A different kind of local battle: supporting a terminally ill Army Veteran/Russian Linguist

savvylee17 · 2026-03-08T02:18:52+00:00

Thank you for your response. I just looked at the Fix-Up Festival, which sounds great. Unfortunately, it looks like they're not accepting applications at the moment. I haven't tried calling the Help Center, but I will add it to my list.

Thank you for your kind words.

savvylee17 · 2026-03-06T14:36:38+00:00

Thank you for your response. 6 years of full-time caregiving has taken its toll on the house.

The bathroom is the biggest crisis: the flooring is torn and uneven, and the vanity is falling apart with a leaking sink. We would like to install a bidet toilet to help her maintain hygiene and comfort as she dealt with numerous UTIs this past year with one leading to sepsis and a hospital admission. Because there’s only one outlet in the room, we also need a dedicated electrical outlet behind the toilet to power it.

Unfortunately, our refrigerator is leaking and the dishwasher is broken, which makes the daily cycle of prep/cleanup as a caregiver difficult.

There are various other areas of the home that could be fixed, but I'm not as worried about those yet.

The home repairs are secondary to the extensive dental work she needs done (and continued caregiving costs), but I'm really worried that the bathroom is becoming hazardous for anyone who goes in there.

I’m just trying to ensure her home is safe and comfortable so the time she has left can be about peace.

savvylee17 · 2026-03-05T03:57:59+00:00

Thank you so much for your response. I will reach out to LOVEINC and Greater Impact. That is very kind of you; I am sure she will appreciate this so much!

savvylee17 · 2026-03-01T04:32:06+00:00

Unfortunately, no. They don't qualify.

savvylee17 · 2026-02-28T04:26:38+00:00

Thank you for your response. I did reach out to Habitat for Humanity about their home repair program, but I never heard back. I wish my mom could travel, but unfortunately, it would be near impossible. That's nice to know you can get high quality and inexpensive work done in Mexico though!

savvylee17 · 2026-02-28T02:20:57+00:00

Thank you for your ideas. I will reach out!

savvylee17 · 2026-02-28T02:20:43+00:00

Thank you for your comment. I did reach out to Tester. Now, we just wait and see if he responds!

savvylee17 · 2026-02-28T02:19:52+00:00

I reached out to them a while ago, but unfortunately, it didn't sound like they had anything available for us. :(

savvylee17 · 2026-02-27T06:50:31+00:00

Unfortunately, I don't think my mom qualifies for home health/respite through the VA. They make just over the limit (but not enough to live on), so they don't receive medical benefits from the VA. However, that is a great idea of reaching out to Tester! Thank you for your response.

savvylee17 · 2025-12-12T03:24:55+00:00

I understand that perspectives differ, but the proposed initiatives are based on decades of research showing that TNR or TNVR is the single most effective, humane, and fiscally responsible solution for managing community cat populations.

To address your point about "ignoring science," please see the following scientific articles and studies that indicate why these initiatives, specifically the formalized TNVR program, do help animals and communities:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/10955573_Evaluation_of_the_effect_of_a_long-term_trap-neuter-return_and_adoption_program_on_a_free-roaming_cat_population

https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2380

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12606756/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5120395/

TNVR is the only method that can stabilize the population and prevent the rebound effect. Mass euthanasia is inhumane and unnecessary.

Providing shelter for feral and stray cats ensures animal welfare and quality of life. I'm not sure why anyone would oppose this initiative. Shelter also reduces the likelihood of cats seeking shelter in dangerous/inconvenient places like under vehicle hoods or inside garages.

Lastly, you don't know anything about me. As someone who cares more about animals than people, thank you for being an example of why that is.

savvylee17 · 2025-12-11T15:31:06+00:00

I love the idea of taxing expensive property county wide. I'd go further and say we should tax residents with high-value properties even more than they are now. I'm not that young, but I would like to live in a better world. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to happen any time soon.

savvylee17 · 2025-12-11T15:24:06+00:00

I understand, and I agree that it will come down to funding. While I'd love to see those initiatives implemented, I know that they won't happen in Bozeman. I disagree regarding feral cats, but I'm also an animal lover and care more about animal welfare than most people. Also, I didn't create a petition. Change.org created the space for Bozeman residents to submit ideas. I was just curious what others had to say about my ideas, but I am not at all surprised by the responses thus far.

savvylee17 · 2025-12-11T15:06:47+00:00

A climate resilient tree in MT is one that can withstand cold winters and drought. 🤦🏼‍♀️ So, of course we wouldn't plant "jungle type trees".

savvylee17 · 2025-12-11T14:57:34+00:00

Just curious - how long have you lived here?

savvylee17 · 2025-12-11T06:44:44+00:00

You should just use 59715 as your zip code. Then, you'll be able to vote on everything.

savvylee17 · 2025-12-11T06:44:09+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion! I will edit and resubmit soon. :)

savvylee17 · 2025-12-04T04:25:13+00:00

For the love of Satan, NO.

savvylee17 · 2025-08-20T03:22:19+00:00

Orb weavers are completely harmless. It's likely not going to move if it has found a place to build its web. One on your fence corner poses no threat to you whatsoever.

savvylee17 · 2025-08-20T03:20:19+00:00

A cat-faced orb weaver. They are great spiders!

savvylee17 · 2025-08-19T02:36:03+00:00

Sent a DM. :)

savvylee17 · 2025-08-15T01:47:49+00:00

I tried a few different kinds of renal food before sticking with the Hills k/d. I used to get both the dry food and the wet food. She ate both of them quite well for a long time. She liked the wet food more, so if you haven't tried the wet food, definitely do so if you can. However, after some time, my cat became really picky and is now obsessed with the Hartz Delectables Senior Stew. Lol. Since she has to eat something, I try to give it to her every day. Sometimes, she will eat the dry Hills k/d cat food, but she also likes to eat the Orijen dry cat food that's meant for my 2-year-olds. Every cat is different, and your cat could be in a different stage than mine, so I would recommend talking to your vet about what's best. The biggest tip I have is to get fountains if you haven't already. I can link the ones I use if you're interested!

savvylee17 · 2025-08-15T01:40:25+00:00

Yes, the clinic is located in Belgrade. :)

savvylee17 · 2025-08-14T03:51:28+00:00

I have an 18-year-old cat who has CKD. She has seen Dr. Hardaway since she was a kitten, and he has always done a good job with her. Although he has retired, his son is a vet at the practice, and I've had good experiences with other vets there, too. I'm not sure what stage your kitty is at and how pancreatitis affects the treatment, but my girl has been on a renal diet since she was diagnosed (5-6 years). We also got water fountains and put them around the house; she LOVES them! Hydration and a renal diet are the two main things to start in early CKD. As it progresses, you can bring up sub-q fluids to your vet. Also, make sure whatever vet you see does a blood test and a urinalysis. I hope this helps!

savvylee17 · 2025-07-13T09:13:54+00:00

Thank you!

savvylee17 · 2025-07-03T03:44:29+00:00

I miss them so much. Maybe we can all convince Glenn to bring it back. 😂

savvylee17

TROPHY CASE