​​Luci & Kathi: A Love Story That Defied the Odds

Love comes in many forms, and sometimes, it arrives in the smallest, most unexpected packages. Seven years ago, Kathi found Luci—a tiny kitten at a gas station, covered in oil, barely clinging to life.

Luci

Most people would have seen a frail, helpless animal. But Kathi saw something more. She saw a fighter. A soul in need of love. And in that moment, Luci wasn’t just rescued—she became family.

From the very start, Luci made her presence known. Weighing just four pounds, her raspy hiss-meow and boundless affection filled Kathi’s home with joy, comfort, and unwavering companionship. She wasn’t just a pet—she was Kathi’s heart.

The Moment Everything Changed

Then, one day, Luci stopped. She stopped eating. Stopped playing. Stopped snuggling.

Kathi’s world came crashing down. She rushed Luci to a veterinarian, desperate for answers. The diagnosis was devastating: Pyometra—a life-threatening infection requiring emergency surgery.

But the veterinary clinic couldn’t do the procedure. Time was slipping away, and Kathi was terrified.

Mission Animal Hospital: A Lifeline When It Mattered Most

Kathi refused to give up. She brought Luci to Mission Animal Hospital, and that decision changed everything.

• Immediate care.

• Emergency surgery. 

• A mother’s fierce determination.

And because of Mission’s accessible veterinary care model, Luci survived. She fought like the tiny warrior she is—and she made it back into Kathi’s arms.

Because Love Saves Lives—And So Can You

Today, Luci is quirky, cuddly, and full of life—just as she was meant to be. With every raspy meow and warm snuggle, she reminds Kathi of the love that almost slipped away.

Mission Animal Hospital was there when Kathi and Luci needed hope the most—because no pet should be turned away when their life is on the line.

You can be the difference, too.

You can be the reason another pet gets a second chance. You can be the lifeline for a family in crisis.

Because love is not just a feeling. It’s an action. It’s care. It’s hope.

Be that hope. Donate today.

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