Go, Diego, Go!
“There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow”. — Orison Marden. The medicine that they give me does not compare to the medicine that I give myself. Hola! Me llamo es Diego; otherwise seen as a miniature, furry black kitty cat. Being a 2 ½ lb, hazel-eyed, 6 month old kitty, I love being cared for and playing with multicolored yarn. My favorite drink is milk from the kitty bowl and strawberry flavored biscuits. At first I may appear very shy. However, when you get to know me, I am the most playful kitty cat you’ll ever meet! You usually don’t notice me coming into the room because of my shy demeanor.
However, I have a dazzling personality with many interests. My favorite shows are Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go! I love the talking animals in those shows because it makes it fun to watch. Besides from being considered so cute because of my small size, being a 2 ½ lb. kitten doesn’t have so many perks. Big kitties and doggies scare me because of their taunting size. Furthermore, I don’t eat mice or chase them around like other cats because I know how it feels like to be miniature and helpless. I may be tiny; however, the experiences and struggles I went through add up to the amount suffered in a lifetime.
I opened my eyes on a beautiful sun-drenched dawn on April 4, 2008 in Manhattan, NY a kitty dream house! Clearly nothing could go wrong! My mommy and daddy lived with these lovely people in their vast mansion where I was also kept But one sickening, gloomy night, the owner of the mansion inadvertently left the door open to the house and my dad left, never to return. The following day, when my mother found out my daddy was lost; she went to look for him and did not return either. I was only an infant kitty back; then therefore, my owner could not take care of me properly, so he decided to give me to the shelter. Not long after, I developed a condition called megaesophagus which was discovered soon after my parents vanished. Megaesophoagus means miniature kitten, and the doctors told me that it is a condition where my food does not go down properly. This disease makes me feel uncomfortable because of the way I am positioned while eating food. It also makes me feel very curious as to what will happen to me as time goes on, and sometimes makes me scared.
My owner left me at North Shore Animal League America Shelter, unable to provide further care for me. The animal shelter is not the same as home where I got all the attention; there are also other ailing animals here in desperate need of care too. I feel very appreciative after looking at all the other puppies and kitties, realizing that my condition is not that terrible. I’m going to require corrective operation to repair my condition of megaesophagus, which is an abnormality in one of my heart vessels that is pinching off my esophagus, preventing food from passing or staying down, if it does get through. I’m presently on this liquid diet, where it is required to consume tiny amounts of fluid numerous times a day. In order to eat, my diminutive body has to be held on two legs while intake, in addition having to stay put that way for about 30-45 minutes afterwards so that the food can make its way downward to my tummy. This very uncomfortable process of eating food makes me impatient to receive the surgery so I can get my health back.
The corrective megaesophagus surgery, in order to fix my disease, is a complicated procedure. Nevertheless, I believe my chances of healing are high; however I could use all the assist I can get. Fortunately the League has a striking plan where petite kitties and doggies like me can get the help we so frantically need. If by chance I do get receive this surgery all my dreams of being a happy kitten again will come true! I wait anxiously in the shelter every day, looking up at the big helpers talking to find out if I am going to be okay. Some days I feel hopeless going to bed at night all alone with no news of my surgery, but when I wake up to a new day, I feel there’s a chance of luck.
I always wished for a good owner who would love and worry for me, keeping me safe, never to leave me. I have high hopes for the future that one day the doctors will fix me and a wonderful owner will come and take me home, where everything will get better. I will try my best to be a patient, patient like Leona Lewis says “It’ll all get better in time.”
- Raida Shah
