When Mohammad Alsalem of Damascus, Syria found a tiny kitten meowing outside his house, he noticed something strange. The kitten could not move her back legs, but instead dragged them behind her as she tried to walk.

Alsalem named the cat Piano due to her black and white fur, and brought her to the Syrian Association for Rescuing Animals (SARA) – a group of Syrian citizens who work to rescue animals despite the civil turmoil in the region.

Alsalem thought the kitten would need a wheelchair, but still worked with SARA on healing Piano. He moved her feet and routinely massaged the kitten’s muscles. After a month or so, something amazing happened: Piano fully regained use of her legs, and is now able to run around like a frisky kitten.

Thank you, Alsalem and SARA, for never giving up on little Piano.