In early December, a couple made a shocking discovery on a busy highway in Florida.

A small, fuzzy kitten had been hit by a car and desperately needed help.

Determined to give the kitten a fighting chance, the couple sprung into action.

Keep reading to uncover the heartwarming story of how a community of kind hearted individuals changed this kitten’s life forever.

A Rough Start 

Even though Maisy was only a few weeks old, life had not been fair to her.

She was originally discovered by a couple after she was hit by a car on a highway in Florida.

It’s unclear if she was abandoned or a stray. What was certain was that she was in dire need of help.

Thankfully, the wonderful couple got her out of harm’s way and did everything they could to care for her.

They arranged Maisy’s initial vet visits and took care of her most urgent needs.

Her leg was severely injured and her jaw was degloved, meaning the skin and underlying tissue was detached.

Maisy’s leg was broken right above her knee. She’d need extensive (and expensive) work to get healthy.

Understandably, the kind couple who originally rescued her couldn’t financially support her orthopedic surgeries.

They were faced with euthanasia as the most humane option.

However, the heroic couple wasn’t ready to give up so soon.

Kitten in a Fox Den

The couple reached out to Fox Foster Kittens, a 501(c)3 nonprofit rescue organization in Sarasota, Florida founded by Samantha Fox.

Samantha’s motto is to “save one until there are none.”

She accepted Maisy with open arms and was so grateful the couple did as much as they could for sweet little Maisy.

Considering the abuse and neglect cases Samantha sees in her rescue, she was moved by how far the couple had gone for a stray kitten many would have otherwise ignored.

“[The couple] did their very best instead of euthanasia. They reached out and got her help,” Fox said. “They drove her an hour and a half down to us. I’m so thankful there are still responsible and caring people,” Fox said.

Maisy isn’t the first kitten that Samantha has taken in with complex surgical needs.

“It is costly to save these little guys and many rescues will not take them on (hence why we have so many with orthopedic injuries) but our mission is to save those kinds of babies! The ones that no one else wants,” Fox explained.

The Big Day

Sadly, a broken femur wasn’t Maisy’s only problem. They discovered that roughly half of her tail was necrotic and needed to be amputated.

The sooner she could have her operation, the faster she could be on track to living a normal life.

Finally, the big day had arrived. Maisy was ready for surgery.

Her journey was exhausting, but Maisy was a fighter! The surgery was a success.

Tiny but Mighty 

The surgery required Maisy’s leg to be shaved, which revealed how tiny Maisy really was.

“Without that gigantic bandage on we also can see just how teeny tiny she really is,” said Samantha. “She’s 0.92kg! She’s a little underweight for her size, so we need to get her chunking up.”

Initially, she didn’t have much of an appetite, but Samantha was relieved when Maisy was back to scarfing down food.

“She seems to be recovering well from her femur repair and tail amputation. It was a big surgery for such a tiny girl but she handled it like a champ!”

Maisy continues to make great strides on her journey to recovery.

Each day she grows healthier and stronger. She’s tiny, but mighty!

With Samantha by her side, she’ll  be back on her feet in no time.

It Takes a Village

Maisy continues to recover in the comfort of her foster home where she is showered with plenty of love and attention.

Soon she will be spayed, vetted, and ready for a forever home.

Maisy’s story is inspirational and heartwarming, but none of it would’ve been possible without all the kind-hearted individuals who donated toward her surgery.

The people who donated to Maisy’s hospital fund are just as heroic as Samantha and the couple who found her.

Each donation, no matter how small, put Maisy one step closer to living the life she deserved.

Samantha is so grateful for the compassionate and supportive members in her online community.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for donating and helping us raise these funds for Maisy. Saving kittens like her wouldn’t be possible without you,” Samantha said. “Everyone who donated and shared played such an important role in getting Maisy where she is.”

Fox Foster Kittens continues to rely on these small acts of kindness to continue their life saving missions.

Be sure to follow Fox Foster Kittens on Instagram and Facebook to witness their incredible rescue work and learn how to get involved!