Jessica Ruf, a student and mother who rescues kittens in Australia, recently shared the story of Hildy, a gray and white kitten who was born with atelectasis and swimmer’s syndrome. Rescuers suspected that Hildy had flat-chested kitten syndrome caused by a collapsed lung, which can cause chest collapse, shortness of breath, and swimming syndrome. Hildy’s hind legs were affected by swimming syndrome, causing her to crawl flat with her legs spread out like she was swimming across the carpet.
Hildy required constant veterinary care, including splints on her forelegs and hind legs to correct her swimmer’s syndrome and splinting on her ribcage to help her lungs re-inflate. The cost of her care, including an intensive care unit and regular vet checkups, would be well over a thousand dollars. Fortunately, a successful lottery was able to raise enough money to buy a special “Dehumidifier” to help Hildy recover.
Despite the uncertain prognosis, Hildy rapidly improved in early March, and her swimmer’s syndrome improved greatly. She even started to eat some wet food along with her formula. Over time, Hildy’s health continued to improve with daily exercise on soft carpeted surfaces. Her collapsed lung began to inflate again, and her legs also improved significantly.
Today, Hildy serves as a reminder of the transformative power of compassion and the incredible bond between humans and animals.
