Duma

[luna_manar]

Duma, my 17-year-old Maine Coon who lives with my parents, apparently has cancer.

We can't know what sort it is, because she is really too fragile to do any more tests on. This has happened suddenly, which is why I haven't talked about it until now.

There is no estimated time she has left. We just don't know. Right now, she acts as if she is absolutely fine, despite the fact she is four pounds underweight.

There is not much more we can do for her except to keep her comfortable for as long as we can. I can't be there for at least another few weeks; I don't know if I'll get to see her again. But she may very well live several months. We just have no idea.

Meanwhile, my parents have been hit with monster vet bills as a result. They have been absolutely heroic in their efforts to help her, racking up over $4000 in tests, treatments and vet visits.

Both in the interest of making sure Duma continues to have the best possible care, and to try and help my parents with the costs, I've created a ChipIn, for anyone who might have some spare change. No obligation, I won't be upset if no one donates, I'm just trying to do what I can to dampen the blow. All proceedings will go to Duma's quality-of-life care. If it makes anyone feel better, I'll even tell you what the money was used for.

So no one thinks I'm panhandling, I am already going to be contributing as much as I can towards her care, which thus far has been a very expensive train of medication and special diet and will continue to be so from this point on. I will tell you exactly what the money was used for if you contribute.

Although Duma was unable to live with me due to a personality conflict with one of my other cats, she has been my cat for longer than any other I've ever had. I really can't express the way I feel right now. It's hard to feel anything at all when you're told your friend is dying, and that's the way I am right now. I just wish I could be back in GA right now so I could hug her and pet her. My chest feels like it's made of lead. Duma has been with me for most of my life. I have a hard time thinking about it being any other way.

I hate that I have to emphasize this at all, but there are a lot of people who just think that donation drives for sick animals are a scam set up by people who are too lazy to set aside money to care for their pets. If you are one of these people, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL LIKE I AM ASKING YOU TO GIVE ANYTHING. Keep your spiteful, critical words to yourself and go the fuck away if you don't like that I'm doing this. Use the ChipIn ONLY if you don't think it's rude of me to ask for help, and if you have some spare change you don't know what else to do with. It's not a charity case, the vet bills ARE paid for, it's just a "help would be nice/appreciated" case where I want to help my parents out as much as I possibly can with the expenses. I will not be keeping ANY of the money. It will ALL go towards Duma's care.

If you do have something to offer, please keep in mind that there will be no further attempts to save Duma's life. Right now, the best thing we can do for her is to keep her happy and out of pain.

ChipIn Account for Duma