brain surgery, living expenses, service dog care

Hey friends, this is my absolute last resort. I have never been in this situation before, instead helped others in similar ones. I never fully understood what this felt like. My partner, sister and our 3 pets are in need of financial help. Two of our animals are trained service dogs for disabilities. My sister has epilepsy. She was diagnosed when she was 19, 11 years ago. Her seizures happen 3-5 times a day where she is not coherent or able to even preform basic needs for herself. Last week she had new breakthrough seizures we have never seen before. These ones leave her near unconscious for 45 minutes to 3 hours after they occur. She is unable to stand, walk, support her own weight, eat, drink, do hygiene functions or basic living tasks.

She is scheduled to have a lobectomy during the first few days of November. The surgery will consist of opening the skull, removing the temporal and part of the occipital lobe on the right side. These areas of the brain are critical for memory, movement, comprehension, speech and coordination. She was in the hospital from Friday to Sunday and discharged. Then she was taken to the ER and admitted on Sunday until Monday. She was taken again on Tuesday because she had a hard time breathing and is set to be released again this week. The doctors don’t know how these occur and there is no way to cure them. She lost her disability due to a law enacted in the last administration that when evaluated, she made $1.5 k more 3 years ago than the limit (even though the limit changed). We are fighting with a lawyer for disability however she was denied twice again. She recently lost her Medicaid because the three of us in the household are surviving off of only one income and we could not afford the $600 premium.

I am unable to hold a full time job because I have to ensure her safety and care for her full time. My partner is unable to hold a job with specific hours because she is needed to help out when emergencies occur. Our income is highly limited. For example, we come in about $1k under the poverty line in our state for a household of three. We are currently trying to get rental assistance and access to food banks after we were denied food stamps this month. we are also limited in ways to earn income as I am immunocompromised and with her surgery coming up she cannot be exposed to COVID under any circumstances or the surgery will be cancelled.

Her service dog, Shadow, who is trained to detect and assist and alert during her seizure episodes was impaled by a foreign object on his right side slightly to the right of his back leg. It happened yesterday and today his skin was detached from his muscle. After visiting the vet he needs to be put under, stitched, and have a drain placed (which may mean cutting his wound open further). He needs antibiotics, pain medications, and anti inflammatory treatments to go home on, totaling us about $450. All 3 of us were denied care credit and scratch pay. Shadow is her best friend, her support system, and he will always run to her to alert when a seizure occurs. He is full of spunk and always makes her smile no matter her health situation. We are doing everything possible to insure they get to continue to be a team for years to come.

My partner and I are fully supporting our sister and her service animal. I am also currently sick with my 4th stomach and intestinal infection this year. I am so sorry to have to ask for help friends. I am unsure of where to go from here and have exhausted all of my resources.

thank you all for supporting us, even if it was just reading this or sharing our campaign. You are all so loved! Wishing you and your family health and happiness ❤️