04/09/2023
DEBI ROMANO'S DYING WISH
It is with the heaviest of hearts that I write this. Many of you know that our President, Debi Romano, is in the final stages of cancer and in constant and excruciating pain. There is no treatment left for her and she is receiving palliative care.
We are devastated at the thought of losing Debi. And she is devastated at the thought of leaving behind the cats she has been taking care of for years. She recently posted on Facebook her last birthday wish and this is what she wrote:
“I'm terrified of leaving behind the cats I have been feeding each night for the past twenty years. There are about 50 of them at the Ravenswood Houses in LIC. These cats wait for me. I know their names and I look into their eyes and I feel overwhelmed with fear for their well-being. I literally drag myself out to Ravenswood and other locations each night, even when I'm in agony. I don’t know how long I can continue to do this.
My dying wish is to make sure that these cats I leave behind will be taken care of. It would mean the world to me to know -- before I pass on -- that there is a successful plan in place for these cats so that I can go in peace.
This is so difficult for me but, in desperation, I feel forced to ask for your help now. I'm asking each person reading this post to please set up a recurring monthly donation of $5, $10 or more if you are able. If you can’t do a monthly donation, please give any amount that you can. This would help immensely with the ongoing care of this colony and will mean more to me than I can ever express.
Rosary Immordino is my other half at SaveKitty Foundation and she, along with Alexia Vullis (NYC Pet Nanny), will oversee this project.
Your gift will provide food, medical care, trapping, and all that's needed to ensure that the cats will continue to be cared for after I’m gone. Ultimately, our plan is to safely relocate these cats to appropriate settings where they can live out the rest of their lives away from the filthy crawl spaces that have been their homes.”
We are losing a unique and special human being, and an essential member of our rescue community. Debi has touched so many of our lives. She has trained, mentored and helped so many of us. The thought of losing her is unbearable. Debi has expressed regret that she is unable to respond to the enormous outpouring of love from so many of you but wants us to know that, just as we are thinking about her, she is thinking about us.
To donate, click the link below, or send a check, payable to SaveKitty Foundation, to 87-02 30th Avenue, East Elmhurst, NY 11369.
DOUBLE YOUR DONATION
Matching Funds are now available through the generosity of the Linda and Alan Kahn Foundation. This fund will match your donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $10,000 for all donations. And please check to see if your employer has a matching gift program.
SaveKitty Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible.
Please share this widely, and on social media.
Rosary Immordino
Executive Director
SaveKitty Foundation
DONATION LINK: https://conta.cc/40T6PXg
