Help Ruby Roo See Clearly Again

Michelle Holt is organizing this fundraiser.

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Meet Ruby Roo, the most delightful little girl you'll ever encounter. Ruby has brought immense joy into our lives, and we simply cannot imagine a world without her. I adopted her from a rescue, after she had been abandoned in a box at just 4 weeks old, near a wreckers yard, left to fend for herself. It's terrifying to think what could have happened to her if she hadn't been rescued that day, considering she was on the side of the road and could have easily been hit by a car.

Ruby is now a thriving 4-month-old bundle of happiness. She exudes love and energy, but beneath her cheerful exterior, she silently suffers. Ruby was born without upper eyelids, a condition known as eyelid agenesis. This means her eyes cannot lubricate themselves, and the constant irritation from the hair around her eyes is damaging her corneas and eyeballs. I lubricate her eyes over 10 times a day to ease her discomfort.

'In cats with eyelid agenesis, part or all of the upper eyelid is missing, and the lid functions abnormally. The eyelids are responsible for eye protection and for distributing the tear film to keep the eyes adequately lubricated—therefore, eyes lacking this protection become dry, inflamed, and vulnerable to damage'

Recently, I consulted an ophthalmologist at SASH Tuggerah, who advised that Ruby urgently requires two surgeries within the next 1-2 months. These surgeries are major undertakings; they involve using tissue from her lower eyelids to construct upper eyelids. While I'm terrified of subjecting her to surgery at such a tender age, I understand it's crucial for her well-being, ensuring proper healing and preventing further complications. Without this surgery, she will go blind and need her eyes removed from the damage caused by the dryness and hair scratching her eyes daily.

The road ahead won't be easy. Ruby will have to wear a cone for 3 weeks after each surgery, and I will have to stay at home with her to make sure she is ok and provide her with pain relief. The estimated cost for both surgeries is close to $9000. I can manage the expenses for the first surgery through Vetpay (VetPay is a loan that can only be used at vets it cannot be used on anything else), but I won't have enough time to pay back Vetpay to cover the second surgery.

I'm reaching out to you for support, whether it's contributing towards the entire surgery or specifically for the second one. Your assistance, no matter the amount, will make a significant difference. I understand times are tough for everyone, so if you're unable to contribute financially, simply sharing Ruby's story on your social media or with your friends and family would mean the world to us.

Please help me provide Ruby with the surgery she desperately needs to live a pain-free life. Thank you for any support you can offer.

I've included the following photo's:

Images of cats immediately after surgery.
Quotation estimates for both surgeries.
Pictures of Ruby's eyes.
Picture of Ruby when she was first found dumped in a box - I originally named her Olivia but that was for less than 24 hours before changing it to Ruby Roo, it suited her better :)