Rescue Effort For Paralyzed Cat Restores Faith In Humanity As She Now Scoots Around In A Lego Wheelchair

Humans have a tendency to come together and work toward a common goal in times of duress. Although this compulsion is typically fed by war or widespread tragedy, sometimes all it takes is a tiny kitten in need.

Kona, a five-week-old kitten weighing barely one pound, was found on a bridge in Hilo, Hawai'i. She was dragging her hind legs and crying for help.

Posted by Alex Lemieux

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Luckily, a passerby picked her up and brought her home to safety. Although the kind woman couldn't afford the care she knew Kona needed, she took to the local Hawaiian rescue groups Facebook page and was mated with Rescue Kitties of Hawai'i (RKH).

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"I started messaging every rescue contact I could think of," said Maraya, owner and founder of RKH. "Gratefully, every single person I reached out to responded immediately, and we were all trying to figure out the best plan of action."

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There was one problem, however. No volunteers were anywhere close to Hilo.

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"Hilo is an hour away from Oahu by plane," she said. "[Volunteers] were all on other islands or on the completely opposite side of the Big Island."

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Fresh off a long flight from Miami, Florida, airline pilot and fellow cat rescuer Adam Townley-Wren of Maui's Good Cat Network offered to fly Kona to Oahu. However, all flights between the two islands were overbooked, multiple flights were canceled on him, and unfortunately, Kona wouldn't be leaving Hilo that day.

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The compassionate woman who found Kona took her to an emergency veterinary clinic to get her checked out. X-rays showed Kona had a broken femur, but luckily, she was in a stable enough state to fly. Fortunately, RKH coordinated with Krysten, a rescuer based in Hilo, who was able to house her temporarily and administer pain medication.

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Out of options for transportation, Maraya hopped on a morning Southwest Airlines Flight to Hilo and met Krysten at the baggage claim to scoop up Kona and dash back to Oahu. Although she had been through a lot, Kona was alert, happy, and playful even.

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"[Krysten] has a beautiful heart, and she took such wonderful care of Kona," Maraya added.

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Yet, attention to the tiny kitten would begin to grow. As they boarded the plane, a flight attendant named Jennifer announced over the loudspeaker that the flight was carrying "a precious kitten rescue."

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This led fellow passengers to get up and greet Kona and show her love throughout the island-hopping journey.

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She even got to sit in the cockpit with the pilots and was offered "extra kisses" from the "awesome" Southwest flight crew, Maraya explained.

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"In rescue, we are so accustomed to witnessing…the worst side of mankind," she admitted. "Even if it was for just one hour, to be surrounded by so much unconditional love and compassion for a tiny, little, precious life was so absolutely beautiful."

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When the wheels touched down, Maraya ferried Kona straight to Aloha Affordable Veterinary Services to consult with Dr. Regelson, an orthopedic surgeon no stranger to cats with severe lower body fractures.

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After ordering additional X-rays, he confirmed the previous prognosis and discovered that Kona had nerve damage to both hind legs, which left her paralyzed. Dr. Regelson explained the kitty's issues may have originated from a congenital disability or a severe injury in her first few weeks because the broken bones were beginning to heal. Kona also suffers from Coccidia, a parasite that infects the intestinal tracts of cats and other animals, causing severe rectal inflammation.

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It's unclear if Kona's legs will heal entirely, and it's unlikely she will ever walk. Maraya and other volunteers are currently working on a long-term care plan, but Dr. Regleson suggested Kona needed something to facilitate moving around.

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Maraya showed him videos of her cat Boris, who has deformed hind legs, and his tiny wheelchair another veterinarian, Dr. Furutani, crafted from Legos.

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"He said it was the best idea for a kitten wheelchair he has ever seen," Maraya said. "There's no reason why Baby Kona can't have a Lego wheelchair, too!"

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Until she grows older, Kona is home with Maraya gaining strength, taking medications, and scooting around in her own personal Lego cart. RKH is also requesting donations to assist with Kona's recovery. While her future is uncertain, one thing that isn't is how much she is loved and how many people her condition brought together.

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"I'm still in awe and amazement of how many people came together to save just one little life," Maraya said. "We have a phenomenal rescue community. No matter how near or far the call for help may be, we come together as one to answer. Together, we are moving mountains."

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