There are many things in life that don’t go as planned. One is anything to do with animals. The other is illness. Put the two together and you have all the ingredients for a panic attack, an ulcer and an inability to envision anything but the worst.

I have five tiny kittens living in my bathroom. Their names are Sweet Pea, Pickle, Skittles, Melon and Chiclet. They were born on Friday, June 10 by unplanned c-section at SpaySA, the spay/neuter clinic where I work. The mother was a feral cat who was days from delivery, unbeknownst to us, but who for some reason did not have any milk to offer her newborns.

Since they weren’t able to nurse, the babies missed out on vital colostrum that supplies the antibodies they need to fight off disease. That means something as harmless as diaper rash can turn life-threatening. I say diaper rash because that’s the best way to describe what’s going on.

Occasionally, bottle babies will nurse on one another or on towels and blankets because they don’t have their mom to supply milk on tap. We have currently identified The Suckler and separated the problem children but the damage is already done. Both female kittens have severe chafing, cracking and redness around their vulva and lower abdomen. One of the males is also chafed, but not to the extent of little Skittles. All of them have pustules on them that indicate that the infection has gotten into their system and is traveling through their bodies. Because of their situation, these little ones just cannot fight off this bacteria.

However, everyone is still eating well and urinating, moving around and trying out their new eyes and tooth buds, so I have elected to pursue treatment. With antibiotics, steroid cream, diaper rash cream (zinc-free), hypoallergenic shampoo and disposable bedding, hopefully we won’t have to go forward with fluids or skin impressions. In the words of Dr. Dobson, “until these little ones are eating and drinking on their own, it’s going to be a very scary time.”

Still, I can’t regret it. I listen to their tiny purrs, the ones that sound like faulty Geiger counters, and see their eyes open for the first time and I can’t even remember the word regret. I would do it all over again and I will do whatever it takes to make them comfortable and healthy, and to find them loving forever homes.

Unfortunately, my debit card and my heart don’t draw from the same account. I never thought I’d have to do this but I’m asking for a little help for my babies. Donating any amount helps, even a dollar. If twenty of my friends contribute a dollar, their antibiotics have been paid for. Fifty, and their steroid cream and diaper cream are also covered. A hundred…well, let’s just stick with the antibiotics.

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If you want to help in a more concrete way, please consider buying us some formula. These babies are only 11 days old and they’ll be drinking KMR for the next six to eight weeks.

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Even if you can’t donate, please repost, reblog and retweet this to your followers! And finally, if you do donate, please leave me your address so we can send you a thank you card. The babies and I thank you from the bottom of our tiny hearts.