Tinkerbell, of Fox Foster Kittens, has not had an easy start to life, but a spinal surgery might be the miracle she needs.

Tinkerbell hasn’t had an easy start to life.

After being brought to Fox Foster Kittens, it was discovered that Tinkerbell couldn’t walk. She was diagnosed with hemivertebrae, which caused a curvature of her spine. Unless it is fixed, other issues can arise down the line.

Little Tinkerbell couldn’t use the bathroom on her own, and she went through weeks of physical therapy to strengthen her legs. Eventually, she was able to hop and play and showed vast improvement. But all that was about to change.

Tinkerbell’s Health Takes A Turn For The Worse

Tinkerbell was on her way to becoming a healthy young kitten, and she received her spay surgery once her health improved. Unfortunately, after her spay surgery, she lost all control of her bowels and bladder. She also lost most of the function in her legs.

All of the hard work put in by her foster mom saw her regress rapidly after the surgery. It was a difficult time, but slowly over the coming weeks, Tinkerbell began to improve again. This led to a potential adopter, and finally, to a future home! It wasn’t until Tink’s foster mom brought her in for a rabies shot and x-rays that she learned more bad news.

The X-Rays Reveal A Major Health Problem

Tink’s x-rays showed what appeared to be severe spinal fractures that had healed. Tink’s vet decided to consult an orthopedic doctor, who revealed even more bad news. They weren’t spinal fractures — Tinkerbell’s spine was separating (also referred to as luxating).

This was an enormous blow to Tink’s foster mom. Her worst fears were coming true. If something wasn’t done, and fast, Tinkerbell faced becoming fully paralyzed. Afraid that he might make the matter worse, the orthopedic surgeon suggested consulting a neurologist.

Spinal Surgery & Tink’s ER Visit

During Tink’s appointment with the neurologist, her foster mom was told Tink would need spinal surgery to stabilize and decompress the spinal cord. Before that could happen, Tink would have to have a CT scan to fully map the repair and fusion of her spine.

The neurologist had one more thing to tell Tink’s foster mom, and that was that he didn’t think Tink had hemivertebrae. Instead, he suspected that she had been slammed in a car door as a young kitten. As heartbreaking as this news was, her foster mama was determined to get her the help she needed.

Fox Foster Kittens depends on the donations of their supporters to help cover the kittens’ medical cost, but this surgery would be particularly expensive. Early estimates were given of anywhere from $8,000-$10,000. As Tink’s foster mom prepared to open up a GoFundMe fundraiser, Tink suddenly got very sick.

July 25th – Tink Is Rushed To The ER

Only a day before her scheduled CT scan, Tinkerbell stopped eating and was rushed to the ER with a fever of close to 106. The initial diagnosis was a UTI, which Tink had suffered from before. She was given IV fluids and antibiotics. A mysterious lump was also found on her neck, which started to grow rapidly.

July 26th & 27th – The Fever Breaks… And Returns

At last, Tinkerbell’s fever broke. It seemed like she would be on the mend, but that hope was shortly outlived. The fever returned, and the lump on her neck had quadrupled in size. An aspirate (where fluid is drawn from the body) was done, but nothing was removed.

Tink’s red blood count and white blood count had dropped significantly. She still wouldn’t eat, and a second IV antibiotic was added.

July 28th & 29th – Things Begin To Get Better

Once again, the fever broke. Now it was a battle to get Tink’s blood and other bodily system levels under control. A chem panel was ordered. There was good news, however. Tink started eating again!

The next day was a doozy. The fever didn’t seem to want to go away, and an edema (buildup of fluid) had appeared on Tink’s right side in her arm and leg. Still, Tink remained in good spirits.

July 30th & 31st – Some New Concerns

As if all that had happened weren’t enough, Tink was losing weight and muscle mass. Her back legs hadn’t been exercised in awhile, and the swelling on her right side was increasing. Doctors had no idea what was causing the swelling.

Tink’s spirit could not be broken, however. She even had enough energy to play with her foster mama. Only July 31st, she was well enough to go home!

Her blood levels began to get better, the edema swelling was almost completely gone, and Tink hadn’t had a fever for 24 hours. Hooray!

How You Can Help Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell is out of the ER, but the medical bills still remain. The total cost of Tinkerbell’s medical bills is rapidly reaching the 15k level. Fox Foster Kittens depends on donations to help cats like Tinkerbell. There are two ways you can help Tink and her foster mama out.

Tinkerbell’s GoFundMe

Tink has her own GoFundMe fundraiser that you can find here. Donations will go toward the cost of Tink’s CT scan, MRI, hospitalization and spinal surgery.

Team Tinkerbell T-Shirts

Want some cute cat merchandise to go with your donation? Consider purchasing a Team Tinkerbell t-shirt here!

Stay Updated On Tink’s Progress On Instagram

Tink’s foster mama regularly posts updates on the Fox Foster Kittens Instagram account. Along with Tink, there are many young kittens who are also in need of help. Please consider making a donation to Fox Foster Kittens and help these little guys get the medical care they desperately need.