Sulley needs your help!
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Hi! I’m Sulley and I need your help!
In March of 2020, my mommy and daddy decided to foster me for a local rescue group until I was ready for adoption. An appointment was made for me to be neutered, but before my procedure, the veterinarian found that I had what they thought was a heart murmur. Needless to say, I was not neutered that day - it was too risky! Soon after, I had a chest X-ray and they told my mommy I had an enlarged heart and could die suddenly! They told us I would need to see a cardiologist. Hearing this, my mommy and daddy sprung into action and decided to make me a permanent member of their family so they could get me all the help I needed.
In comes our favorite person, Dr. Church, from Desert Veterinary Medical Specialists. I met Dr. Church in June. During this visit Dr. Church diagnosed me with a congenital heart defect caused by a valve obstruction*. This obstruction causes a severe pressure overload to the right ventricle, which ultimately results in an increase in organ size, ie. an "enlarged heart". This can lead to exercise intolerance, heart failure, or even sudden death. Dr. Church put me on two medications to help regulate the oxygen to my heart and to reduce muscle burn out, as well as general heart support. Dr. Church also suggested we schedule a Balloon Valvuloplasty, but mommy and daddy wanted to wait and see how I responded to the medication first.
Fast forward five months later, and we were off to see Dr. Church and his team again, but this time there was good news! Dr. Church found that my pressure gradient went from 300mmHg to 266mmHg thanks to the medication, and that I actually have a slightly different heart condition**! My new diagnosis though is actually much better than the first, and it made me a better candidate for the Balloon Valvuloplasty procedure! The chances of my valves closing up after surgery had drastically reduced to none. With the procedure, I can live a long and fulfilling life!
This is where we need help. The procedure will cost on the high end $3,528.10 and mommy and daddy can’t do it without support from our friends. Attached is the invoice for everything, both on the low end and the high end of the estimate. We want to try to raise enough to come close to the higher end so we are prepared if Dr. Church and his team decide I need to stay overnight, or if my procedure is more intensive than originally thought. My appointment for the Balloon Valvuloplasty is scheduled for January 12, 2021, and we are so excited!! I can't wait to start living my life worry-free and partake in all the physical activities I have been restricted from.
Thank you for reading my story and for your support!
* First diagnosis - Valvular and SUB-Valvular Pulmonic Stenosis with Secondary Dynamic Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
** Second (final) diagnosis - Valvular and SUPRA-Valvular Pulmonic Stenosis with Secondary Dynamic Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
In March of 2020, my mommy and daddy decided to foster me for a local rescue group until I was ready for adoption. An appointment was made for me to be neutered, but before my procedure, the veterinarian found that I had what they thought was a heart murmur. Needless to say, I was not neutered that day - it was too risky! Soon after, I had a chest X-ray and they told my mommy I had an enlarged heart and could die suddenly! They told us I would need to see a cardiologist. Hearing this, my mommy and daddy sprung into action and decided to make me a permanent member of their family so they could get me all the help I needed.
In comes our favorite person, Dr. Church, from Desert Veterinary Medical Specialists. I met Dr. Church in June. During this visit Dr. Church diagnosed me with a congenital heart defect caused by a valve obstruction*. This obstruction causes a severe pressure overload to the right ventricle, which ultimately results in an increase in organ size, ie. an "enlarged heart". This can lead to exercise intolerance, heart failure, or even sudden death. Dr. Church put me on two medications to help regulate the oxygen to my heart and to reduce muscle burn out, as well as general heart support. Dr. Church also suggested we schedule a Balloon Valvuloplasty, but mommy and daddy wanted to wait and see how I responded to the medication first.
Fast forward five months later, and we were off to see Dr. Church and his team again, but this time there was good news! Dr. Church found that my pressure gradient went from 300mmHg to 266mmHg thanks to the medication, and that I actually have a slightly different heart condition**! My new diagnosis though is actually much better than the first, and it made me a better candidate for the Balloon Valvuloplasty procedure! The chances of my valves closing up after surgery had drastically reduced to none. With the procedure, I can live a long and fulfilling life!
This is where we need help. The procedure will cost on the high end $3,528.10 and mommy and daddy can’t do it without support from our friends. Attached is the invoice for everything, both on the low end and the high end of the estimate. We want to try to raise enough to come close to the higher end so we are prepared if Dr. Church and his team decide I need to stay overnight, or if my procedure is more intensive than originally thought. My appointment for the Balloon Valvuloplasty is scheduled for January 12, 2021, and we are so excited!! I can't wait to start living my life worry-free and partake in all the physical activities I have been restricted from.
Thank you for reading my story and for your support!
* First diagnosis - Valvular and SUB-Valvular Pulmonic Stenosis with Secondary Dynamic Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
** Second (final) diagnosis - Valvular and SUPRA-Valvular Pulmonic Stenosis with Secondary Dynamic Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
Organizer
Natalia Eisenstadt
Organizer
Tucson, AZ