Hi everyone, my name is Tori. About two years ago, I took in a medical foster named Storm from Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, Arizona. She had been abandoned at the shelter by her family as a euthanasia request for being ‘too old’. As it turns out, Storm was not too old, but instead had heath issues that could be treated to make her the happy and sassy girl she is now. Storm lived outside in her previous life, had never slept on a couch or dog bed inside, and didn't know what it meant to be spoiled and loved unconditionally. She became such a big part of my life that I decided to adopt her in March of last year. I knew it would be a challenge, and that I would be fighting for her until she leaves me. Regardless, I knew she belonged with me for whatever time she has left. The last year has been a difficult one to say the least. Diabetes is hard on a dogs body, and Storm was never taken to the vet by her previous family. Her diabetes went undiagnosed and untreated, possibly for years. As a result, I have had to work tirelessly to keep her healthy.
In May of last year, Storm had to have a conjunctival graft after her diabetes caused a corneal ulcer, totaling $3047.17. In June, she needed life saving efforts to correct her diabetes and very fast heart rate. She had to have IV insulin and fluids to manage her diabetes, medication to correct her heart rate, and monitoring to ensure the interventions were working. They found bladder stones and a stubborn UTI that took a couple of months of antibiotics to clear. I set up for 24 hours of care to get her started, but I needed help to get her through the hospitalization. So many people donated, which saved her life. Her hospital bill was $3999.12. I learned every sign she could give me that something was wrong. I became a serious helicopter mom, and avoided so many emergencies. In November, I saw signs that she was developing another ulcer. I got her in immediately, but the doctor wouldn't listen to me. I pushed and pushed but he told me there was no ulcer. After a misdiagnosis and no treatment, Storm almost lost her eye again. It took six weeks and over $2000 to heal her eye. We are now battling a third ulcer. I caught it early this time, but I am drowning in vet bills. Each appointment with her eye doctor is $180+. Storm has beat some seriously bad odds over this past year. She is such a fighter.
If you can donate any amount Storm and I would be so grateful. These bills are on top of her monthly expenses, including insulin and a special low fat diet. If you can't donate, please share on social media as well as with friends and family. My dogs mean everything to me and I would do anything for them. Storm is the sweetest, sassiest, most loving senior pittie girl I’ve ever met. She wakes me up every morning with her gargoyle snorts, and greets me every time I come home with a bow and howl. She has so much life and love left in her. Please consider helping me keep Storm here with me.