“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”
We made it!!! The total funds raised are $1720, which will cover the trip and some of the logistics, such as immunizations.
Over the past 3 days we have experienced the best expression of human kindness. Over 40 donors and volunteers from across the world came together to make a special moment come true. We have received donations, big and small, and from many countries. Each one of them meant so much for us in reaching the goal. Yes, “Mahla” your small donation was the sweetest act of kindness and it counted 
I am closing the donation links and now the logistics work will begin for the kitty’s travel this week. If some of you still wish to contribute, Carol suggested Friends For Life, (the organization who helped Carol find a local foster home for her cats while she goes through her therapy. )
Carol will cover some of the logistic details in her write-up below. But first I wanted you all to know this trip will be long and tedious. Your generous donations ensured we can afford the best accommodations for Tripod and Saheba as depicted in the sketch by Aafke.
Carol’s thank you article
I am still so overwhelmed with emotion as I write these words after hearing that the goal has been met and Tripod and Saheba will be in my arms by next weekend!
First of all, thanks to each and every one of you who have shown your support and donated to get my kitties back home. It may sound corny, but with all heartfelt sincerity, I love you all!
This undertaking would not have happened without the help and assistance from some exceptional individuals:
Nader Wehebi, who is a Saudi in Riyadh, took charge of all the details and logistics. He wrote numerous emails and spoke to airlines, veterinarians and pet shippers towards identifying the best and safest method to get my cats returned to me. He will be transporting the cats himself in his car from Riyadh to Doha where my cats will then fly non-stop to Washington/Dulles Airport.
Michelle, who is an expatriate from South Africa and in Riyadh, along with her husband, have been the primary foster parents of Tripod and Saheba since early 2009. They provided my cats with a welcome and loving home. Additionally, Michelle has taken care of the requisite vaccinations, exams, microchips and documentation Tripod and Saheba require for international travel.
Wadeea Qutub, an American Saudi from the USA has helped diligently behind the scenes in responding to emails, technical investigations on ways to easily donate towards the expense of shipping Tripod and Saheba home.
Aafke Brower, located in the Netherlands, a talented artist and staunch animal advocate. Aafke and I met through my blog and then personally when she came to the United States in 2009 while Abdullah and I were in Houston. Aafke has painted the extraordinary artwork which accompanies each update on the status of the “Bring Carol’s Cats Home” project. She also established a paypal account in order to make it easy for individuals to donate.
Robin Byrd, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Robin is collecting Tripod and Saheba at Washington/Dulles airport and then flying with them onwards to Charlotte where she will personally deliver them to my arms at the Charlotte airport!
Jan Scere, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jan is the Founder of the Friends for Life Lake Norman Humane Animal Rescue. Jan put me in touch with Robin and identified a foster home where Tripod and Saheba will stay near to me until I am able to be in a place of my own.
Barring any unforeseen delays, Tripod and Saheba will be in my arms by next weekend.
Filed under: Animals, breast cancer, Charity, friendship
[...] Day-3: We have reached our goal. See article. [...]
Congratulations! I am sooo happy to hear this good news. Insha’allah the kitties will be with you soon.
wooohooooo such great news! I love reading things like that drinking my morning coffee
So happy that it took only 3 days to raise the money and you will be reunited with your cuties by next weekend! All the best Carol 
lots of love x
Yay!
Congrats!
I am sooo happy for you, Carol – and for your feline loved ones who will be purring happily in your arms soon. You, and they, deserve this reunion. I am also very proud of all your wonderful readers and friends who made this happen. We love you! ♥
So happy for you I’m crying. God willing, you will soon be able to be in a place of your own and enjoy your days with Tripod and Saheba
Awesome!
Bedu,
What this really shows is that you are surrounded by a wonderful group of friends and readers who are very loyal and sweet. You should be proud to have them in your life. They have proven how much they care about you and how much they want to help you. I’m mostly touched not by your reunion with your cats, but how these people came together from all parts of the world and overlooked all of their differences, such as religion, language, nationality, race, education..etc. They overlooked all of their differences ONLY for one cause: helping you. This is so amazing, and unfortunately, happens so rarely. I see this as a wonderful story worthy of media coverage, to give us a small break from the man-made/nature-made disasters we’ve been hearing for the last decade!
In short, you are LOVED and APPRECIATED, Carol, by very many people, and I believe this is the best thing one could ever dream of.
N4C
[...] succeeded in collecting the money needed I celebrated with this sketch, which is used to illustrate the post announcing our success. The two cats, Tripod and Saheeba will arrive in America next [...]
Congratulations carol,
@Mahla,
your special donation made a very special sweet taste to the project. I loved it a
lot.
Tears are flowing down my cheeks Carol. I am over joyed with your happiness. I have four cats, and I would be so lost and sullen without their companionship. I’m sorry I couldn’t donate. My axle broke on my car and the repairs were costly. It took everything I had in savings. Again, I am so happy your fur babies will be here next weekend.
Gabrielle
Wonderful!!!
This is truly beyond sufficient words!!!!!
N4C – you summed it up so well!!!!
My hugs to all!
And obviously I wish you not only days, but also months and years of enjoying your kitties’ companionship!
This is beautiful happy news!
I hope the cats will get over the flight well. I hope you will be happy with your cats. I also hope for many years more.
So good to see so many people working to help to bring happiness.
The picture is very sweet!
Greetings from the DC area. Please let us know if any help is needed with kitty pick up at Dullus and/or trip to NC.
Lilly,
Is this the same Lilly I met at Pam’s??????????
Congratulations!
I was busy in the last several months, so do not visit a lot of blogs; but yesterday i was surfing the net & found an article about a project to bring a cat from Riyadh to U.S with picture of the cats; that seems to me familiar; so i check your blog & my feeling was right.. so Congratulations again & sorry for my bad English
Your English is fine and so is the picture of Carol on your blog with flowing hair!
Aafke,
The orange one seems to have a smug smile on its face and appears to be enjoying the flight on the carpet, while the black one seems to be focusing on the landscape below very seriously.
Is this the way you portrayed them, or is it my imagination?
@Arabi100,
Thank you so very much. I agree with Daisy, your English is fine.
Shukran alek. Enta inglazie, mafi mishkala!
@Daisy,
Although Aafke has not yet met my cats face-to-face she totally captured their appearance, personality and essence. Tripod, the curious one, would be in the front sticking his head out while Saheba would be along and enjoying the ride!
you know when i get an idea I sometimes get almost a vision, and I imagine tripod to be the feisty one, and Saheba to be more introvert but very selfposessed.
You’ve nailed them, Aafke!