LEWISTON – Everyone at d’Youville Pavilion knew something was wrong when Callie the cat started lying around.

The petite, year-and-a-half-old calico and her two brothers had lived at d’Youville since they were weeks old. They were living, breathing stress-relievers for the 140 residents and staff, and people loved them.

Normally, Callie was perky, playful, insistent on treats and attention. But during one weekend in mid-October, she stopped eating and began throwing up. She wouldn’t run around, wouldn’t play.

Callie, who usually liked cuddling only for a little while, suddenly stayed limp in people’s arms.

“She looked at me like ‘Don’t leave me,'” said staff member Joyce Manyak.

Despite exams, scans and tests, vets turned up nothing. Fluids and anti-nausea medication didn’t seem to help.

When Callie got worse, Manyak made a frantic trip to the Animal Emergency Clinic in Lewiston. An X-ray finally showed the cause.

Callie had eaten a piece of string and it was wreaking havoc with her tiny intestines. She needed immediate surgery.

To do it, the vet needed at least $1,100. Also immediately.

D’Youville tried to keep a fund for its pets, but it didn’t have that kind of money. Administrators figured they could raise the cash, though it would take time.

And Callie didn’t have any time left.

So Manyak pulled out her credit card.

“I said whatever happens happens. I’m not going to let this cat die,” Manyak said.

Then word started to spread that Callie needed help.

“I just barely got back in the building and people were greeting me with money,” Manyak said.

As Callie recuperated, donations rolled in from staff members, residents, families of residents and community members. Some gave a dollar. A Lewiston youth cheering group gave $200.

At the nursing home, staff members did for Callie what they did for all residents: monitored her stitches, watched for signs of pain, kept her calm and quiet in her own room, but allowed visitors throughout the day. “So she wouldn’t have depression,” said Deb Berube, a nursing unit manager.

The emergency hospital knocked 20 percent off its bill, but a week’s worth of vet visits, tests and the surgery still added up to $1,500.

Just a month after Callie first fell ill, d’Youville has raised $1,522. A bottle drive has netted another $100 so far.

D’Youville continues to accept donations. The extra money will go to the nursing home’s pet fund.

Last week, staff and residents held a party to celebrate Callie’s recovery and the outpouring of help.

Callie got the first lick of frosting from the cake.

Copy the Story Link