My daughter and her Army husband were deployed over a year ago to Germany. Formerly a Marine, He has been deployed 6 times, including to Iraq, Afghanistan , Kosovo and South Korea. This was the first dit station abroad where the entire family was coming with him and it was scheduled to last for three years. They have two set of twins, seven year old girl and boy twins named Layla and Grayson, and their two year old boys, Brooks and Declan.

Of course, dad was sent almost immediately to Poland for a 6 months. So the family decided to adopt a dog (who was being left behind by another military family being reassigned), and that is how Finley entered their family. She was a natural companion and guard while my son-in-law was not home for months at a time.

While my son-in-law was away, Grayson started to have severe headaches and became lethargic, laying with Finley when home or asleep. Although the military base at Ramstein has some of the best medical trauma units in the world, the military doctors in Germany , 4 hours away from where they are stationed, cannot seem to figure out what is causing Grayson's optical issues. MRI ‘s  are being  conducted, bloodwork, lumbar punctures, ect. You name it the poor kid has been through it. Grayson’s condition continues to worsen. He has ocular nerve inflammation pressing on the brain and requiring periodic removal of spinal fluid. There has been no diagnosis yet in almost a year. Symptoms now include ringing in his ears, blurry vision, “tingling” of his upper and lower extremities and an even more pronounced need to nap several times a day.

Upon application, my son in law has now been granted what is called a “compassionate reassignment”, allowing the family to come back stateside early for medical reasons, specifically for Grayson.

The remaining problem is how to get Finley home too. No-one wants to transport the loveable and necessary companion to Grayson because she is a 150+  pound  Irish Wolfhound. We have been told she would cost at least $6,000.00 to transport and would need a $1,500.00 customized crate in which to be transported. With all the crazy requests for traveling with comfort pets, as well as several stories of transporting pets that have not turned out well, the commercial airlines are shying away from our requests .

Grayson needs Finley here and with him while getting his medical treatment. And Finley needs Grayson. That is why we are starting a Go Fund me page for $7,500.00, with any costs not actually needed for this purpose to be used to assist  other military families similarly situated.