When Vanilla Bean first arrived at Lollypop Farm with his littermates, he seemed like just another tiny kitten in need of care. One of 15 kittens admitted that day, he blended in at first glance. But it didn’t take long for our veterinary team to notice something unusual, something that would make his journey far more challenging than the rest of his siblings.
Vanilla Bean was born with a rare congenital condition called pectus excavatum, in which the sternum curves inward toward the chest cavity. For a growing kitten, this deformity can place dangerous pressure on the heart and lungs, causing serious health problems if left untreated.
During his intake exam, our veterinary team immediately recognized the sunken shape of his chest. At just nine weeks old and weighing only three pounds, Vanilla Bean needed surgery if he was going to have a healthy future.
But there was a catch—this highly specialized procedure wasn’t something our staff had performed before.
Rather than see the challenge as a roadblock, Dr. Anna Young turned it into an opportunity. She and two veterinary team members were preparing to attend a shelter medicine conference at Cornell University, where she connected with a former professor. Not only did he agree to perform Vanilla Bean’s surgery, but he also offered to train Dr. Young in the technique, ensuring that our clinic could help future patients with the same condition.
When the day of the operation arrived, Dr. Young was nervous but determined. Vanilla Bean’s case was severe, one of the worst her professor had ever seen. The surgery presented risks, but the prospect of giving Vanilla Bean a significantly improved quality of life was all the motivation Dr. Young needed. The two veterinarians got to work, painstakingly threading each suture under the sternum, careful not to damage any internal structures, especially the heart. After completing all twelve sutures and anchoring them to an external splint, the surgery was complete.
Over the next several weeks, Vanilla Bean returned to our clinic to see Dr. Young and have his bandages changed before returning to the comfort of his foster home. Four weeks later, he was finally able to have the splint removed for good, with the skin beneath the cast healing well. Even more exciting, Vanilla Bean found a new home!
Stories like Vanilla Bean’s are only possible because of the incredible support of our community. Your generosity empowers our veterinary team to take on complex cases, provide lifesaving surgeries, and give pets with special challenges the chance to live long, happy lives.
Want to help make a difference for animals like Vanilla Bean? Visit our adoption, foster, or donation pages today.
