Five years ago, Amanda Kruczynski decided to become a foster volunteer and was advised that fostering comes with one key principle – “there’s value in saying goodbye. The goal is to bid farewell.”

Amanda shared with Love Meow that it’s the responsibility of foster pet parents to take care of the animals until they are healthy and confident enough to be adopted into their forever homes. While saying goodbye can be difficult, it’s rewarding to know that you’ve played a part in finding these pets a loving family. The unexpected arrival of Meeseeks, a curly haired kitten, a year ago had a profound impact on Amanda. Meeseeks was discovered in a cardboard box outside in the rain with his feline family. The kittens were rescued and taken to Broward County Animal Care, where they were placed with foster families.

The following day, Amanda reached the shelter and learned about a small family in need. “I was informed that the mother of these kittens was a long-haired diluted tortie afflicted with FIV, while three of her siblings were long-haired, but none of them were as unique as Meeseeks,” Amanda shared. She also discovered that Meeseeks appeared to be a Devon Rex Mix. The kittens were in dire need of a foster home, and Amanda stepped forward without any second thoughts to offer assistance.

Meeseeks, the runt of the litter, was noticeably tinier than his brothers and sisters, clocking in at less than half a pound. During the initial few days under his foster mom’s care, he craved constant cuddles and would snuggle into a tiny ball that could fit snugly in her palm. Amanda, Meeseeks’ caregiver, soon became his closest companion, and he would trail behind her wherever she went. She recalls fondly, “He had his eyes on me all the time. I couldn’t even shut a door without discovering him waiting patiently for me on the other side.”

After a few weeks, Amanda was hit with terrible news – the test results for the kittens came back positive for panleukopenia, a disease that is usually fatal in small kittens. However, Amanda was determined to not give up and was ready to fight alongside her furry little friends until the very end.

Despite being the smallest of his litter, Meeseeks managed to defy the odds and survive after receiving treatment for a full week. Throughout his recovery, he frequently sought comfort from Amanda, which may have given him the motivation to persevere.

Amanda took her kitties to the shelter for adoption, assuming they would find their forever homes there. She had never second-guessed this decision before, but when she saw Meeseeks peering up at her from the crowd of fluffy siblings in his carrier, she felt like he was practically signing the adoption papers himself.

It seems like Meeseeks has a special reason for requiring Amanda’s assistance once again. Apparently, he has a health condition that went unnoticed during his early days. Despite multiple trips to the vet, Meeseeks remained an enigma, and his health quickly deteriorated. However, after undergoing several procedures, including exploratory laparotomy, and receiving a cancer misdiagnosis, he was eventually diagnosed with Feline Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Sclerosing Fibroplasia.

Meeseeks suffers from a recently discovered inflammatory disease known as FGESF. The condition causes him to struggle to keep food in his system, and there is no way to determine how long he will live. His vet must continually investigate new studies to ensure he receives the most up-to-date treatment. This is a situation Meeseeks will have to deal with for the rest of his life. Nonetheless, we manage it by administering daily steroids, weekly B12 injections, and anti-nausea medication as necessary. Despite the difficulties he faces, Meeseeks has been resilient since the very beginning, and we are confident that he will continue to fight for a long time to come.

Every day, Amanda cherishes the moments she spends with her beloved feline companion who always manages to keep his spirits high. Whether he is perched on a windowsill or chasing after a red laser dot, her kitty never fails to bring joy to their family. Despite it all, Amanda’s furry friend has remained deeply attached to her. He never hesitates to follow her into a separate room and eagerly scratches at her pillow every night to snuggle under the blankets. She describes him as a true “cuddle bug” and wouldn’t trade their journey together for anything in the world.

Last month, Mr. Meeseeks celebrated his first birthday on October 1st. Despite not being expected to survive, Amanda was grateful for their bond and the lessons he taught her. Through their relationship, she learned to appreciate life differently and understand that love can come in the form of a furry friend with four paws.

There are certain things that remain constant 🙂