Apollo's Emergency GDV (Bloat) Surgery and Recovery

Sarina Fico is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hello,

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! I’ve started this fundraiser to help with the $12,122 expense I was left with to save the life of my poodle, Apollo. He just turned 5 this past August, and I’ve had him since he was 8 weeks old. He’s my only pet, and I cherish him deeply, as any animal lover can understand.

To try and make a very long story short: Apollo suffered a life-threatening condition called Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV for short), otherwise known as “stomach flip” or “bloat.”

Immediate emergency surgery is necessary to save the life of a dog experiencing this, and for that reason, I’m now responsible for loans I cannot realistically afford.

After suffering a multitude of horrific symptoms (abdominal distention, dry retching, difficulty walking, etc.) on the afternoon of September 16th, I took Apollo to the Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital.

The hospital required an upfront payment of $8,038 before this life-saving surgery could proceed. A loan from CareCredit made this possible for me to do. Residual costs post-op were split between 3 credit cards.

I simply couldn't bear the thought of euthanizing my best friend if there was anything at all I could do about it. Because truthfully, that was the alternative. He's far too young, and too important to me, to not be given a chance at survival.

Thankfully, his surgery was a success. His spleen had to be removed, and his stomach was stitched to his ribcage to prevent it from twisting again. He had cardiac arrhythmia for the first 24 hours after surgery, resulting in his need to stay at the hospital for 2 nights.

^^ 08/19/2024 : His birthday!! :)

(Quick PSA: a preventative Gastropexy costs around $400 and can be performed during a routine spay/neuter to dramatically reduce the odds of this happening to your dog! Something to consider if you’re interested in breeds that are particularly prone to GDV. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had done this.)

^^ Apollo and his best friend, Ciccia Bella <3

Even with the immense joy and gratitude I’ve felt these last few weeks watching Apollo recover from surgery, knowing how incredibly close I was to losing him forever - I just don’t have the necessary funds/income to pay down these loans by myself.

^^ 09/17/2024 : 1 day post-op. He was a bit loopy, but we were so overjoyed to see him ok!!

To be honest, I was hesitant to set up this GoFundMe. Some fears of judgment, and an overall discomfort with any sort of spotlight in my direction, urged me to figure this out on my own. But I’m asking for help in the wake of his recovery that wouldn't have been possible without this loan, because the quality of life he deserves is far more important than my reluctance to ask for help.

I recognize how incredibly fortunate I am to still have my dog alive and with me today. Since going through this experience, I've come to know of so many other dog-owners that have lost a beloved pet to this fatal condition. There was a chance Apollo could've not survived surgery or the recovery period, and I'd have still been left responsible for thousands of dollars in bills - on top of that huge loss in my life. I'll never regret doing what I could to give him another chance at life, despite those present odds.

My heart goes out to all of those pets and their parents that weren't as lucky as us. I will never take Apollo's life for granted for as many years as he still has left here in our family.

Any donation, no matter the amount, would mean the absolute world to us. I'd like to be as transparent as possible, and I’m more than happy to answer any questions you might have!

Thank you all so much, from the bottom of my heart, for reading about our circumstance and considering helping me and Apollo during this difficult time.