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Blastomycosis Treatment for Tato

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Hello friends and family,

We understand that these are very tough times for everyone. Asking for money is the last thing that anyone wants to do right now, but we have some devastating news to share that has affected our dear friends/roommates, JM and Tori, and their precious dog Potato (Tato for short)  that everyone adores.



On August 5th this year, we celebrated Tato’s first birthday and it was a milestone together as we had just moved in together for about a month at that time. He is a handsome and playful Pembroke Welsh Corgi who was living his life without any issues. Sadly, however, on September 11, Tato's FIGHT FOR HIS VERY YOUNG LIFE began. Please see the timeline below:

September 11:  Tato jumps off the couch, allegedly hurts his left leg, and starts to limp when he walks. 
JM and Tori wanted to wait a week or so to see if his leg would get better, but it didn’t and only got worse.

September 17: Tato started twitching his left eye.

September 18: Tato did not want anyone to touch his leg and would not walk on it at all and his left eye got red.

September 19: JM and Tori took Tato to the Fox Lake Animal Hospital, a walk-in vet, to get Tato checked.
Here he was diagnosed with conjunctivitis (pink eye) in his left eye and a sprained left back leg. 

September 22: Everyone noticed that Tato's left eye started to become cloudy and very swollen. Tori then proceeded to get him into the vet that Thursday (the 24th) at their primary vet: West Loop Veterinary Care.

September 24: Potato went to West Loop Veterinary Care where he was diagnosed with a fever and Glaucoma in his left eye. So the vet proceeded to do many tests and x-rays to see where it started.
We were informed that the worst-case scenario would be the removal of his eye.


September 25: A radiologist looked at the x-rays and found a mass on Tato’s lungs and told us it could possibly be cancer but was not sure.
On this day Tato was also brought in to see an optometrist for animals.
Here they told JM and Tori that everything that has happened so far is from a fungal infection called Blastomycosis.
Blastomycosis is an infection caused by a fungus called Blastomyces. The fungus lives in the environment, particularly in moist soil and in a decomposing matter such as wood and leaves.”

• The optometrist told us to be careful his cornea does not get scratched or ruptured so the infection does not spread. And again we're told that in the worst-case scenario his eye would have to be removed to prevent any spread of the infection. If we decide against it, there would be a high chance that Tato would get even sicker and may not heal well or survive very long.

September 26: Around 11 pm Tato woke up from a nap in a panic as us roommates were watching a movie. He started to tumble around until Tori got to him to hold him up. We all looked at his eye and it looked like a layer in his eye was peeling off. 
We all quickly drove to the pet emergency room and Tato was taken in as an emergency because his eye had indeed ruptured on top of also having a fever. He was kept overnight to be monitored.

WARNING - UNSETTLING VIDEO - VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED


September 27: Potato was looked at by an ER vet and we were yet again told that he would most likely have to get his eye removed if he wanted to survive. 
Tato was seen this day by both and ER doctor as well as an Internist (an internal medicine doctor) who specializes in treating illnesses inside the body.  
Here both doctors said that everything that is happening to Tato is caused by the Blastomycosis fungal infection and that again the eye would need to be removed. 

September 28: Potato was seen by an ophthalmologist (an eye doctor that specializes in treating diseases) who was the final doctor to confirm the eye removal surgery with JM and Tori and proceeded to move forward with it at 2:00 pm that same day. 
At 6:30 pm, Tato was ok’d to come home with us all.


Tato is easily the most treasured roommate any of us could have asked for. Have you ever seen such a handsome boy? This little guy has been through so much in his first year of life, and his fight is not over yet. Tato and his parents really need our help to raise enough for all the medical costs of these past weeks, as well as future treatments and vet appointments for the Blastomycosis fungal infection.
Any donations will be greatly appreciated. If you cannot donate, any words of encouragement/love will warm their hearts and keep their spirits up. Thank you so much for your support!
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Donations 

  • Minna Natsuko Ito
    • $5 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $10 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $20 
    • 3 yrs
  • Stephens Family
    • $20 
    • 3 yrs
  • John Ellasos
    • $20 
    • 3 yrs
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Fundraising team: Team Tato (2)

Amery F
Organizer
Raised $675 from 8 donations
Chicago, IL
Victoria Vole
Beneficiary
Naomi Choi
Team member
Raised $305 from 9 donations
This team raised $3,523 from 81 other donations.

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