The Difference You Made for Julia and Emma the Cat: A Happy Tail
February 28th, 2024
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager
Empirical evidence is beginning to catch up with something we’ve always known in our hearts to be true: a cuddly kitty companion can be beneficial to a cancer patient’s comfort, resilience, and healing. Julia can attest to that. Her three senior cats never left her side throughout two years of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries to treat breast cancer. Beautiful Emma was an especially attentive nurse with her bright green eyes and long silky coat.
“I have gotten through the worst days and nights in my life while being treated for cancer thanks to Emma. She is so caring and loving, and a delightful part of my life.”
Julia’s prognosis was excellent now that her treatment was concluding, and she was grateful to soon return to the life she’d put on pause. Being able to work again would make a huge difference for her family of four after her savings had been completely exhausted. She was in the thick of submitting job applications when life threw one last wrench into her plans.
It was the antique rocking chair on which they’d enjoyed many quiet evenings together that did it. Julia was woken up by Emma’s yowling at three in the morning. When she rushed into the living room, she found her poor baby on the floor with a broken leg and quickly surmised that her leg had gotten caught in between the knobby, uneven spokes of the chair’s back. She must have let a sleepy little foot dangle off the edge as she snoozed, and broke her leg when she jumped down for some late-night mischief.
All night Julia iced Emma’s leg and cared for her until they could go to the veterinarian in the morning. She knew cats hide their pain, but she still found it remarkable how gracefully Emma seemed to cope. Even as the veterinarian examined the leg, she reached a paw up to Julia’s face and asked politely to kiss her mama on the cheek. Emma’s bloodwork showed she was still a healthy girl at 17 years old and could safely undergo amputation surgery. But surgery would need to happen within six days; any longer and they would be out of options.
Emma was so gentle and mellow despite her pain, a kind and cooperative soul. Julia couldn’t lose her this way after all Emma had done to support her through her cancer treatment. After giving her a mild sedative and making her a cozy spot in her cat tent, Julia went online to look for help. She called so many organizations only to be told they could not provide funds, or to receive no response at all. But what she thought was a dead end led her to the RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant program, her first sign of hope for saving Emma.
Her veterinarian offered to reduce the cost of Emma’s surgery when they learned Julia had been awarded an Urgent Care grant, an unexpected kindness that brought her even more hope. She could easily pay the bill when she picked Emma up and brought her home to a cozy spot far from the rocking chair. Within weeks she was stronger and walking comfortably, cuddling up with her sisters, and making good use of the step stools Julia had bought to help her onto the couch and bed.
Julia couldn’t help but note, “What a difference RedRover made in my life. I cannot thank you enough for what you did for me and my dear Emma. I am so glad to have her.” What a difference our FurEver Friends made in this family’s life! Your continued support inspires the hope families need to survive tough times together and enjoy the many years of love and joy they deserve – something we can all be thankful for.
We’re grateful to call you a FurEver Friend to the animals!
