About Thumbelina 

Thumbelina was more than just a cat she was my best friend. She was a beautiful white kitty with extra toes and an opposable thumb, hence the name Thumbelina. One day I had forgotten to put my water color paints and brushes away before retiring to bed. The next morning when I woke up there was Thumbelina sitting on my desk with a paint brush clutched in her paw painting and she really liked it. 

In 2017 tragedy struck and Thumbelina and I lost our home due to Hurricane Irma. We became homeless so I bought an old commercial van and converted it into our "Hobo Hacienda" . So that cat and I were taking the art show on the road. She sold approximately 35 out of the 50 plus paintings she created using non toxic water colors like found in most pre schools. 

Well someone during our travels had given Thumbelina and I a fake plant to brighten up the Hobo Hacienda something that would last forever and not need watering. Well Thumbelina thought it was fun to chew on it and play with it. I of course took it away from her. Yet shortly afterwards she became quite ill. I immediately started driving to our veterinary office. The vet ran a battery of tests on my sweet girl and told me he wanted to keep her overnight on an IV . I grabbed that fake plant she had been chewing on and handed to the doctor. He said this could explain a lot of why she's so sick. Yet he still wanted to keep her overnight. I let him know that I wouldn't be far just knock on the van door. 

The next morning the doctor had advised me that "Thummies" had contracted hepatitis from the dye from that fake plant. Those toxins hit her liver hard and she's going to have to be on medication with follow up blood work every month for the next 6 months. I asked if he thought she could still be a traveling artist. He said it's up to her. I told Thumbelina we are going to go on one more big road trip. This is when we went to Islamorada. We also sold the van and rented a mobile home in Avon Park Florida. After that she retired.  On the 6th month of meds and lab work Thumbelina was better and Dr. Larry took her off her medication but said there's a slim chance her hepatitis could come back. 

My worst nightmare came true in January 2022. She got sick again and her normal veterinarian was no longer available. She spent 3 nights at this vets office and she wouldn't eat she was getting so weak they suggested she go see a specialist and I said alright. I drove right over to the veterinarian's office and she gave me the name,number and directions to the specialist. I told her no enough is enough Thumbelina is coming home and I will be her specialist. Though most people would of probably had her put to sleep then while at the vets office. I couldn't do it and I know Thummies just wanted to sleep in her own bed next to me and eat her own food use her own litter box.

On January 14th 2022 Thumbelina crossed over the rainbow bridge and died in my arms peacefully.

There's not a day that doesn't go by that I don't miss her. This is why I created Thumbelina's Paper Garden cause I don't want anyone to go through what I had to go through.~Stefanie Courtney ~

Thumbelina and Stefanie