Over halfway there!

All donations combined, Camden's cute face has raised ~$2000. Just $1885 more to go...

In other news, Camden and I moved! That means new window perches (for Cam...I don't generally spend my days gawking on birds) and a lot of floor space to play in (as we're lacking some furniture). Everyone is feeling well and doing fine.

Thanks so much for your inquiries and support.

Mari and Camden

$1325!!!

Dear old and new friends,

Your donations have been instrumental in helping me get on the right track with paying Camden's surgery and treatment fees.

Camden says "meow," which means "thanks for donating."

It also means "I'm hungry," "play with me," and "I hate dogs."

He's a cat of few words. :)

Mari

Hello everyone,

On June 15, Alley Cat Rescue featured Camden on their blog! I am so grateful for this gesture and for the work ACR does: rescuing thousands of cats and placing them in loving homes; assisting with feral cat care and rabies control; and providing information on cat health, cat behavior, feline disease and special needs. Check out Alley Cat Rescue's Camden feature here!



On June 18, Camden had his sutures removed! This was successful, and he was happy to be in and out of the vet in less than three hours! The doctor said the healed/healing incision looked good, which was very good news indeed. The bad news was -- to make sure he didn't "go to town" irritating his surgery region right away -- he still had to wear his lampshade cone around his neck for a couple more days. This was pretty disappointing for Camden. He told me so; I speak cat.

On June 20, Camden finally got to go cone-less. My housemates and I don't have to hear him run into things anymore, and he's a much happier feline without the torture collar.

As of June 23: Although Camden will have to be on a special diet for the rest of his life due to this lower urinary tract disease he has, it looks like we made the right decision for him. He's happy and healthy...no urinary blockages due to the urethra-widening incision and his new food, which he seems to find tasty.

And with the $1150 we've raised as of this morning, I'm well on my way to paying off Camden's medical fees!

Camden is grateful that my threats of putting him to work are so far, just threats. He just wants to focus on play right now. :)

Love, Mari and Camden

Dear friends,

(ORIGINAL POST)

Tuesday morning, June 1, Camden woke up sick. At first I didn’t think too much of it, but I stayed home from work and realized he couldn’t urinate. He was sitting in his litter box trying to no avail and was clearly in pain. I took him to the vet as soon as possible, and he had an emergency procedure to clear a blockage in his urethra that was life threatening if left untreated. Unfortunately, the blockage reappeared while at the vet and soon after I got him home the following Thursday.

The vet told me the condition was treatable, but would require an expensive surgery. Being the animal lover (and Camden lover!) that I am, I just couldn’t believe that it was his time (age 3) and couldn’t bear putting him to sleep – the only other true alternative to what could be years of blockages, I was told. Although suffering from urethra “issues,” Camden was diagnosed as otherwise healthy. He brings joy to my and my current roommates’ lives. I went ahead with surgery.

Though it might be somewhat impractical to OK procedures I couldn’t pay for, I found it responsible to fulfill the care commitment I made to him by adopting him. Now I am just trying to figure out how to pay for nearly $4,000 in medical fees.

That’s where you come in. As I’m not running in any races this year or even volunteering anywhere regularly, this is my cause. Any amount – literally any amount – that you can give would be helpful. Sometimes I feel inundated by donation requests. I certainly can’t afford to contribute to everything I’d like to and often times, I am forced to preference causes that pull on my heartstrings more. Thus, beyond privately noting donations in order to give much thanks to you, I’m not analyzing who does and doesn’t contribute. I appreciate your even reading this and your well-wishes for Camden’s speedy recovery.

You’re welcome to e-mail mari.nicholson@gmail.com for more information. If I do reach the $ goal via this mechanism, I would be more than happy to donate any remainder to a charity TBD. I will follow-up with donators later to choose that charity if that becomes an option.

If you would rather write a check than use PayPal, you may mail it directly to me. Please e-mail me for my address. I will deposit these on a weekly basis and electronically transfer payment over to the credit card I took out for Camden’s fees.

In addition to creating this page and shamelessly luring you with Cam’s endearing photographs, I’m also exploring other options such as applying to nonprofits that help pay large veterinary bills. Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,

Mari and Camden

Update

Two things I wanted to highlight:

1) I'm taking Camden in for his follow-up appointment today. He's doing really well, I think, except for hating the cone he has to wear. We'll see what the doctor says!

2) THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE $970 I'VE RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK! People's generosity has exceeded my expectations. Camden says "meow."

Tired and silly

With plastic bag and IPA, as football, and approaching fire