HEARTFELT GIVING
Discover how we're touching lives one purr at a time—learn about our heartfelt mission to place companion cats with special-needs children.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM PLEASE CONTACT US HERE
Evelyn gets her wish for a Bengal kitten
The remarkable journey of Evelyn, a young girl who faced a sudden, life-threatening illness and fought her way back, step by step.
%20(1).png)
We were heading home from vacation when, out of nowhere, she began to cry uncontrollably in the car. She couldn't find the words to tell us what was wrong.
By the time we got home, I knew something was seriously wrong, so I took her straight to the doctor. She kept drifting off to sleep, barely staying awake. We bounced between the walk-in clinic, Bowmanville Hospital, and Oshawa Hospital. That night, we finally reached SickKids hospital—and by then, she couldn’t walk, talk, or respond to us at all.
She was diagnosed with encephalitis of unknown origin. (Encephalitis is a dangerous inflammation of the brain that can cause confusion, seizures, and even death.)
The doctors had no answers. For five and a half weeks, she was completely unresponsive. Every day, I whispered in her ear, promising her a kitten if she got better—she’d fallen in love with cats the year before. She endured two lumbar punctures, a brain biopsy, and fourteen plasma exchange treatments.
Then, we arrived at Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, where she had to relearn everything—walking, talking, jumping, even running. No one could tell us if she’d ever recover. She fought for 112 days in the hospital. And against all odds, here she is.
Whenever the team set a goal for her, she’d smash right through it. One week, they decided to fit her for a walker—but by the time they came with it, she was already walking on her own. Her progress shocked everyone.
Bloorview was incredible. Every person we met—ambulance drivers, nurses, therapists—was amazing. We don’t have a single bad thing to say about these places. They never let us give up hope.
There were moments when we didn’t know what would happen. But the staff always told us, 'Don’t give up. She’s going to pull through. You just have to believe.' Every Tuesday night at Bloorview, they held 'pet therapy.' Tons of dogs would visit the kids, bringing smiles all around.
But there was only one cat—Abby. At first, we wheeled her in for pet therapy, but by the end, she was running down the hall. Every time, she went straight to Abby, making a cozy nest in her lap with a blanket and sitting quietly with her new feline friend.
Those moments brought her so much confidence and calm. Every Tuesday, she’d snuggle with Abby, never wanting to give up her turn. Even while she was at SickKids, we remembered how much she’d always wanted a kitten of her own.
We told her, 'If you get better, we’ll get you anything you want.' Of course, what she wanted most was a kitten. I even reached out to Kris from Mandy’s Bengals to check on upcoming litters, not knowing if or when she’d be well enough.
To my surprise, Kris replied that they would donate a kitten to Evelyn whenever she was ready—no rush, no pressure. Whenever she recovered, a kitten would be waiting. We were so grateful. I want to thank Kris.
I think Lulu will bring Evelyn a sense of calm she really needs. After such a serious brain injury, she’s left with a lot of overwhelming feelings. After school, she can be tired, agitated, and irritable. Having a cat will bring her peace and help her regain her confidence. Plus, Bengals are active and energetic—just like Evelyn, especially in the mornings.
She has so much energy, and Bengals do too. I think they’ll be perfect for each other. Maybe they’ll even wear each other out!
— Evenlyn's Parents, Amanda and Mike
Lily gets her wish for a Bengal kitten
Together with Make a Wish Canada, Mandy's Bengals granted Lily's wish of a Bengal Kitten!
At 5 years old, Lily was diagnosed with a chronic renal disease called FSGS which resulted in the need for a kidney transplant.
FSGS is a rare disease that affects the filters in your kidneys. When these filters are scarred, they are unable to filter your blood, which can lead to kidney damage and failure.
She was on dialysis for a year and a half, and during that time, Make-A-Wish Canada contacted her family to see if Lily had a wish that they could offer her.
Make-A-Wish is a foundation across North America that creates life-changing events for children with critical illnesses.
Lily originally had a wish to go to Disneyland but as time passed, she began to realize her love for cats. One day after her transplant, she asked her parents, “can I get a pet?”
They began watching Bengal Cat videos and learned what incredible cats they are, so when Make a Wish contacted them again, Lily made her wish official - a Bengal Kitten!
Mandy’s Bengals donated a kitten and worked together with Make a Wish and a few months later, just in time for Christmas,
Lily got her wish. She now has a loving, playful and loyal Bengal kitten who she named “Dutchie”.
