Help Mai get Palliative radiation; nasal lymphoma Dose: 3, 4, 5 — Houston, TX

Mai, meaning silk, was born in Thailand. We adopted her as a kitten while teaching there, and she came home to Texas with us. She’s been family for 12 years. She’s smart, figures out doors and routines, and knows who’s the softer touch. She’s the most affectionate cat we’ve known, with the loudest, most obnoxious hungry meow in Texas. She won’t stop until someone feeds her.

After a year of nose and sinus trouble, CT, rhinoscopy, and biopsy confirmed nasal lymphoma. Steroids triggered diabetes and an emergency visit for ketones. She now gets insulin twice a day and wears a glucose sensor under a recovery vest. Mai is getting 5 rounds of palliative radiation at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists in Houston to shrink the tumor so she can breathe comfortably.

Mai is a living link to our years in Thailand. She crossed an ocean with us and has been part of every chapter since. This year she has put up with scans, needles, insulin, and a glucose sensor, and she’s still the same affectionate, demanding cat. We aren’t asking for a cure, just more good days with her.

Since June we’ve paid nearly $17,000 for Mai’s cancer diagnosis, a diabetes emergency, and the start of radiation. We’ve covered every bill ourselves, but she still needs 3 of 5 palliative treatments, about $2,700.