Shhhhh! Don't wake the baby. You can take a peek at her if you like. Warm, pink and fuzzy, Roma is wriggling in her crate lined with a soft blanket and heating pad. With her tiny toes, sweet little muzzle, and rounded belly she appears to be a perfect and complete puppy. Life hangs in the balance for this tiny tadpole, though. She was born with a cleft palate, a congenital defect.

The youngest dog ever to enter FBRN's care, Roma is six days old and counting. Her survival prospects are guarded at best, but good fortune landed her in the arms of one of our most skilled volunteers, an MD, who tube fed her around the clock until she could be transferred to a longer term foster home with two foster parents, one of whom also has training and experience in human medicine. This puppy was originally surrendered to a vet's office when, after two days of tube feeding, her backyard breeders gave up on the project.

Cleft palate puppies cannot suckle normally and any milk taken seeps through the opening between the mouth and nose. Sometimes they can bottle feed, but more often they need tube feeding. This requires the skilled insertion of a correctly-sized tube into the pup's esophagus followed by administration of precise amounts of nutritious formula. Accidental aspiration of formula down the trachea into the lungs and pneumonia are ever-present dangers. Newborn puppies normally nurse every fifteen minutes. Puppies being hand-fed, especially small breed ones, must eat at least once an hour. Following each meal, the baby's belly must be stimulated to imitate a mom's licking to encourage elimination. It is an exacting, repetitive, exhausting job – yet, our volunteer with the beautiful soul camped out on her couch to be there for Roma.

A more detailed, first-hand description of Roma's daily routine is posted on our Frog Princess' Blog. Check back regularly for updates.

Roma's will to survive is strong, and every quarter ounce weight gain is cause for celebration. If she continues to grow, the cleft, which is narrow, could close on its own. If it doesn't, she will need surgery. If only the soft palate is involved, the surgery could be relatively easy. If the hard palate is involved, things get more dicey. Those are a lot of "ifs" for a little one to face!

We're really going to need the help of our wonderful sponsors on this one. Roma faces months of care with frequent vet visits and possible surgeries. She has already had one emergency vet visit to be treated for pneumonia. We're not asking you to rock her cradle at 2am, but you can rock Roma's world by making a donation to help with her expenses.

Click on Roma's sweet little picture on the right to donate. We deeply appreciate your generous support for this precious baby frog.

Make a sponsorship pledge.

Roma's Sponsors

For baby Roma and her great life ahead! Nadine Cantorna
Precious little angel, you are in our thoughts and prayers! Michelle & Gerson Perez
Gwen Snorteland
Jessica Higgins
Good luck sweet Roma girl! Debra Sarr
For sweet little Roma, keep fighting little one ~ Stay strong! Bonnie, Will, Kori, Kenzie, Keegan and Colby and Papi Ruhl
For Roma, with lots of Frenchie kisses and angel hugs, from Bug
Alyson Crothers
To little Roma, You're a sweet and tough frog baby. Stay strong! Love, Lei-la & Kona in Seattle
In honor of all our Gramas for Mom's Day... Grama Sharon Hibler, Grama Deb Cody, Great Grama Clara Cirone & Great Grama Marjie Campbell. With Frenchie kisses from your favorite grandchildren, Rudi & Remi Hibler
You sweet little froglete you are in such great hands now! Stay strong little lovely! HUGS AND KISSES! Michael Klepper, Shannon, Matt, and Pollyanna (our very own frog dog) West!
Keep fighting sweet angel baby! Stay strong! You are in our thoughts and prayers. Love Mary and your Frenchie Friend Abby
Roma, sweet little baby, hang in there, we are here for you! Brad & Laura Coughlin
Teresa Caudle
Be strong, Roma!!! Ferdinand Gervacio
Go, Roma, GO! Marianne and Pearl
Hang in there tiny Frenchie! Frenchie snuggles from Kat, Pedro, and Orson W. Peabody
Susan Rosenau
For Roma, hopes & prayers are with you & those wonderful people caring for you! Elizabeth Burandt
Jason M. Ladner
Get better, Roma! Woof! In Loving Memory of Homer Julie Cusack
Kisses for Roma from Boston. Maria Mercaldi
Jene O'Keefe
Cynthia Allen
Becky Taylor
This is for the cutest little Frenchie ever. Marianne and Pearl
Dear Roma, I've been watching you grow. You are so beautiful. Take care precious baby. Joanne-Toronto, CAN.