Be the Upgrade of Someone’s Life: Kitty Brlej

If you have read this column before, you know it’s not about big gestures or grand moments. It’s about the quiet decisions people make when no one is watching. The kind that ripple through a neighborhood and leave things a little better than they were before. 

This month, that moment came in the form of a small gray kitten named Ashy. 

Ashy belonged to neighbors here in University Heights who were facing a difficult and emotional decision. Due to the current political climate and concerns for their safety, they made the choice to leave the country. With an uncertain destination ahead, they were unsure if they could offer Ashy the same life she had known. Ashy was an outdoor kitty, bonded with neighboring cats, and clearly loved her little corner of the block. 

Moving is stressful enough for people. For a small animal who thrives on familiarity, it can be overwhelming. 

That’s when University Heights resident Kitty Brlej stepped in. 

With an open heart and no expectation of recognition, Brlej welcomed Ashy into her home. Not only did she give Ashy a safe and loving place to land, she did something even more special. She allowed Ashy to keep her routine, her outdoor lifestyle, and her friendships with the neighborhood cats she had grown up alongside. 

No fences went up. No bonds were broken. Just compassion. 

Sometimes upgrading someone’s day does not mean changing everything. Sometimes it means preserving what already matters. 

Ashy now has stability. Her former owners have peace of mind. The neighborhood still sees the same familiar group of kittens lounging in the sun, unaware that anything ever changed. 

That is community. 

As part of the Be the UPGRADE of Someone’s Day initiative through UPGRADE Chiropractic, Kitty Brlej will receive a complimentary chiropractic exam and adjustment as a small thank you for a big heart. 

If you know a neighbor who quietly does good, helps without being asked, or shows up when it matters most, I would love to hear their story. You can nominate a local resident or share a small good deed that deserves a spotlight. 

Because kindness deserves to be noticed, and sometimes the smallest acts make the biggest difference. Until next time, keep looking for ways to be someone’s UPGRADE.