| Boy, it has been a crazy week here at the Hutchison home. Our sweet little Siamese cat, Sophie came down with a life threatening uterus infection. She hadn’t been spayed yet, but we had been so careful not to let her outside. In early January her abdomen began to swell and we assumed that she had gotten outside somehow and that she was going to have kittens. On Sunday morning it appeared that perhaps she was going to give birth… but she didn’t. On Monday I took her to the vet, and she was not pregnant – she had a severe uterine infection and she was at risk of becoming septic. She needed surgery immediately, and without it she would die. The surgery was $1,200.00. I was in shock. After going back and forth – Bob and I decided that we just couldn’t afford the surgery – and we were faced with the decision of putting her to sleep. As I left the vet, the doctor suggested that I contact some of the cat rescue groups to see if they might be able to take her, give her the treatment needed and then adopt her out to another loving family. Then Sophie and I headed home to share the news with the girls.
When I arrived home – both Mackenzie and Madeleine were at soccer practice. Bob agreed to pick them up and take them to get some dinner. While he did that – I scoured the internet searching for a cat rescue group to help her. I sent email after email, and tried calling one number after the next. One group called Animal Talk had a medical emergency number, which I called. MIssy answered the phone. I gave her all of the details – and she said that she would be at a clinic in the morning – and would tell them of Sophie’s condition and prognosis. She asked me if we would be willing to keep her if she could arrange to have the surgery done for a reduced fee. I said “We would absolutely keep her!” She told me to call her in the morning at 8am. I didn’t tell the girls about this option – because I thought it was too good to be true, and I didn’t want them to get their hopes up only to be disappointed later.
As soon as I got off the phone with Missy, the girls came home eager to know what was wrong with the precious little kitty. I told them that she was really sick and needed a really expensive surgery that we just couldn’t afford, and without it that she would die. Madeleine was sad, but Mackenzie was devastated, as she was closest to Sophie. I tried to comfort her and went on to tell her that I was looking for a rescue group that might be able to help her – but that we would most likely have to give her up for adoption. When you love your pets – sometimes you have to do what is necessary to help them – even though it makes you sad. We spent the rest of the evening snuggling with little Sophie.
Yesterday morning I dropped the girls off at school. When I walked in the door at 7:50am – the phone was ringing. It was Missy. She said that she was at the Feral Cat Spay & Neuter Project – and that they would do her surgery if I could get her there within an hour. The cost for the surgery was $25.00. I couldn’t believe my ears!!! I put Sophie in her carrier and got in the car and headed for Lynnwood.
When we arrived we were greeted by a compassionate and kind woman that volunteered at the clinic. She had me fill out forms and took Sophie to prep her for surgery and told me to come pick her up at 1:00. I could not believe that this was happening. I was amazed that there were people out there that did stuff like this just because they are passionate about it. When I got in the car – I texted the girls to let her know that a rescue group arranged to have Sophie treated and that she was in surgery as I typed. I told Madeleine that we would be able to keep her, but somehow – Mackenzie misunderstood and thought that she would have to be adopted out to another family.
At 1:00 I arrived at the clinic to pick her up. I was greeted by Maria, who was a kind as she could be. The veterinarian, Dr. Gray, that did her surgery came out and spoke to me and told me that Sophie did well during the surgery and that the infection was really severe but that they got it all out. She was genuine and compassionate – and had a love for the animals and the work that she does. I would love for her to be my regular vet!!! Maria gave me Sophie’s post-op instructions. I thanked them and Sophie and I headed home.
When I pick up Mackenzie from soccer practice and told her that Sophie was home and that we would be able to keep her. The smile on her face was worth a thousand words. Monday – was one of the worst days in her life – and Tuesday was one of the very best.
This morning I am still in awe that things worked out the way they did. I am so very thankful that there are individuals and groups that passionate about what they do, and that they do things like this to help to animals and their families. I can’t express how this random act of kindness has affected our family. It was an amazing gift. We will most definitely be sending donations to both programs and will look into doing some volunteer work to show our gratitude for what they did for us.
Things are good once again at the Hutchison household. We are all so grateful that Sophie is on the road to recovery – and that she will remain a precious member of our family.
Kimberly <3 |