I adopted my sweet lovey kitty boy Milo 4 years ago, charmed by his dog-like behavior. When I first picked him up, he looked at me and put his little paw on my nose. It was love at first sight. At the time he was named Pumba, which we discovered upon arriving home was because of his horrible flatulence. So we changed his name and his food and we have been peachy ever since.Milo was having difficulty breathing at times, but he was otherwise his usual goofy self; chewing on random objects on the floor, cuddling on my chest, playing with his brother Max.Something still seemed off, so I took him to the vet on Tuesday, assuming I was being a paranoid cat mom, or he had a cold or possibly asthma. (Googling pet ailments is just as bad as WebMD-would not recommend. YOUR CAT HAS CANCER!)The vet was very concerned and agreed that it could be asthma. However, after an exam and chest x-ray, Milo was rushed off for oxygen and it was shown that he had accumulated a substantial amount of fluid in his chest cavity. This was compressing his lungs and preventing them from expanding, and making it so he was unable to breathe.They initially thought he could be in heart failure, but after gaining a sample of the fluid it became obvious that Milo has a rare disease called Chylothorax Milo had to have his chest "tapped", using a needle to get the fluid out of his chest cavity. The vet removed (gross imagery warning) an amount equivalent to a coffee cup, or almost a full can of pop.This disease can be caused by a number of issues or pre-existing conditions; heart disease, infection, cancer (damn PetMD), but most cases are idiopathic. This means they can't determine a cause. If there is a primary condition (such as heart problems) that is treatable, sometimes resolving that helps this disease resolve as well. Otherwise, in idiopathic cases, sometimes surgery to stop the fluid from entering the chest cavity resolves it.The vet was very concerned about me taking Milo home, afraid if the fluid continued to accumulate, especially because of the amount of stress he was experiencing,. She thought the ER may be the best plan of action.I was completely in shock.. I've been through the ringer with sick pets, but my cats have all lived to be 17+ years old.As I was reeling from the diagnosis, our options and potential prognosis, the vet suggested I go home while Milo calms down so that they could do another round of X-rays and another chest tap for more fluid. So I sobbed my eyes out and ate some (all...) Oreos and came back in the afternoon.Luckily, Milo was doing significantly better than he had been in the morning. He was able to breathe much easier, wasn't heaving, and hadn't needed oxygen since the last procedure. The vet said he would be okay to take home and to schedule a consultation with a cardiologist, and to watch his breathing rate.I took the loopy boy home and he wandered around the house, drugged out of his damn mind. The vet unfortunately did not supply me with kitty Valium, though I could have greatly used it.Terrified of my baby being unable to breathe again, I obsessively counted his breathing rate every two hours. No sleep for momma tonight.The next day was quiet. Milo was very lethargic from the whole ordeal, and had no appetite, but otherwise was his usual cuddly self. He is in fact laying on both my arms while I type this. Today we visited the cardiologist (yes, apparently cat cardiologists are a thing) where it was determined that Milo's heart was perfectly healthy. So, good news in that regard.Assuming all his labs are normal, this means his case is idiopathic.If the disease is treated medically (low-fat diet, chest taps), scar tissue begins to form after time which makes the process of getting the fluid more difficult and more painful. Of course, kitty is also struggling to breathe between treatments as the fluid accumulates. The fluid also eventually causes the lungs to be scarred, affecting their ability to expand.Milo's age, health and heart condition make him a good candidate for surgery. The technical terms are thoracic duct ligation and pericardectomy. Both of these are really gross so I'll let you look them up on your own if you're interested.With a perfect surgery and candidate, the success rate is 100% for dogs andMilo's appointments and labs this week alone costEach time I have to take him in to have his chest tapped, it would be another 3-400. The cardiologist said he could already see fluid was accumulating again, so I will have to take him again this weekend. Even if we can't do the surgery, the cost of the chest taps alone would easily reach thousands of dollars, and cause undue suffering. The sooner he can get the surgery, the better, because there will be less damage and he won't have to have as many more chest taps.Anyone who knows me is aware I have been a cat lady forever. I am very committed to my furbabies. But Milo and I in particular have a very close and special bond. He has been with me at my very lowest and we take care of each other.I would sell my kidney and everything in this apartment if I thought it could save him. Alas, the black market in Chicago for kidneys is not good for sellers right now, and nobody really wants my cat-scratched fur-covered furniture. I'm doing the best I can, but I can't do it alone.Anyone who knows me also knows I am fiercely (often to my detriment) independent, and have a really hard time asking for help. Setting this up makes me feel very uncomfortable, but I love my Milo, and anyone who meets him instantly falls in love with him as well. Even dog people (I have references).Like, straight up my ghost will be haunt-thanking you. I want to be able to say I did everything I could to help this little guy, because he has helped me so much over the past few years. And I would be so humbled if you could help us get there.To end on a more positive note, here are a few things about Milo.- Potato chips- Sleeping in sun spots- Greeting you at the door when you get home- Chewing on brick/plastic/furniture/anything- Cuddling with his brother Max and then getting weird about it and wrestling instead- Headbutting you- Meeting new people- Taking and running away with mom's mascara when she is getting ready in the morning- Having his cheeks scratched- Climbing up on your chest and sleeping with his head under your chin <3- Finishing your milk when you're done with cereal- Drinking the water from your glass when you absolutely are not done with it- Rubbing all over people who are allergic to him- Creating fur tumbleweeds (tumblefurs?) that blow across the apartment floor- Begging for attention at all times- Waking mom up in the morning by combing her hair with his clawsAs you can see, he is a very charming and lively gent, and he loves people and his life.Your contribution will help a sweet, sweet kitty get another chance at life, AND prevent his owner from becoming homeless from mounting vet bills. We also appreciate simple good vibes and sharing with your friends and family. Thank you, thank you.