My name is Tamara Swanson and I fostered "Teddy", the orange tabby amputee.

I volunteer a small bit of time to helping animal control in the southwest metro find homes for unclaimed cats.  This is how I met a wonderful cat!  He had a collar with a name and phone number, so someone called and was told that he had been gone so long that they had already gotten two other cats to replace him. This was complicated by the fact that he had a very serious injury to his right rear leg and all I could think is "How are the vets going to save him?"

"What will happen to him?" 

I spent an hour with him that day and reassured him over and over again that he would be alright and to stay strong as he would havbe a very big day ahead of him.  He purred the entire time I spoke to him and let me see his wound and place him in a safe position so he could reach his food and water as he was unable towalk.  He never stopped purring and headbutting me.  He was so happy to be warm and dry!  I never thought I would see him alive again as his injury was so severe.

 

   

The next day I got a call from Theresa telling me that he had gone in for survery and had his leg removed up to his hip!  Bev Orr had told the vets that he deserved to live and to do what they could for him.   I had offered to foster and care for him and I did so for the next two weeks.  Willy had to share his resting room with a 7 week old kitten named laptop.  She was also waiting to be adopted. 

The day came for Willy's adoptive family to visit him and they fell in love with him immediately!  They opened the door to his room and he got up on his 3 legs and gingerly walked over to them for some purring and petting.  Hardly a word was spoken and then they spotted Laptop!  She was helping Willy walk and stand. 

During the week they had become best friends and knowing this, the family decided to adopt both!  Laptop was renamed "Milly".

    Next, it was time for stitch removal and vaccinations.  With a clean bill of health and a left leg that was getting stronger all of the time, Willy was walking very well!  Willy and Milly are now with their new family and they love heach other unconditionally.  I miss them both but am happy to have met them.  I feel extremely honored to have known a cat with such courage and determination to survive.  He was surrounded by the Last Hope angel Bev who knew that he deserved to live, and by the Farmington Vet staff that cared and loved him while he was in their care.  I have learned from Willy not to give up and having it all is not what makes you whole!