Next month is my birthday. And I'd like to request a present.
If you're reading this, you know how insanely in love with our dog Charlie me and Jack are. He's been in our lives for 6 wonderful years and brought us and everyone who encounters him a lot of joy. He's a huge fan of peanut butter, synthpop and humping ladies. 
Over the last few weeks, his health has degenerated slowly. At first he was sluggish. Then one of his legs seemed wonky. A week later he collpased. And now he's suffering from seisures, intense ones during which he has to be stabilized. Charlie's symptoms are complex and confusing to doctors, meaning the road to a diagnosis might be long, and will definitely be expensive.
Our journey begins tomorrow, with a pricetag of at least $3000 that might go up to $7000. This is only the first of what might be several tests, and still doesn't cover whatever the actual treatment for his mystery condition might be.
If Charlie was elderly or in pain, we wouldn't think of putting him through this. But we think he has a lot more years in his little Chihuahua body. There is so much peanut butter to eat, synthpop to bop to, and ladies' hippage to mount.
Asking for this is humbling and I wish we didn't have to do it. But we love him so much and are facing an uncertain future. If you can pitch in at all, it would mean the world to me. It would be a gift to us, and an even bigger one to him. Thank you.