Mir is a 5-year-old Shorthair in Bountiful, UT, who needs $2,000 for Reconstructive Surgery using Axial Pattern Flap.

My children and I went to a pet adoption event five years ago to get a black kitten. We found a beautiful longhair black cat. We saw this beautiful boy as well and just couldn't leave without him! We named him Mir (rhymes with ear) because it it was funny to say "Come here, Mir!" which shortened to become " 'Mere, Mir!" People think we're just saying his name twice, which is funny!

Mir has had many medical needs - he had herpes in his eyes when we got him but we didn't know it. We almost lost both his eyes, but amazing medical help saved them both! Just this Spring, he got an abscess behind one eye and had to be hospitalized. We made the tough choice to remove it, and his personality and fur has changed to be happier and healthier than ever in his whole life!

Our other cat is very sweet and likes to be petted, but Mir has always been different. He loves to cuddle under the covers with us, and loves to rub his face on ours (we laugh and say he's "wiping his spit on us")! He greets me at the door at the end of the day and wants to be pet. He always starts meowing to let me know when it's time to go to bed and cuddle. A very loyal and loving kitty!

While watching my son's spayed female cat, Mir got into a fight and received a puncture wound that we couldn't see. He started limping so we thought it was a bone injury, even though x-rays showed nothing. This past weekend, I noticed a burst abscess above his splint. I took him back to the hospital and they discovered his whole leg had been split open by this burst abscess.

I have spent a lot of money (over $10K) and time to improve Mir's quality of life. Mir finally blossomed when we removed his eye a couple months ago and I want him to enjoy a longer life with his newfound health. My son was able to take his cat back, but I can't lose Mir!