would enjoy the warmth and coziness indoors. I reached out to numerous rescues, but I never received any responses back about rescuing him, I unfortunately could not take him in either since I already had two rescues that were my indoor cats they also had issues with him when they lived outdoors (they were from the same colony), bringing him in would’ve been detrimental for his emotional being, and there was also a space issue in my home. Instead, I continued providing shelter and regular meals, and Grampa became my little outdoor companion. His decline was sudden and heartbreaking. Despite my attempts to trap him for vet care, he slipped away and I found him in his last moments in the shelter I had crafted for him. I rushed him to Verg Medical Center, but his condition was beyond recovery. The realization hit hard – I had become his unintentional hospice for the past two years and I was blinded to that because of the love I felt for this once-feral soul. I'm devastated and still grappling with the "could've" and "should've" scenarios. Grampa's last moments at Verg Medical Center were filled with seizures and septic conditions, and I'm left to mourn the loss of a dear companion. Paws of Hope NYC played a crucial role in getting Grampa to Verg swiftly, but now I face the daunting task of settling the emergency vet bill. The payment has been made to Verg, but I'm left with the burden of repaying my emergency credit card. This unexpected financial strain adds to the grief of losing Grampa. Just two weeks ago, I spent over two grand on vet bills for my indoor cats due to unexpected illness and checkups, leaving me emotionally and financially drained. January has proven to be an overwhelmingly trying month, and I find myself reluctantly reaching out to my community for help during this difficult time. Your support in easing the burden of this emergency vet bill would mean the world to me as I navigate through this profound loss and unexpected financial challenge.