Bear's Double Hip Replacement
Donation protected
My name is Carissa Leek. Eight years ago, I was volunteering for my local animal shelter and fell in love with the cutest fluff ball of a puppy who ended up becoming a part of my family. His name is Bear, nickname Boo Boo. Even at the moment I met him, I never knew the bond we would form and the impact Bear would have on my life.
Bear and I are so alike. At fourteen years of age, I developed epilepsy and soon after developed an anxiety disorder. Bear too suffers from epilepsy and also suffers from separation anxiety. It's a struggle for both of us. Even though he isn't officially a therapy dog, Bear offers me such comfort and often times makes me feel less alone in the world as I do not know many other people who struggle with the same conditions as I do. We also share a birthday, so we have literally been growing old together since 2008.
We were told a couple months ago Bear was developing a little bit of arthritis and we started him on an anti-inflammatory and he was doing so great for quite a few weeks. However, the other morning when we got up, Bear refused to move. He refused to even get up for breakfast. I knew immediately something was wrong with him because he loves eating almost as much as he loves his family. We rushed him to the vet and they x-rayed his hips and they are in horrible shape. He has really bad hip dysplasia which he inherited from his German Shepherd side of his family. The vet said we could consider a double hip replacement for Bear and he would be right as rain again, or we could just manage his symptoms for awhile until he becomes completely immobile which means no more walks around the college campus and no more walks around the track and no more ball playing.
Normally I don't ask people for money. I always handle things by myself. Just as I did when his sister needed her ACL repaired, but unfortunately, I just got out of the hospital a couple weeks ago. I was recently diagnosed with a heart condition that causes severe tachycardia and am soon to be swimming in medical bills from the hospital and set to follow up with the cardiologist every few weeks until I can keep my heart rate under control. I at this time can not afford Bear's hip replacements (for a double hip replacement it will cost about $10,000), but I can't let him go either, especially not now. I know Bear isn't ready to go either. Even though he has pain, he still smiles and gives kisses and is so very happy. It's so amazing to me that he can still be so very happy and a comfort to me and my family when he needed such dire attention and support.
The vet says that with a total double hip replacement, Bear could live to be as old as 15 even possibly 16. This means his life is only half over. He has so much life left to live and so much love left to spread. Please, please help me get Bear the treatment he so desperately needs and deserves.
Thank you.
Bear and I are so alike. At fourteen years of age, I developed epilepsy and soon after developed an anxiety disorder. Bear too suffers from epilepsy and also suffers from separation anxiety. It's a struggle for both of us. Even though he isn't officially a therapy dog, Bear offers me such comfort and often times makes me feel less alone in the world as I do not know many other people who struggle with the same conditions as I do. We also share a birthday, so we have literally been growing old together since 2008.
We were told a couple months ago Bear was developing a little bit of arthritis and we started him on an anti-inflammatory and he was doing so great for quite a few weeks. However, the other morning when we got up, Bear refused to move. He refused to even get up for breakfast. I knew immediately something was wrong with him because he loves eating almost as much as he loves his family. We rushed him to the vet and they x-rayed his hips and they are in horrible shape. He has really bad hip dysplasia which he inherited from his German Shepherd side of his family. The vet said we could consider a double hip replacement for Bear and he would be right as rain again, or we could just manage his symptoms for awhile until he becomes completely immobile which means no more walks around the college campus and no more walks around the track and no more ball playing.
Normally I don't ask people for money. I always handle things by myself. Just as I did when his sister needed her ACL repaired, but unfortunately, I just got out of the hospital a couple weeks ago. I was recently diagnosed with a heart condition that causes severe tachycardia and am soon to be swimming in medical bills from the hospital and set to follow up with the cardiologist every few weeks until I can keep my heart rate under control. I at this time can not afford Bear's hip replacements (for a double hip replacement it will cost about $10,000), but I can't let him go either, especially not now. I know Bear isn't ready to go either. Even though he has pain, he still smiles and gives kisses and is so very happy. It's so amazing to me that he can still be so very happy and a comfort to me and my family when he needed such dire attention and support.
The vet says that with a total double hip replacement, Bear could live to be as old as 15 even possibly 16. This means his life is only half over. He has so much life left to live and so much love left to spread. Please, please help me get Bear the treatment he so desperately needs and deserves.
Thank you.
Organizer
Carissa Leek
Organizer
Cochran, GA
