Save Shadowfax
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Dear Friends,
For those of you who don't know, my son's dog, Shadowfax, was stuck by a car. We were blessed that he was not killed, but the injuries were significant. X-rays show that the right side of his pelvis was crushed and forced up into his body.
The story of Shadowfax is beautiful. My son is autistic. When he was five, he asked for a dog of his own. In a moment of parenting, I promised him that the day he could read one book to me, I would take him out to get any dog he wanted. At first, my son was motivated and practiced every day. Soon, his interest appeared to wander, and it became more and more difficult to get him to sit with me and practice. One day, almost three years later, my son came to me with a book and with no preamble began to slowly stumble his way through the words. One slow page at a time, he made his way through the whole story. I am not ashamed to say I cried as he won this victory over his autism. As soon as he finished the last page, he closed the book, looked directly at me, and said, "I want my dog now."
It had been so long that, in all honesty, I had forgotten my promise. As soon as I was reminded, we went to the pound. Expecting to find a big dog like a lab or a retriever of some kind, I was surprised when my son pointed out a small, shivering, ten-pound rat-terrier mix. I did not want a small dog. I attempted to divert him to something bigger, more dog-like, but his mind was set. After a few minutes of frustration, I asked him, "Why that one, son? Isn't there anything else you would like?" With a perfectly calm voice, my son looked at me and said, "That one because he is like me." I still don't really know what my son meant, but he got the dog.
Shadow has been his fast friend ever since. Shadow has been staying with me here in Kansas while my family has been traveling to work at different events. I truly never knew how much I loved the beast until I saw him broken and crying in my arms. I cannot and will not allow the trust my son gave to me to be broken.
Shadowfax is currently waiting for the surgery needed to realign the broken pieces of his pelvis and hip. While he is not in imminent fear of his life, his surgery will ensure that he and my son will have one another for many years to come.
I am told the surgery will cost upwards of 3,000 dollars and all the places I have called require the majority of the cost prior to attempting the procedure. We are continuing to look for clinics that will work with us, but with each passing day, the bones start to knit where they have been broken and shoved into his spine, and the surgery, when it does happen, will need to be more extensive.
I find it necessary to ask you for help. I ask for your prayers, your good thoughts, and your good wishes. If you have something to give, no matter how small, to offset the financial burden, it will be met with my greatest thanks and will touch one of the purest loves that can exist, the love of a boy and his dog.
Please contact me with any questions you may have. Above all thank you for all the love you have given, the hope you have inspired and the help you have offered.
With all my gratitude,
Simon.
For those of you who don't know, my son's dog, Shadowfax, was stuck by a car. We were blessed that he was not killed, but the injuries were significant. X-rays show that the right side of his pelvis was crushed and forced up into his body.
The story of Shadowfax is beautiful. My son is autistic. When he was five, he asked for a dog of his own. In a moment of parenting, I promised him that the day he could read one book to me, I would take him out to get any dog he wanted. At first, my son was motivated and practiced every day. Soon, his interest appeared to wander, and it became more and more difficult to get him to sit with me and practice. One day, almost three years later, my son came to me with a book and with no preamble began to slowly stumble his way through the words. One slow page at a time, he made his way through the whole story. I am not ashamed to say I cried as he won this victory over his autism. As soon as he finished the last page, he closed the book, looked directly at me, and said, "I want my dog now."
It had been so long that, in all honesty, I had forgotten my promise. As soon as I was reminded, we went to the pound. Expecting to find a big dog like a lab or a retriever of some kind, I was surprised when my son pointed out a small, shivering, ten-pound rat-terrier mix. I did not want a small dog. I attempted to divert him to something bigger, more dog-like, but his mind was set. After a few minutes of frustration, I asked him, "Why that one, son? Isn't there anything else you would like?" With a perfectly calm voice, my son looked at me and said, "That one because he is like me." I still don't really know what my son meant, but he got the dog.
Shadow has been his fast friend ever since. Shadow has been staying with me here in Kansas while my family has been traveling to work at different events. I truly never knew how much I loved the beast until I saw him broken and crying in my arms. I cannot and will not allow the trust my son gave to me to be broken.
Shadowfax is currently waiting for the surgery needed to realign the broken pieces of his pelvis and hip. While he is not in imminent fear of his life, his surgery will ensure that he and my son will have one another for many years to come.
I am told the surgery will cost upwards of 3,000 dollars and all the places I have called require the majority of the cost prior to attempting the procedure. We are continuing to look for clinics that will work with us, but with each passing day, the bones start to knit where they have been broken and shoved into his spine, and the surgery, when it does happen, will need to be more extensive.
I find it necessary to ask you for help. I ask for your prayers, your good thoughts, and your good wishes. If you have something to give, no matter how small, to offset the financial burden, it will be met with my greatest thanks and will touch one of the purest loves that can exist, the love of a boy and his dog.
Please contact me with any questions you may have. Above all thank you for all the love you have given, the hope you have inspired and the help you have offered.
With all my gratitude,
Simon.
Organizer
Simon Huntley
Organizer
Bonner Springs, KS
