What if your human had to be in a hospital with no feline contact for several weeks? That’s what happened to Maga, a cat-loving 16-year-old who is battling acute myeloid leukemia. When she had to be isolated at the Seattle Children’s Hospital for treatment of graft-versus-host disease (a complication that can happen while fighting this cancer), it meant no visits from her cat Merry. John Blalock, who works with young cancer patients through his hospital art program, spoke with Maga about this and came up with the Cat Immersion project. The hospital’s Facebook page asked for photos of cats for Maga — and 3,000 kitties were uploaded! The hospital staff put together a four-hour video, and you can see the highlights in the 2:48 video below:
If you can’t see the above video, click here to watch it on YouTube!
I think I recognized a few of my friends in there! When humans (and kitties) are sick and fighting disease, whether mild or life-threatening, attitude plays a big part in getting better. Thanks to all of you who participated, Maga got a big dose of feline healing energy.
Sparkle! I’m soooooooo bummed! I was counting on a sophistiCATed and cosmopolitan LadyCat like yourself to have a REALLY GOOD secret! I get nothin’?? Didn’t I mesmerize you even a little bit????
Now THAT’S the kind of hospital to be in if you have to be in the hospital! What a wonderful project, and the purring was just spectacular. I hope by now this young lady is home with her own kitty XOXOXO
Sparkle!
Yous always finds the bestest! Me thinks that is because yous is the bestest!
Kisses
Your pal
Nellie
So awesome! We took part in the project, too. 🙂
This was a wonderful project. Mommie’s sister died of breast cancer three years ago. She spent alot of time in hosptials and she always asked about her kitties.
This is so cool. We were glad we got to participate!
Awww, how sweet! We have a friend who is going through the same thing right now and I will have to suggest something like this for her! it is a VERY long month that they are in the hospital and it takes a LOT of creativity to keep their spirits up.
What an amazing video. I wish I could’ve sent my stunning picture!
That is totally pawsome of the hospital and volunteers who set this all up as well as everyone who sent in pics. This was my favorite catinee
Such a lovely thing to do!! People are very kind 🙂
It made Mommy teary to think about being separated from us…this was w wonderful thing to do.
That was a beautiful project. We learned about it too late unfortunately (the human’s fault of course!)
I felt very proud to get to be a part of such a great video for Maga!
That is so wonderful and I’m so glad she got tons of pics! I sent her one too.
Whoever thought of that is a genius. I am so glad it worked so well. She can just look at it all the time. I have seen it before but don’t mind watching it over and over . Great stuff. Hope she gets better.
We know she so enjoyed seeing all the cats.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Interesting idea. Hospitals can be horribly depressing places and this is such a great way of thinking outside the (litter)box 🙂
Our mommy would die without kitty cat contact!!!
That was such a wonderful thing to do! We know our Mom would suffer greatly if she wasn’t allowed to be with us. She hates even leaving us for a night.
That is such a great idea. I know if I were in the hospital, cat photos would make me feel much better.