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By week two of having him, we rushed him as an emergency patient to the vet because he was limp and unresponsive. He had a fever of 106 and he was having seizures. The vet said she'd speak with an internal specialist. Then, a few minutes later, we were told by this vet he had a bacterial infection, he was put on antibiotics, and sent home. He got a little better, but then, he tanked again. He still had a fever when he returned to his follow up appointment.

We said the antibiotics were not working, they just weren't the right kind for whatever he had, he was still hot as ever and sick and couldn't do anything. He needed a different medication. The same vet said no.

We had him back to the vet a week later, and he was seen by a different vet. She tried to help by giving him new antibiotics and medications, but she wasn't sure what it was, either, but she did try.

He only got worse on that medication. Scared of everything, anxious, couldn't remember things, couldn't remember faces, couldn't remember the cats he'd been living with. We were at a loss, we had no idea what to do.

Then, this past Saturday came.

Balkie was suddenly completely paralyzed. He could no longer move. He could no longer swallow on his own. He couldn't hold his head upright on his own anymore. He had a fever for the third time, and he was dying. Legitimately dying.

Mom took him to the vet that morning at 11 AM, fully believing they were going to put him down.

But, we got a new vet on Saturday. She went through his records from the previous visits, and realized, an internal specialist had written in his file that they believed he had Toxoplasmosis. And the first vet, WHO HAD SPOKEN TO THE SPECIALIST, simply would not tell us that and refused to treat him for that.

So this sweet little baby had a parasite from raccoons and rats that was attacking his brain and paralyzing him, and had been suffering with it for a month.

The new vet put him on Clindamycin, the only thing that treats Toxoplasmosis. Gave him a fever reducer and a steroid.

By the next morning, he could swallow on his own again and wanted to try walking. In 48 hours, he was no longer paralyzed, and could stand up in the litter box on his own without our help.

This morning, he is running around, he hasn't fallen over, he tried climbing the cat tree all by himself. He's happy, he's playing, he's the kitten I thought we lost when his fever came back the second time.

I can't believe how much he's improved. He's recognizing our faces, he's happy to be here, he wants to be held and is no longer terrified of everything coming and going. He's just my little man again.

I have spent $1,000 saving this sweet baby boy, and he will be special needs for the rest of his life because the Toxo damaged his brain. His head wobbles when he gets excited, he gets weak after a while of running, and his balance is not the best anymore, so he needs around the clock care for right now.

I had other people asking for my Ko-Fi account and to make a wishlist for things he might want/need while he heals and recovers, so I am including the links below. <3

(but make it a gif).