Stella is a 12-year-old Ragdoll in Detroit, MI, who needs $2,000 for radical bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy.

Stella was nine months old when she was brought into the intake room at the Huron Valley Humane Society where I was volunteering as a cat comforter. She stared at me with her big, blue, confused, crossed eyes, and that was it, I was in love. We've been inseparable for the last 12 years. She's been by my side for most of my adult life, through new teaching jobs, bad breakups, and stressful moves.

She’s my emotional support Stu. Stella (some of you know her as Stu or Stuart) is the only cat that Bubba, my other rescue kitty, will allow as a sister. She waits by the door until I get home, sleeps on my pillow, and screams at me from outside the tub. She snores like an old man and sheds like a cotton ball, and Bubba and I cherish every second with her; she is my little fluffy shadow.

I am a teacher, who is going to school, paying off debt, and supporting myself. Her medical expenses will cost between $14,000-15,000. I am encouraged by the fact that the oncological staff could confidently tell me that this treatment will save her life.

Recently Stella went to the vet to get a lion’s cut for summer, and they found a lump on her nipple. The results from Stella’s biopsy confirmed she has mammary cancer. This is my worst nightmare come true. She is being seen by Dr. Obradovich at Animal Cancer and Imaging Center. She is in urgent need of a radical bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy to remove the cancer.

Stella has no idea how sick she is. She is acting like her usual, happy self. In fact very recently, after 12 years of experience, we learned that the vacuum is actually not here to kill us, and we can all be in the same room together. I cannot say goodbye to Stella knowing she has the opportunity for a second chance at life after this treatment. Our pets are our family.