Shoes is a 3 Year Old Mix-Breed in Shalimar, FL, Who Needs $2,000 for 4 Blood Transfusions, Steroid Therapy, Darbepoetin.

When my grandfather, James “Shoes” Schumacher, was dying of aggressive prostate cancer in 2022, I felt lost and alone at college. A family friend found kittens in a storm drain, and Shoes instantly felt sent from above. I drove eight hours home to rescue him and named him Shoes. For three years, he’s filled my life with love, comfort, and joy after every long day.

Shoes is battling life-threatening non-regenerative anemia, now suspected to be myelodysplastic syndrome—a bone marrow failure disorder. After 30 days of testing with no clear cause and repeated transfusions, his body can no longer make blood on its own. He’s under the care of Oviedo Veterinary Care and the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital Internal Medicine team.

Shoes has a heart as big as his name. My military parents swore a cat would never enter the house—now my dad buys him gifts yearly and meows back at him. Shoes loves everyone, cats and dogs alike, and has never hissed once. He plays fetch, sits on command, and greets every guest with affection. He’s pure love and joy wrapped in fur.

As a pre-dental student at the University of Central Florida, I’ve worked tirelessly to support myself, but Shoes’ medical crisis has left me over $10,000 in vet bills with no clear answers. Even if he doesn’t survive, I knew I had to give my baby a fair chance at life.