How many CATS can brag that their face and whiskers have graced the huge NASDAQ marquee in Times Square? How many kitties can say they were invited to the stock market closing bell? While we’re at it…how many people can make that claim to fame? (Minus the whiskers part.)

Well, Last Hope kitten “Frankie” can….thanks to his friends at The Animal Medical Center (The AMC) who also donated their expertise and time to perform intricate eyelid surgery on our adorable orange tabby. During the summer a Last Hope volunteer (very near and dear to our website) rescued “Frankie” in a Baldwin yard as a tiny, bewildered kitten. “Frankie’s” tearing and irritated eyes were not due to an infection, but instead from a congenital malformation called eyelid agenesis.  The AMC’s special specialists reconstructed his eyelids during a delicate operation several months ago.

“Frankie’s” special surgery was provided to Last Hope via “AMC TO THE RESCUE”. Recently, The AMC established this new Community Fund, specifically to provide subsidized specialty care to animals currently cared for by rescue groups, whose health is an obstacle for adoption. “Frankie’s” Mom Ali fostered, and eventually adopted “Frankie” while he was waiting to grow big enough for his surgery.

On December 12th, The AMC staff invited “Frankie” and his Mom Ali to join them at the closing bell ceremony in NASDAQ headquarters (Broadway & 43rd St.). The AMC was still celebrating after their Top Dog Gala earlier in the week honoring TV journalist Barbara Walters a former AMC trustee, and paying tribute to “Rosie” & “Clarence” as the nation’s first comfort dogs for first responders. These two champion St. Bernards have helped alleviate stress for emergency workers responding to the tragedies at the Sandy Hook School and Boston Marathon. The remarkable dog duo belongs to Bill and Laura Gordon, both officers with the Greenfield Police Department in Massachusetts.

“Frankie”  was such a feline financier! He wore a harness and leash for extra security during the NASDAQ ceremony; then posed for group photos with his Mom, doing unexpectedly well in St. Bernard proximity. All the dignitaries cradled our grateful Last Hope kitten at the podium- Kathryn Coyne, The AMC CEO, Dr. Richard Goldstein medical chief of staff  and even the NASDAQ Vice President, David Wicks, who made a speech with “Frankie” in his arms.

After the bell signaled the end of stock trading, the day’s guests including “Frankie” (in his carrier) ventured across the street into the center of Times Square. As we watched a giant slide show of the festivities on the giant NASDAQ screen towering over the city, there was our “Frankie” larger than life, bigger than King Kong on the Empire State Building, for all Manhattan, all the world to see.

It was a “Miracle on 43rd Street”. Not bad for a once nearly blind kitten from Baldwin…the very same orange kitten that on the way back to Penn Station started meowing his desire to drop the ball in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

Excerpted from “Pets” Babylon Beacon, 12/19/2013 Joanne Anderson

For more information on The Animal Medical Center visit www.amcny.org.