I found Emerald at a shelter. He was the only cat among some very sick dogs, and crying in pain. I discovered that he had been burnt by acid. My initial intention was to put him to sleep. He was a mangled mass of rotting flesh and bones with hardly any skin. And there was a strong stench of putrid meat that made it difficult for us to breath near him. There were deep holes all over him, his insides were exposed, and he was infested with maggots. But his beautiful emerald green eyes were fierce, and told us he didn't want to die.
In spite of his condition, he was a ferocious cat -- so much so that the staff were scared to handle him when he was being transferred to our car. I took him to my vet, and although he was extremely hard to handle at first, he miraculously mellowed down on the second day. It's like he knew we were trying to help him. He ate heartily and underwent the most painful procedures without any resistance.
His recovery has been the most challenging and fulfilling for me and I admire his strength and will to survive. I have experienced a profound transformation, not only of his physical body but even his soul and his attitude towards human beings during this process. His eyes have become gentler and he has started to let us pet him as well.
I needed funds for Emerald's long and arduous treatment, and help poured in from everywhere in the form of money, healing prayers, and encouragement.
Today Emerald looks like a different cat. Pudgy paws have replaced the exposed bones and dangling claws on his feet. His once battered skull is now covered with fresh skin and fur, and we can identify his colour which is a beautiful mix of grey and white. A diet of collagen rich nutritious bone soup and omegas has helped a lot with regeneration.