Agnes v. PIMA

This is my BBFF (Boxer Best Friend Forever), Agnes.

In March of this year, she started having episodes where she'd collapse for no apparent reason. After tons of tests, a couple of blood transfusions and a bone marrow biopsy (among other things!), she was finally diagnosed with an auto-immune disease called PIMA (Precursor-directed Immune-Mediated Anemia).

Knowing what we're facing has been a good start. Her vets have been great, but this hasn't been easy. She's been on a pretty steady course of Prednisone since her diagnosis, and we've tried a couple of different immunosuppressants to try to get her body to make its own red blood cells again. 

Most recently, it looks like our second shot at immunosuppressant, that was looking promising, has stopped working. Her red blood cell count just isn't where it's supposed to be, but what's more, her body is having what looks like a pretty bad reaction to that medicine (ulcers in her mouth and probably also in her tummy). So...no more of that med.

What's next? Splenectomy. The docs hope that by removing her spleen, she'll be able to hang on to more of her own red blood cells, and hopefully, her illness will get kicked into remission. And then...we're hoping she can return to her bouncing, rumbling, energy-filled self.

Any funds we raise will go toward Agnes's medical and surgical fees, which have already stacked up pretty high. I know a lot of people have helped us out before...but if you're able to, and you can help my BBFF and me, it would mean the world to us.

Thanks to everyone who's asked how they can help. Even if you're not able to support with dollars (believe me -- I get it!!), if you can share this with any of your animal-loving friends, that would be greatly appreciated!