*Edited to add: We’ve received over $2,950 in donations in less than two days! That’s more than enough to pay for the surgeries for ALL of these kittens, thank you all so much! You guys are so incredible!!!
I have news about the kittens!
The vet consulted extensively with an ophthalmologist (I can never spell that right, I always have to ask Google how it’s spelled!) who practices in Birmingham, and there is a way to correct the kittens’ eye problem. What they do is, they take a bit of lip from the corner of the kitten’s mouth and graft it onto the eyelid. The kitten would have sutures both on his/ her eyelid and their mouth, poor thing.
The really good part is that I won’t have to put the kittens through the trauma of driving them down to Birmingham (a 2-ish hour drive each way), because the vet is confident that she can perform the surgery herself.
Since Bill, Hoyt & Sam are all over two pounds and big enough to be neutered, they have an appointment to be neutered tomorrow, and the vet is likely going to perform the eye surgery on at least one of the boys at that time, if not all three of them. Once the first surgery is down, she’ll have a better feel for exactly how long each surgery will take, and then she can determine whether the rest of the boys should have their eyes done at that time, or wait until a later date.
Sookie, the only girl, will be spayed, and since that’s a more extensive surgery than neutering, she’ll have to have two separate surgeries. And since Terry has to have his hernia repaired in addition to being neutered, he’ll have to have his eyes repaired in a separate surgery, also, since the neutering plus the hernia repair plus the eye surgery would have him under for too long.
So we have our solution and we’re ready to move ahead!
I don’t have a sum yet as to what the surgeries will cost – the vet is working on that and I should have a number later today, hopefully – but I know that it’s not going to be inexpensive to reconstruct the eyelids (or part of the eyelids) for six tiny cats, and I know that the surgeries will strain the shelter budget quite a bit.
That’s where you come in (you knew that was coming, right?). If you can spare some money to help pay the vet who will be reconstructing the eyelids of these kittens so that they won’t suffer eye damage as they grow up, it would be very much appreciated.
Challenger’s House accepts donations by mail (check or money order), by phone (Mastercard/VISA), or select the button below to donate through PayPal. (Make sure you make a note to let Susan know that the donation is meant for the True Blood Kittens’ surgeries!)
Challenger’s House
112 Tristian Rd.
Toney, AL 35773
Phone: 256-420-5995
Please help spread the word – steal either of the banners below, or create your own if you’d like. Link to the permanent page about the kittens. Every little bit of help for these kittens is very much appreciated.
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“But… I don’t WANNA go be tutored and have my eyeballs messed with!”
Bill thinks perhaps having good eyesight is overrated.
Snuggly Terry.
Got all six of them in one picture for once! Even looking in the same general direction!
I was waving a feather toy over my head to get their attention, and it makes me laugh that Terry (on the back of the chair) thinks perhaps if he stands up on two legs, he can reach the toy.
Bill in silhouette.
Bowl full o’ Sookie.
Terry keeps warm in the sun.
Upside down cat beds are far more comfortable than right-side-up, apparently.
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Previously
2008: At least she’s got Zoe and Kaylee to keep her company and to play with.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
I’ve been reading the adventures of these adorable kittens for a while now, and it’s such a relief to hear that there’s a way to help them!
I’m happy to contribute to this more than deserving cause — I only wish I could do more! I’ll spread the word on Twitter, and hopefully more people will be touched by the True Bloods’ story.
Best of luck for tomorrow, kittens!
You got it, Robyn! With all of us pulling together, we can do this! Lots of hugs and scritches to the babies! A big day tomorrow!
Oh hooray!!!
I’m so glad that you have found a way to make a better life for these sweethearts with some better eyes. I’ve already made my donation and plan to spread the word to kitten lovers everywhere.
Give little Terry extra kisses for me, he’s a bit of a mess with the hernia, eyes, etc… but about the CUTEST little guy I’ve ever seen!
I love your site and all the kittens! I am so happy to be able to help with their surgies. I made the donation through paypal but did not see anywhere to leave a note designating it for the kittens!! Hope they get it!
I sent a donation and posted a link on my facebook, seeing these little guys in my blog feed makes every day a little bit snugglier.
Thanks, all of you, for your donations!
Kathleen, not to worry – I’m certain the shelter manager will know your donation is meant for these guys. 🙂
So, SO glad there is a way to help these adorable little furry ones. Donation is sent. And I’ll spread the word as best I can. Robyn, you’re an angel! And the True Bloods are beyond adorable. Keep us posted, and extra cuddles to, well, all the True Bloods.
I can’t afford to donate, but I will certainly spread the word!
Ok, first I have to say that the picture of them with Terry standing on the back of the chair is hilarious – he has great balance! And it is so good to hear that they can have the surgery to fix their eyes! I am going to donate now but I am also going to post on my blog about it. I have completely fallen in love with all these little guys so I really want them to be helped out!
donated! i can’t remember who referred me here last week or so, but yay more kitties! and i love that you post your pics from flickr, so i can get them added to my groups (*wink* and pbbbt). now off to spread the word!
Getting paid tomorrow, will contribute for sure to help the cuties get their eyes fixed!
You should send some of the cuuuuutest pictures to CuteOverload.com… if they publish it you are assured to get a HUGE response from people 🙂
Donated! I actually found out about this from someone in South Africa! One of my readers shared your post in Google Reader and as I was reading I noticed a mention of Birmingham being about a two hours drive south of you. I’m in Huntsville, so I wondered where you were, and then noticed it was Challenger’s House! I think it’s amazing that I found out about something so close to home from someone so far away. People are definitely spreading the word!!
My daughter Hannah is fostering Abigail’s Angels (can be seen at http://hubblespacepaws.blogspot.com or http://moleereality.blogspot.com) and along with her friend Meghan have donated to the True Blood kitten surgery fund from proceeds they have received from selling tie dye shirts over the summer to raise money for college and for local animal shelters. They have decided this time to donate to this cause because we have fallen in love with these beautiful kittens. We are praying for them.
Linked on my blog and facebook. YAY for all the wonderful people in the whole wide world!
we have a cat that had that surgery as a baby (on our nickel:) — he healed quickly and never had any more trouble with his eyes.
I’m off to donate — great cause!
🙂 Linda
I will most definitely try to donate. Every little bit helps! and i will advertise this on my facebook and ask my friends to post it on their site.
What adorable kittens! And what a lot to be going through at such a young age, poor things. We saw a post about you on Amy’s House of Cats and came over to visit, we’ll come back to see how things are going with these cuties!
Purrs and hugs,
The Kitty Krew
I love the fact that the “Kitty Mafia”; Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, Albert & Elvis, Space Paws, et. al., have all gotten on board with this.
Glad to hear the surgery is possible. Best of luck to the kitties and hope they all recover nicely.