Help Pay for Elvis's Surgery Treatment Pathology

Help Jasmin Pay for Emergency Surgery, Treatment, Care and Pathology Expenses for Elvis

Written by Liesa Raggam, for my younger sister, Jasmin Raggam

This GoFundMe is to help my sister, Jasmin repay the money she has borrowed, to pay for the medical expenses when Elvis required emergency surgery, hospitalization, treatment, care, pathology, follow-up visits, medication, an expensive testing done on the amputated piece of his tail.

For those who don’t know Elvis, he is a beautiful, 5-year-old, Eastern Bearded Dragon,

rescued by Jasmin when he was a baby, terribly neglected, diagnosed with Metabolic Bone Disease and not expected to live, as usual Jasmin jumped in feet first to save this little guy when the vet wanted to put him to sleep because he had suffered enough, the MBD was severe he could not even lift his little head, his spine could not support his body, his jaw was so weak it could easily be broken while syringe feeding him, his limbs look curved, due to Green-stick fractures, the bending of soft bones. He was having seizures. Jasmin knew nothing about caring for a captive bearded dragon, but she wasn’t about to give up on him and persuaded the vet to let her try. she said it was going to cost a lot of money and he would have to have monthly visits to monitor his health, and that she would be given a list of equipment that he needed that day. It cost Jasmin over $3000 to get him well again.

It was on his 5th monthly visit, that his vet got very excited, she said he is clear of MBD, with no deformities, you’ve done amazing, this is rare, you have reversed the MBD, 2 more months of rehabilitation with climbing, lots of exercise and he started to grow into a big healthy boy.

Jasmin and Elvis had formed a special bond, and the past 5 years, Elvis has been living his best life, he is a funny and interesting character, often called Mr. Sticky Beak for his inquisitive personality and sitting at the window keeping an eye on his hood. Jasmin has done years of research on captive bearded dragons to give Elvis the best care she possibly could, Elvis has been her number one and she has taken such good care of him, the tragedy that has unfolded has devastated Jasmin.

Unfortunately, Elvis has faced another serious health battle, which has taken us all by surprise, especially Jasmin.

when Jasmin went to do her routine check on Elvis, she noticed that his tail was quite dark and dry but thought it was just shedding skin so she sprayed his tail down with some water hoping that that would help him shedding.

But things changed quickly. By the following morning part of his tail had died,

Jasmin could smell his tail was rotting. Jasmin could clearly see a vet trip was in order. She called The Unusual Pet Vets in Jindalee who got Elvis an appointment later that afternoon which is extremely lucky as they had said it was a very aggressive and fast-moving infection.

It was decided very quickly that Elvis’s tail need to be amputated as it was beyond healing, it was dying, and to try and stop the spread of the infection they amputated it several cm above the dying portion of his tail in hope that that would stop the spread of the infection.

His wound was left open and after 3 days at the vet hospital it was time for him to come home. During this time, cultures were sent off for testing. His amputated part of his tail was frozen until Jasmin can afford testing.

As a result of Elvis’s amputation, antibiotics, pain relief and the future consultations that he will need on an ongoing basis has left poor Jasmin in a world of financial trouble. The initial consultation and emergency surgery has cost Jasmin $1,800, the costs all up at this point have cost more than $2,000. Elvis is still having issues with his balance and ongoing vet consultations are still rolling in, and his tail is still frozen awaiting testing, it holds the key to how Elvis caught three aggressive bugs which caused the aggressive infection, until its sent for testing, Jasmin is fearful of him being re-infected.

Thankfully some family and friends have rallied together and helped with some funds to help Jasmin get through Xmas, but Jasmin is still in an increasingly difficult situation from not just an emotional standpoint but also from a financial one.

I am asking Jasmin’s friends and some of mine to please donate $5 to $10 each to pull Jasmin out of the financial turmoil she is experiencing.

I have witnessed my sister, Jasmin, help anyone who needs it, time and time again. Please find it in your heart to dig deep an donate to a person who would be more than grateful, Jasmin is not the type of person to ask for help, she is a giver not a taker, and why I have taken it upon myself to reach out on her behalf.

Kind Regards

Liesa Raggam