It was a freezing November afternoon in 2023 when Sabera Qazi and her husband, Brian Baigorria, stumbled upon something that would change their lives forever.
The couple, both 28, had stopped by Brian’s parents’ house in Ohio when they noticed a tiny kitten and her mother sitting quietly on the porch.
They looked like strays, but since they had each other, Sabera and Brian assumed they’d be fine.
What they didn’t know was that fate had other plans for the little one.
The next day, Brian returned to check in and what he found stopped him in his tracks.
The kitten was back on the porch, this time all alone, crying softly at the door.
“She was so small, and her meows were heartbreaking,” Sabera explained.
“Brian thought she was stuck and couldn’t find her way back down, so he gently carried her to the grassy area below, hoping she’d reunite with her mum.”
But when he came back the following day, the kitten was there again, this time even closer to the door, shivering in the bitter cold.
That’s when Brian realised something was seriously wrong.
Her eyes were swollen shut, sealed with infection, and her tiny body trembled with every cry.
The weather forecast that day predicted icy rain, and leaving her outside simply wasn’t an option.
“He picked her up without a second thought,” Sabera said. “He told me he couldn’t just walk away. She was helpless.”
They brought the kitten inside, wrapped her in a soft towel, and tried to clean her eyes.
She barely moved but seemed to relax in the warmth of their home. The couple rushed her to the vet that same day, desperate to give her a fighting chance.
The vet confirmed that the kitten was only about a month old. She had a severe eye infection, a sinus issue, and fleas.
She was given antibiotics, flea treatment, and her first round of vaccinations.
And then came the big question, what was her name?
Sabera and Brian looked at each other and instantly knew.
They named her Hange, inspired by the brave and quirky character from Attack on Titan. “It just felt right,” Sabera said. “In that moment, we both knew she was staying.”
The decision to adopt her wasn’t part of their plan. The couple had only been married for two months and wanted to wait before getting a pet.
But one look at Hange was enough to change everything.
“She was so affectionate, even though she was weak,” Sabera said. “It was like she knew we had saved her and wanted to thank us.”
That night, they went out and bought everything she could possibly need—food, toys, blankets, and a tiny bed.
Hange adjusted quickly, exploring every inch of their home like she had always belonged there.
“She wanted to see everything,” Sabera said, laughing. “And within days, she was sleeping between us like she owned the place.”
What started as a rescue mission soon became a love story.
Hange’s energy grew day by day, her fur regained its shine, and her eyes, once crusted shut, now sparkled with curiosity.
Months later, Sabera shared Hange’s story on TikTok, inspired by a trend where people share their pet adoption journeys.
She posted a short video showing Hange’s transformation from a sickly stray to a thriving, sassy house cat.
The post exploded overnight. Within days, it had over 2.2 million views and nearly half a million likes.
The comments section overflowed with emotional messages from people around the world.
“These videos break my heart yet give me joy all at the same time,” one viewer wrote. Another added, “Once I saw the name Hange, my tears started flowing.”
One comment summed it up perfectly: “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for loving this baby.”
Today, Hange is almost unrecognisable from the frail kitten found crying on a cold porch.
She’s healthy, confident, and living her best life alongside her younger feline brother, Anakin. The two are inseparable, playing, napping, and causing mischief together every day.
And while Hange may be grateful for the humans who saved her, Sabera insists it’s the other way around.
“She’s brought us so much happiness,” she said.
“We thought we weren’t ready for a pet, but now we can’t imagine life without her.”
Hange has also developed quite the personality. “She has this funny habit of shaking her paw when she disapproves of something,” Sabera shared.
“If I pet her at the wrong time or she smells something she doesn’t like, she’ll look me dead in the eyes and just shake her paw.”
It’s been almost two years since that cold November day, and Hange’s story continues to melt hearts online.
What started as a desperate cry for help has become a story of love, healing, and second chances.
“She showed up when we least expected it,” Sabera said. “But she was exactly what we needed.”