Around 6:30p.m. Tuesday the 11th, the place my sister Melinda called home caught fire. Firefighters arrived but were not able to save Husker, Melinda’s tabby cat. Their valiant efforts to rescue her orange cat resulted in Sandy’s life being saved. Sandy is in critical condition in the emergency animal hospital in Casselberry. She is exhibiting labored breathing, neurological impairment, and blindness. On top of the intense grief Melinda is experiencing after losing Husker, she is faced with thousands of dollars of medical debt to help Sandy, now her only pet, fight for her life.
All of Melinda’s possessions have been destroyed. At the time of the fire, Melinda was at a rehearsal for a community theater show of “It’s a Wonderful Life”. She had no idea her world was ending just a few miles away. I have seen Melinda drop everything to help a stranger. She gives freely and expects nothing in return. As freely as she gives, she never asks for help. She faces her own challenges head on. This time, she needs us, her community, to support her. No one is more deserving of your kindness.
Sandy is fighting. She is working hard to recover from the smoke inhalation. The smoke that killed her brother, Husker, is now the smoke she must work to recover from. It will be a long road, but Sandy is strong and loving, and loves life. She is young, she is silly, she loves cuddles, and she is fighting to live. Please find it in your heart to give what you can to help Melinda fight for Sandy the way Sandy is fighting for herself.
