Unfortunately, last Thursday they called with an emergency placement of a 2.5 week old that was found with its 4 siblings having already passed from malnutrition and dehydration. We are guessing their mom was hit by a car and no one found the kittens until it was too late. They had given him fluids and a bit of formula and NutriCal but he was still dehydrated and extremely weak. You could feel every rib and vertebrae. Over the next 6hr, I managed to get 15-25ml in him and he urinated 4 times but he never perked up.
At 11:45pm he started crying. His body was cooling down even though he was against a warm rice sock so I put him on my chest and cupped him to warm with body heat. With every exhail, he would let out a little cry until he took his last breath at 12:02am.
When my 8yr old son and I return the supplies to the shelter, they apologized and told me that only 50% of orphaned nursing kittens survive and were surprised that this was the first we lost.
My son was broken hearted but was anxious to continue to foster. He painted rocks to put on little Jacob’s grave (he had named him) and I put his name and the day we lost him. He found comfort in knowing that he wasn’t alone when he passed and is now with his mom and siblings.
We just picked up 5 one week olds and 1 four week old (all the other fosters are at capacity) but little Jacob won’t be forgotten.
Thank you for doing what you are doing, i wish there were more people like you guys in this world. Poor Jacob 
