Five years ago, Ben Firestone was working at a Newark, New Jersey, port when he spotted a stray cat and her kittens near the factory. He often texted photos of the cats to his wife, Dawn—until one day, a heartbreaking accident changed everything.
While climbing machinery, the mother cat accidentally dropped one of her kittens 15 feet onto concrete. Ben rushed to the motionless newborn—still with its umbilical cord attached—and called Dawn in panic. “He’s barely breathing,” he told her.
Dawn immediately left work, meeting Ben at a grocery store to retrieve the fragile kitten. “He was gasping for air, his tongue out, eyelids half-closed,” Dawn recalls. “I tucked him into my shirt, begging, Please don’t die.”
A Fight for Survival
The kitten, later named Rocky after the Philadelphia Eagles’ mascot, survived the night. But as he grew, Dawn noticed his back legs dragged unnaturally. A vet confirmed paralysis and suggested euthanasia.
“The vet laid out grim possibilities,” Dawn says. “But Rocky was playing, happy—why end his life if he’s enjoying it?” Defying the advice, she vowed to give him a full life.
Therapies, Wheelchairs, and Viral Fame
Dawn invested in physical therapy, acupuncture, and a custom wheelchair for Rocky. Though his mobility didn’t improve, his spirit did. “He’d zoom around without the wheelchair, like he didn’t have a care in the world,” she laughs.
She began sharing Rocky’s journey on social media, where his resilience resonated. Today, he has over 157,000 Instagram and 470,000 TikTok followers. Dawn also launched a GoFundMe to help other special-needs pets.
Changing Lives—Both Human and Feline
Rocky’s platform has become a lifeline for others. Dawn recalls a woman whose cat was paralyzed after a tail injury: “Vets said to euthanize, but I guided her through care. Now her cat is thriving.”
The Firestones even donated stuffed “Rocky” toys to special-needs schools, complete with tiny diapers and mermaid tails. “Differences make us beautiful,” Dawn says.
A Spoiled, Beloved Family Member
Rocky now travels everywhere with Dawn—even on planes and in the family’s new RV. “He’s the most spoiled boy in the universe,” she admits. At night, he snuggles against her face, leaving little room for her husband. “It’s Rocky’s time,” she jokes.
Reflecting on their journey, Dawn tears up. “He’s taught me so much about love and perseverance. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Related topics:
