SHAHS - Super Hero's Animal Hydrocephalus Society Annual T-shirt Fundraiser

This T-shirt is an extra special one to us... it features our Zeke who sadly and very unexpectedly, passed away on March 31, 2019, just shy of his 4th birthday. Zeke was our first official SHAHS kitty, the special sidekick to Super Hero, and a well known face around the worldwide web. His legacy will be to continue standing alongside his Hydro siblings, helping to raise more awareness about Hydrocephalus and raise more funds to support many more Hydro animals in the years to come. He is incredibly, dearly missed beyond what words will ever express and will forever remain in our hearts.

Super Hero's Animal Hydrocephalus Society - SHAHS

The story behind how SHAHS came to be, is heartfelt and lengthy. What is most important to know though, is how it started. It began with the courage and the will to live of one very special cat named Super Hero, and his mother, Lisa Jones, who fought beside him, giving him her undying love. Time and time again, she demonstrated her unwillingness to give up on him and as a result, the entire veterinary team at the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital revealed incredible dedication to saving him. There would not be this beautiful story, nor a rescue society named Super Hero's Animal Hydrocephalus Society (SHAHS) in his honor, without all of these pieces miraculously coming together.

Hero was born with Hydrocephalus (Hydro), which is an excess buildup of fluid in the brain. Over time, this causes damage to the brain and a loss of function. Hero didn't have many complications until reaching 1 ½ years old. That is when he began experiencing life threatening crises. Lisa sought out the expertise of one of the top veterinary neurosurgeons, Dr. Eric Glass, who believed Hero's only chance at survival was undergoing brain surgery to implant a human pediatric shunt in Hero's brain. The shunt is designed to drain the excess fluid into the abdomen, where it is then absorbed by the body. On February 26th, 2015, surgery was successfully performed. Against all odds, and despite numerous life-threatening setbacks, Super Hero survived, living up to his name. Hero yet again exceeded all expectations when on May 29th, 2018, he underwent a second life-saving brain surgery due to a brain hemorrhage and once again, came through with flying colors!

As word of his triumph spread, families, rescues, shelters, veterinarians, and other neurosurgeons from all over the world began reaching out for guidance on Hydrocephalic animals. These wonderful folks were determined to give these special animals a chance at life and we soon realized that there was a huge need for information, assistance, and support for more Hydros to be saved. Most were unaware of the many affordable treatment options available to them, which has led to so many being unnecessarily put down. Sadly, it is not widely known that many Hydrocephalic animals, especially felines, which is what we specialize in, can live full lives with their disorder being completely managed with fairly inexpensive medications. In these cases, no surgery is required and yet, due to this lack of knowledge, many cats diagnosed with Hydro are still being euthanized. Another obstacle identified by SHAHS was the financial inability of many to afford neurological care, so a Financial Aid Fund was established for the purpose of offering grants for consults, testing, medications, emergency care, neurosurgical CCU admissions and some surgical procedures. This fund is available to all animals with a diagnosis of Hydrocephalus and/or a neurological disorder.

SHAHS received their official 501 c3 Non-Profit status on July 20, 2015 but was rescuing Hydro kittens before that time. Since April 2015, nearly seven dozen Hydrocephalic or neurologically impaired animals have received assistance from SHAHS. Help from us can come in one of many ways; from physical rescue and acceptance into SHAHS, grant monies (for treatment or referrals to specialists), general information, or verbal guidance. And help is always available by phone or online at all hours, no matter where in the world you are, to assist any animal or owner in a time of crisis.

Super Hero, Finn and Stitch currently reside on premises with Lisa and her family. Others, such as Mittens, Natalie, Philip and Toby, are the latest SHAHS kitties who are in permanent foster in various states. Awareness is growing and so is SHAHS!

We also have 5 Hydro kittens in need of desperate help, their rescues are asking to relinquish to SHAHS, so we are in desperate need of raising funds!! We cannot do what we do without your help.

Heartbreakingly, we also lose hydro kitties that we try to help. Our most recent loss being Dillan and Gabbi, two 6 week old kittens, who were supposed to be coming to us from Texas; sadly both went into crisis and passed before we could get them here. Despite our grief over their losses, our mission to give every single Hydro cat across the globe a chance at life through actual rescue, education, guidance or grant money, will not end. As our motto reads ... Fighting Hydrocephalus in Animals ..... 4 Paws At A Time!!