Thanks to the skilled efforts of his surgical team, Flynn has come through his delicate surgery with flying colors. Once back from surgery, Flynn rested comfortably in his oxygen chamber for a brief time, but was soon moved to a regular cage at our Pet Health Centers as he continues on his road to recovery. Your support of our Help Me Heal Program makes stories like this possible. Stories of hope and resilience, where sick and injured animals get the lifesaving care they desperately need, and one day find the loving home they deserve.
Tiny Warrior Battles a Rare Condition
Peering out of an oxygen chamber in our Pet Health Centers, eight-week-old Flynn is anxious to be a kitten. He doesn’t understand that too much activity for him right now could be fatal. Flynn came to our attention after a routine check-up at a local shelter revealed his rare and life-threatening condition — peritoneal pericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH). Will you help make sure Flynn gets the surgery he needs to survive?
Flynn’s condition is congenital, meaning that his internal organ system did not develop properly. The sacs that keep the heart and abdomen apart have connected in a way that allows the abdominal organs to slip through and encroach into his chest, compressing his heart and making it harder to pump. Although Flynn currently shows no discomfort and is full of kittenish energy, without corrective surgery, his condition could rapidly deteriorate, leading to heart failure.
Above left is an x-ray of a healthy kitten’s abdomen and chest cavity. On the right is Flynn, with his tiny heart under constant pressure from the invading organs.
Animal League America Staff Veterinarian Dr. Katarina Valen explained the rarity of this situation: “In fifteen years, I’ve only seen this condition twice. Cats have a .062% of having this condition and it’s typically discovered incidentally, so we were fortunate to find it early for Flynn.” The surgery Flynn needs is intricate and complex. Specialists will manually reposition his organs and repair the diaphragmatic hole. This procedure requires Flynn to be on assisted breathing throughout. During surgery air must be removed from the around the heart (in the pericardial sac) and the thoracic space around the lungs.
This high-risk procedure is costly, but vital for Flynn’s future, and we believe this sweet kitten deserves a chance at a normal, joyful life. But we urgently need your help to make it possible. Your donation today will help us provide for Flynn’s surgery and recovery care, ensuring he receives the best possible treatment. Please let helping heal Flynn’s heart, fill yours. Your donation today will help us provide for Flynn’s surgery and recovery care, ensuring he receives the best possible treatment. Please let helping heal Flynn’s heart, fill yours.