Lucy: The One Who Came Back

In January, we rescued 10 vulnerable cats from Pancan.

Some were just kittens, small, fragile, fighting to survive.

We created a “Be My Valentine” campaign to give them a chance, and thankfully, many of them found homes.

One of the kittens lost an eye, but even she was adopted. That alone felt like a miracle.

But not every story was easy.

These cats were not used to humans.

They had lived their entire lives outdoors, without affection, without touch, without trust.

They didn’t know what it meant to be held, to be safe, or to be loved.

They were terrified.

We soon learned that the mother cat had feline leukemia, and some of the kittens were also affected.

It was devastating. We had to make difficult decisions with limited space and resources.

Jenny kept the mom and her babies.

I brought five of the stronger adult cats to Casa de Aurora in Tingo Paccha, hoping to give them a safer place to recover.

But bringing outdoor cats inside is not always simple.

For them, it wasn’t safety,  it was fear.

Two of them escaped.

One came back (Lucy).

The other one didn’t return,  but we have not given up on her.

We know she is nearby, staying around an abandoned house close to Casa de Aurora.

She is still very afraid of humans, and although we hoped she would come back on her own, she hasn’t yet.

But she is not alone.

Ketty, our caregiver at Casa de Aurora, has been patiently following her, bringing her food every day and keeping an eye on her from a distance.

We know she is there. We know she is safe, at least for now.

And we are not giving up.

We are preparing to safely catch her using a humane trap, so we can bring her to the veterinarian, understand her condition, and give her the care she deserves.

I truly believe this is not the end of her story.

Very soon, she will have a name. And hopefully, a home.

Another one was too weak… and didn’t survive.

Eventually, two returned to Jenny.

Both tested positive for leukemia and required urgent medical care.

They were hospitalized for about two weeks, receiving intensive treatment for dehydration and weakness.

Today, they remain under Jenny’s care, living separately from other cats to protect everyone.

And then… there was one.

One cat who chose to stay (Lucy).

She lived quietly inside Casa de Aurora, always at a distance, always watching. She would run if we came close, hide if we tried to approach.

She didn’t trust us, not because she was difficult… but because she had never learned to trust humans.

We didn’t even know if she was male or female. Still, she stayed.

She would sleep on the couch, move silently through the house, and leave small signs of her presence, a corner of the carpet she claimed, a shadow passing by, a life happening just out of reach.

She was safe… but still afraid.

We knew we couldn’t let her live like that forever.

And there was another reason we needed to act.

Recently, we rescued Perlita, a cat who had suffered from an abusive adoptant and is now safe at Casa de Aurora.

She is beginning her healing journey, and like all our rescues, she needs a safe environment where she can eventually move freely and without risk.

But we couldn’t allow that without understanding the health of the cat living in the house.

If Lucy had leukemia, it could put Perlita at risk.

We were afraid. We needed answers.

So yesterday, we made the decision to catch her.

It was one of those days that takes everything out of you.

We tried to coordinate transport to the vet, one person, then another, then another.

Plans fell through. The rain started. Time passed. And all the while, she was inside the kennel… scared, confused, and unable to understand why.

We felt terrible.

But we also knew something important: if we let her go, we might never be able to catch her again.

So we waited.

We kept her warm. We stayed with her the best we could.

And we held on to hope that the next day would be better.

This morning at 8 a.m., she finally made it to the veterinarian.

I was so afraid of the results.

After everything we had already seen, I thought she might have leukemia too.

But she didn’t.

She tested positive for FIV,  feline immunodeficiency virus.

A diagnosis, yes… but also a relief. It’s something manageable. Something she can live with, especially in a safe, indoor home.

Now, Lucy is still learning.

Learning that humans can be kind.

Learning that touch is not something to fear.

Learning that she is finally safe.

We decided to name her Lucy.

Lucy, the one who came back.

The one who stayed, even when she was afraid.

Tomorrow, Lucy will be spayed.

And soon, she will go home.

Not every story ends this way.

But this one did.

And today, that is enough