Hi,

Clementine is a tiny fur baby, probably not even 4 months old, I don't exactly know when she was born -  the closest we can get to knowing is an educated estimate made by a veterinarian.

She appeared in my life around June 15th of this year. She was very small, did not weigh even a kilogram and most likely had been abandoned by her mother, because she was the smallest and weakest kitten in her litter. One could immediately see her fierce will to live, as she was meowing for her dear life so that someone would finally notice her. I took the baby home, fed her and fell in love with her instantaneously.

Clemclem has a truly endless amount of love to give in her tiny body and is very eager to show it. She loves to cuddle while sleeping, always climbing onto her human's chest.

Just when I rescued her she weighed only 600 grams, but she gourmandised all the food she was given and that allowed her to grow to be a slightly bigger, mischievous, little troublemaker.

Unfortunately, about a week ago, Clemclem stopped being her normal cheerful self, she didn’t feel like playing anymore and also began to lose interest in food only to stop eating altogether a couple of days later. Her condition gradually worsened, so she was, quite understandably, taken to the vet. She had blood tests done and during an ultrasound a considerate amount of fluid was found in her abdomen and chest cavity.

A moment later I was given the diagnosis, which pretty much is a death sentence. Clementine has FIP.

For those who do not fully know what FIP ​​is - here is the Cornell University definition.

„Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats caused by certain strains of a virus called the feline coronavirus. Most strains of feline coronavirus are found in the gastrointestinal tract and do not cause significant disease. These are referred to as feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV). Cats infected with FeCV usually do not show any symptoms during the initial viral infection, but may occasionally experience brief bouts of diarrhea and/or mild upper respiratory signs from which they recover spontaneously. FeCV-infected cats usually mount an immune response through which antibodies against the virus are produced within 7-10 days of infection. In approximately 10 percent of cats infected with FeCV, one or more mutations of the virus can alter its biological behavior, resulting in white blood cells becoming infected with virus and spreading it throughout the cat’s body. When this occurs, the virus is referred to as the FIPV. An intense inflammatory reaction to FIPV occurs around vessels in the tissues where these infected cells locate, often in the abdomen, kidney, or brain. It is this interaction between the body’s own immune system and the virus that is responsible for the development of FIP. Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the disease is usually progressive and almost always fatal without therapy.”

Source: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-infectious-peritonitis

Unfortunately, there is no official treatment for FIP and until recently there was not even a shred of hope after the diagnosis. FIP is a disease that is very dynamic in its course and from the moment of diagnosis there isn’t much time to begin treatment as the sick baby’s health deteriorates quickly, so every second is of paramount importance.

A determinant of the devastating nature of FIP is the fact that until the GS441524 treatment was developed, the only option was to euthanise sick fur babies to reduce their suffering to an absolute minimum. Things have changed and around 18 months ago an experimental treatment emerged that has made it possible for many owners to save their feline family members.

Unfortunately the treatment is horrendously expensive.

The cost of purchasing one vial of GS441524 is $118.

One vial is enough for about 8 injections, i.e. 8 days of treatment.
Dosage is weight-based, so if Clementine gains weight, she's going to need more vials of the medicind and therefore the overall cost of treatment will increase accordingly.

The treatment with GS441524 lasts 84 days, hence the estimated cost at the moment is about $1 298 (this does not include shipping), since about 11 vials of GS will be needed.

84 days x 0.6ml / day = 50,4ml GS441524;

50,4ml GS441524 / 5 ml per vial = 10,08 vials;

The aforementioned cost of  $1 298 does not include the shipping, cost of additional vet appointments, blood tests, ultrasounds and supplements that Clemclem is going to need to be a happy and healthy fur baby once again.

The price of hope sure is high. For me personally, the cost of the GS441524 treatment greatly exceeds my financial capabilities, hence I kindly ask you for help, because I don’t want to believe that the price of life can prove to be too steep and therefore my poor little Clementine will never be able to grow up. She is so young, hasn't really had a real shot at life yet and suddenly, because of this terrible illness and without the treatment would have to forfeit that chance. Please help in any way you can. If you can't donate, please share the fundraiser.

Quite honestly any amount is a great help to us, because it will bring Clementine that much closer to being healthy again. So if you find it in your heart to donate anything for this cause, please do know that it is greatly appreciated and I thank you with all my heart. 

Here's a link to our PayPal fundraiser:

https://paypal.me/pools/c/8rZKlcGaeQ

UPDATES

25/08/2020 (Tuesday)

I have purchased two vials of GS441524, the cost was slighly higher than previously anticipated due to additional taxation.

If everything goes according to plan, the medicine will be here on Wednesday. Please keep your fingers crossed!

26/08/2020 (Wednesday)

We got the first two vials of the medicine today!

IT'S DAY 1/84 OF CLEM'S FIP TREATMENT

We've had another vet's appointment today and most unfortunately Clem's temperature is at 40,5℃. We also administered the first dose of GS441524, Clem didn't like it, but was very brave nevertheless. Please keep your fingers crossed that she feels better very soon!

27/08/2020 (Thursday)

DAY 2/84 

Today couldn't unfortunately be considered as a good day for little Clem, as during the vet's appointment we were told that Clem yet again has fluid in her abdomen. We had it extracted for testing so we can once and for all confirm her diagnosis. She had her blood taken for further testing as well. She's suffered so much today and therefore she just slept for the rest of the day. 

The overall cost of all the vets' appointments that Clem has had so far are now close to 300$.

28/08/2020 (Friday)

DAY 3/84

Clem is still not eating of her own volition. Fortunately she doesn't need to be fed, but you have to place the food bowl very close to her tiny face for her to start eating and she only eats while lying down. 

She hasn't had fever today and let's keep our fingers crossed that it stays this way.

 29/08/2020 (Saturday)

DAY 4/84

Unfortunately Clem's fever is back, her body temperature is at 39,7℃.

I really think she's feeling slightly better, even despite the fever and having the fluid back in her abdomen. The injections are really paiful, but we need to be brave and hope that by the end of the day all the suffering that Clemclem has to go through will be worth it. 80 more days to go.

30/08/2020 (Sunday)

DAY 5/84

Clem doesn't seem to be taking the injections well. After we administer the medicine she just sleeps for the rest of the day. She only wakes up in the evening, but the good part is that she seems to be a little bit more playful. As always I'm hoping for the best.

31/08/2020 (Monday)

DAY 6/84

I can't believe tomorrow it's going to be a week since we started the treatment. The fluid in her abdomen persists, the fever occasionally comes back, the injections are horrible, but she seems to be stronger.

Get better precious, little Clemclem!