We're Hoping for a Second Miracle

It was 4 weeks ago that a person walking to the gas station in Venice, Illinois heard a sound coming from the bushes along the sidewalk. Curious, the person stopped to investigate and there lying in the dirt was a single kitten.

The person never made it to the gas station. Instead, they scooped up the kitten and took her home. Then they called a family member who was familiar with tiny kittens to see if she could take the orphan. She agreed.

Once the kitten arrived at her place of refuge, she was placed next to a mother cat with kittens about the same age. Thankfully, the nursing mom accepted the baby and Miracle settled right in.

That was 3 weeks ago. Earlier today, Miracle was not acting normal and when she was picked up, she went limp. Rushing her to Veterinary Specialty Serivces in Manchester, Missouri, Miracle was taken into the back, and the vet went to work getting to bottom of what was going on with her.

After doing a number of tests, it was determined Miracle's glucose level was dangerously low. The normal range is between 60 and 150 mg/dL. Miracles was 21 mg/dL. When blood sugar is low, it is referred to as hypoglycemia. This can occur if a young kitten is not getting enough food and does not have carbohydrates or fat stores in the body to create new glucose.

In mild cases, there may be no outward signs that the blood glucose is low. In more serious cases the signs of hypoglycemia include weakness, disorientation, lack of balance, blindness, sleepiness, loss of appetite, vomiting, rapid breathing and slow heart rate. In severe cases, collapse and loss of consciousness, and even death, may follow.

Given the seriousness of Miracle's condition, the cost to treat her is estimated to be somewhere between $1,200 and $1,500. The woman who had been taking care of Miracle for 4 weeks could not afford that and when the vet offered to euthanize Miracle, she started to cry. Through her tears, she said to the vet, "I can't have this sweet kitten put to sleep because I don't have the money to help her. Can you keep Miracle and save her."

The vet could not do that because it's against the hospital's policies, but what she could do was give the woman the phone number for SNUGGLE Pet Rescue. When we talked with the woman she was on the verge of crying again.

We agreed to take over the care of Miracle. The woman thanked us repeatedly and apologized that she could not help the kitten herself. But she did help Miracle, along with the family member who found her. Together they got her to a place where she got the help she needed to live.

Miracle is getting the best possible care tonight. She has already shown some signs of improvement thanks to the intravenous glucose solution (dextrose) she is being given. She is still not in the clear yet and the possibility of a blood transfusion is still an option.

There are some added concerns too. When the vet tech took Miracle's temperature for the first time, it was not even registering. She had a bad case of fleas which is being remedied. What is puzzling the vet though is what is going on with the majority of Miracles tail and all four of her feet. They have no fur on them, and the skin appears necrotic which is a sign of dead cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury or failure of the blood supply. Another possibility is that Miracle may have sustained some kind of burn. Tests are being done to hopefully get a better idea so the appropriate treatment can be given.

If Miracle takes a turn for the worse overnight the vet will call us. We're really hoping not to get that call. In the meantime, everything possible is being done so our patient can have a second miracle in her short life.