Mr. Big Needs PPDH Surgery

Mr. Big is a one year old domestic long hair cat who was adopted and rescued from the shelter in June 2016. Around his one year birthday, he started to act abnormal. He couldn't bring himself to eat, was having difficulty going to the bathroom, and was throwing up daily. After being taken to the vet, he was diagnosed with having a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia or PPDH. This basically means his abdominal organs have moved and have crowded his chest area. The vets also believe since he was most likely born with this condition, it would explain why his kidney is sharing space with his heart inside of his heart sack. 

I've been left with only two choices:

1.) To wait until his
condition worsens and be forced to put him down (which would break my heart and I would not like to have as an option at all)
or
2.) Let him have the specialized surgery.

The estimate I was given was anywhere between $5,000.00 - $7,000.00 if there were no complications.  I've called multiple other vets but most have referred me back to the surgeon as this is a specialty surgery.  The surgeon recommended I have this done sooner rather than later, as any wrong move on Big's part could twist his organs in a dangerous way. 

Mr. Big is my first pet, and I'm devastated to think I won't be able to spend much longer with him. He means so much to me. I just want him to live a long, healthy life and enjoy many more adventures in his astronaut backpack. 

Any donation helps and is much appreciated, thank you so much!