Chester’s Healing Journey: Photo Essay

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January 30, 2012. The night we adopted “Cheetoh” (Now Chester) Love from the very start.

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Imgur photo sharing site user Cheeseflash posted this photo essay to mark the first anniversary of Chester the cat’s adoption. The year brought unexpected challenges, expense and worry when Chester was discovered to be suffering the effects of a serious injury, but all turned out well in the end. Now Chester is healed and happy, and he is loved by his family.

‘Cheeseflash’ writes:

“A year ago, my boyfriend adopted the best thing to happen to us. It has been the most challenging, stressful, and most rewarding year of our lives. We’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Meet Chester, our little miracle.”
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But we started to worry. He couldn’t lay in any other position, never played, never ate, and was always sick. We’d been taking him to a vet since the day we got him, but they were never helpful. (Note the little heart shape on the top of his head.)

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4 months later, we switched vets to one that didn’t suck and found out Chester had been hit by a car sometime in the past. He had a chronic diaphragmatic hernia and he needed expensive and risky surgery to live a full life, so we packed up and drove to Washington State University.

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The surgery went alright, but he crashed soon after. His blood pressure dropped to near dead levels, and he was in the ICU for six terrifying days with someone literally watching only him for 24hrs/day. We camped in a park/in our car while we waited. Visiting twice a day.

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If anyone has a similar issue and it’s possible, go to WSU. They are probably the best people in the world and damn good vets. They fell in love with Chester instantly, and made him a custom eye mask out of gauze so he could get some sleep and recover.

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The surgeon told us that based on Chester’s cracked pelvis and the way it was fused, he’d been hit by a car at least a year before the surgery. So he was living on the streets in this condition for at least 7 months. The strength it took to stay alive for that long while being basically paralyzed, I will never understand.

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Finally got to come home. Lots of heat packs for faster recovery. He weighed basically nothing at this point and was so feeble. It was equal parts adorable and heartbreaking.

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His strength started to come back, but because of the blood pressure crash, blood couldn’t get to his back right foot, and a week later, the foot started to die.

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We were able to save most of his foot, but the outside toes had to come off. We couldn’t afford more surgery, so we held an online fundraiser.

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Three weeks later, the surgery was paid for and Chester had two less toes.

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I had to change his bandage alone sometimes, so Chester ended up angry and in a towel while I cleaned his foot and made a new bandage three times a week.

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Sometimes he got to clean it himself.

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Because of his car accident, his organs were smashed against his lungs, making it impossible for him to lay on his back before the first surgery. Now, he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants.

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His foot is fully healed, he can sleep comfortably, and he’s gained 2 kg since his stomach can now expand properly.

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He’s can even be a big bully when other cats come to stay for a week.

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A year later, healthier than ever, happy and loved. We made him an adoption day pillow as a present and as homage to the AMAZING people who saved his life at WSU.

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Karen Harrison Binette

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11 thoughts on “Chester’s Healing Journey: Photo Essay”

  2. Very inspiring story. Bless them and the vets for staying devoted and dedicated to getting him better. And bless Chester for being brave and never giving up!!

  3. You are amazing people. Thank goodness that Chester came to you and no one else. He looks so healthy and happy. Bless you.

  4. God bless you for taking this baby kitty in and helping him and saving his life! I wish more people in this world cared for their pet as you do! He is so blessed to have you as parents. There isn’t anything in the world I would not do for my kitty. I can completely relate to how you must have felt putting your baby through all that surgery. You both are amazing! God bless you and baby Chester!

  6. He’s so gorgeous. Cats are so stoic when they’re hurt:-(
    BTW, I also have a big, ginger tabby named “Cheeto.” 🙁

  8. This is the most precious story i have ever heard……Chester is so lucky and so blessed to have found such a wonderful couple, people who do these kinds acts for animals are the best people in the world and you will always be in God’s heart for taking care of his precious animals…may god bless you and Chester!! oxoxoxoxo

  9. Beautiful story. So glad all is fine right now.
    On July 13th 2012 I lost my beautiful tabby Bazi. She looked just like Chester.
    She was so loving and sweet. I still miss her.
    Thank you for your kindness for animals. Need more people like you who think of the kitty and not the money!

  10. Great story!!!! You were all definitely meant to be together. Sounds like Chester hung in there for you guys. So sorry the first Vet was so bad. Hope he doesen’t do this to another animal.

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