Super Hero is a proud hydro cat. What’s a hydro cat? He was born with hydrocephalus — a condition that is more colloquially known as water on the brain. You might remember a couple of our other Monday Miracles who share a similar affliction, including the dinky duo of Olaf and Bug A Boo. Now it’s time for Super Hero to saunter into the spotlight.
On June 9, 2013, Super Hero and his brother Prince Ollie were born in a shelter in northern New Jersey. From a litter of six, these two tykes were diagnosed with moderate to severe hydrocephalus. That meant that the rescue wanted them to be euthanized — but their vet refused. According to Facebook lore, “Other than having enlarged heads, they were acting typical, eating, and were not rejected by their mother.”
But as their brothers and sisters were adopted, Super Hero and Prince Ollie seemed destined to be left behind — until their plight was brought to the attention of a kind soul who drove an hour to scoop them up. The three-month-old bonded brothers arrived at their new home on Sept. 11.
Unfortunately, after a cycle of visits to a neurologist and some health scares, Prince Ollie took a real turn for the worse. After a frantic series of visits to various vets — some more attentive than others — Prince Ollie passed away on Nov. 26, 2013. Super Hero took it badly: “He knew Ollie was gone and refused to get up, eat, play, or do anything.”
Thankfully, after a few weeks of mourning, Super Hero began to perk up and return to his usual self. He celebrated his first Christmas and sailed through to his own birthday in June 2014. But then — as you might have guessed — Super Hero’s health began to deteriorate, to the point where Dr. Eric Glass, at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, recommended that he have a shunt implanted.
What’s a shunt? Think of it as a device that helps drain fluid from around a kitty’s brain and, ideally, then decreases the pressure and ensuing medical issues.
Super Hero’s operation happened in February of this year — although since then he’s had to have his shunt tinkered with a couple of times. To date, this trooper’s medical visits have also taken in some MRIs, a CAT scan, a spinal tap, and a whole batch of X-rays. But whether being whisked to hospital when he falls ill or enduring his various procedures, he always “uses his superhero powers to pull through.”
Last month, Super Hero continued to defy the odds by celebrating his second birthday. Hop on over to his Facebook page to congratulate him yourself — and consider donating to his ongoing medical fund.
Read more Monday Miracles on Catster:
- Cloud the Kitten Lives a Full Life Despite a Heart Defect
- Bebe, a Kitten With Manx Syndrome, Finds a Home
- Meet Roux the Kangaroo Cat, Who Shines on Just Two Legs
About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world’s foremost expert on rappers’ cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it’s not quite what you think it is.
