Lucky’s Happy Tail
April 11th, 2019
Two months into recovering from brain surgery, Katie came across an ad online for a tiny female ferret someone had found at a nearby shopping center. She was concerned that the ferret would be kept in a box in the person’s basement until she could be reunited with her family. Because she had prior experience with ferrets and all the necessary supplies for caring for them – and it’s legal to keep ferrets in her part of New York – Katie offered to take the ferret in the meantime.
For weeks, Katie posted ads online, called local veterinarians, and visited the shopping center hoping the family would come forward for their lost pet – whom she had begun to call Lucky. Unfortunately, no one was looking for her, but by that time, Lucky was already a beloved member of Katie’s family.
“She has the best personality for something so tiny. She loves playing with her cat siblings and loves her nighttime cuddles. I cuddle with her every night before bed, sometimes we even fall asleep together. Her cage is in my dining room, and when it’s dinnertime she pops her little head out and just stares at me until she gets just one little piece of whatever I have.”
Now that she knew Lucky was hers to keep, Katie took her into the veterinarian’s office for a checkup. She was devastated to learn that Lucky’s back leg had been broken for some time. Lucky never appeared to be in pain, so Katie simply didn’t notice. The leg needed to be amputated, and Katie applied for CareCredit to pay for the procedure. “I did what I had to do, for Lucky.”
Having three legs didn’t stop Lucky, though! Katie was still recovering from her own surgery, and as Lucky recovered from her amputation, their special relationship continued to develop. “I am so so glad she is with me, and I can’t picture [life] without her.”
Not long after Lucky’s surgery, Katie was giving her a bath when she noticed a small bump at the base of her tail. Bloodwork at the veterinarian’s confirmed Katie’s suspicion that it was a chordoma, a slow-growing tumor that, while not life-threatening, can result in total paralysis as they grow and exert pressure on the spine. The veterinarian told her that the only solution was to surgically remove it before it grew too large.
Katie had been receiving disability benefits since having her surgery, but they were much less than her income prior to surgery, and she quickly fell behind on her bills. With her credit ruined and her CareCredit used on the amputation, Katie feared she would have no way to afford the surgery Lucky needed for a long, healthy life.
Fortunately, Katie found RedRover online and immediately applied for a RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant. An On-Call Angel made the compassionate donation that paid for Lucky’s surgery and today, she is back home cuddling with Katie and her kitty siblings.
“It couldn’t have been possible without your help. I appreciate it more than you will know!”
