Genevieve
Born with a Spine That Split in Two, Help Genevieve Keep Fighting
Kernersville, NC • Flopsy's Friends Foundation
Some kittens are born into this world with every advantage. Genevieve wasn't. Before she ever had a chance to explore, play, or simply be a carefree kitten, she was fighting for her life. After suffering a devastating seizure, advanced imaging revealed what even specialists rarely see. Genevieve was born with Diplomyelia, an extraordinarily rare congenital condition that caused her spinal cord to split into two instead of developing as one. Her body struggles to coordinate movement, and she cannot fully control her bladder or bowels. The heartbreaking discoveries didn't stop there. Large portions of the areas of her brain responsible for movement and reflexes never fully formed. Because her condition is structural, there is no surgery that can fix it. Her neurologists and her caregivers at Flopsy’s Friends developed one goal: keep Genevieve comfortable, seizure free, and give her every opportunity to enjoy the life she deserves. And Genevieve has exceeded every expectation. Every milestone has been hard earned. She learned to stand and eat on her own with a specially designed feeding setup. She began grooming herself, a victory that most people would never think twice about. With medications, physical therapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, rehabilitation, and endless love, she has become stronger, steadier, brighter, and more determined every single day. She has slowly been able to reduce her prednisone dose, her eyes have become more focused, her coat has started growing back, and she continues proving that she is so much more than her diagnosis. But Genevieve's journey has taken another heartbreaking turn. Out of nowhere, she became critically ill and was rushed to emergency care after developing a high fever and severe breathing difficulties. Doctors diagnosed pneumonia. Imaging also revealed a small amount of free fluid that now requires evaluation by a cardiologist to rule out any underlying heart disease. Her little body is fighting so hard. Her fever returned, and her white blood cell count soared to 38,000, more than double what it should be, showing just how hard her immune system is working. Thankfully, oxygen therapy has helped her breathe more comfortably, but she still needs specialized care, additional diagnostics, medications, and ongoing monitoring. Watching Genevieve struggle is heartbreaking. She can't tell us what hurts. She can't explain what she needs. All she can do is keep fighting. And she does. Every single day. Genevieve has never given up, and neither will we. Her care has already included emergency hospitalizations, MRI and CT imaging, neurology specialists, medications, rehabilitation, acupuncture, laser therapy, cardiology consultations, bloodwork, and continued monitoring. The costs have become overwhelming, but saying "no" has never been an option for this extraordinary little girl. If Genevieve has touched your heart, please consider making a donation today. Every gift no matter the size helps provide the specialized medical care she needs to continue her incredible fight. Together, we can help Genevieve keep proving that miracles don't always look the way we expect, they sometimes come wrapped in gray fur with an unstoppable spirit. 8/12/26 Update We have an important update on Genevieve, and this little fighter needs our help more than ever. Genevieve recently saw a cardiologist, and thankfully, there was some reassuring news about her heart. She has occasional high pressure in her pulmonary artery that can cause a murmur when she gets excited, as well as a thickened tricuspid valve that allows some blood to flow backward and makes her heart work harder. For now, her veterinary team believes these issues can be monitored with annual echocardiograms. Unfortunately, her appointment also brought a new and concerning discovery. An ultrasound showed a large mass in Genevieve’s abdominal area, something that had also been noted during her recent emergency hospitalization. Her platelet count is also dangerously low at just 38,000, which is especially concerning for a kitten who already struggles with balance and is more prone to stumbling. Flopsy’s Friends is now working to get Genevieve an urgent abdominal ultrasound, and she may need to return to the emergency hospital to have it done as quickly as possible. Genevieve is also still running fevers, struggling to urinate, experiencing significant bloating, and dealing with persistent ear infections. Her little body is clearly struggling, and she urgently needs answers and continued medical care. For now, Genevieve is happy to be back home. She even cried a little during her echocardiogram, which is unusual for this normally quiet girl, but she was such a trooper through it all. The cost of Genevieve’s extensive care has depleted the rescue’s available funds, and she still has more diagnostics and treatment ahead. If you can donate or share her fundraiser, please do. Every bit of support helps Flopsy’s Friends continue fighting alongside this extraordinary little girl and get her the urgent care she needs.
★ Featured
