Charlie's Surgery: Hope for a Second Chance

Hi everyone, my name is Stacy and my husband's name is Chad. We have 4 children, Hailey (16), Braxton (13), Kolten (11), and Maddie (2).

We have a 3.5-year-old dog named Charlie. We rescued her when she was only 12 weeks old. She was born into a pound and was taken in with a foster mom. When I first laid eyes on her, I knew she had to come home with us. She is the sweetest, most loving pup you’ve ever met. She is the most cuddly, affectionate, loving girl. She will lay down and roll over to her back for anyone just to get some belly rubs.

Last night around 7 pm, she started acting a little funny and wobbly on her legs, and she was whimpering like she was hurting. We carried her upstairs, maybe thinking she hurt her paw. When I woke up this morning calling for her, she wouldn’t come. When I walked over to her, she was trying to drag herself over to me. She had no feeling or use in both of her back legs.

We took her to the vet this morning at 8:30 when the vet hospital opened. She had X-rays done, but they didn’t show anything. They noticed when they touched a spot on her spine that she responded to pain, and they believe it is a slipped disc in her spine. They gave us pain meds and steroids to help with pain and inflammation. This was already a $600 bill. After speaking with our neighbor, who is a vet, she suggested we take her in immediately for an MRI and possible surgery.

We brought Charlie home until we could get in at 10:30 am to the neurologist. After a few quick tests and a physical exam, they said she is a paraplegic. The nurse performed a test where she pinched her back toes with a metal prong, hoping for a response such as a twitch, movement, a whine, bark, anything. She didn’t flinch. She has lost all feeling in both of her back legs.

She is still currently with the neurologist waiting for an MRI to confirm a slipped disc. The MRI is going to cost us $5000. We were told that even with the surgery, Charlie will only have a 50% chance of ever being able to gain feeling and function in her back legs and being able to walk again. The surgery was quoted at $10,000-12,000. They told us even with the surgery, there is a chance that it doesn’t work, and within 7-10 days, we would know if it’s not working and if it’s getting worse. She could potentially start to become paralyzed all over.

My family is completely devastated and at a loss right now. We’re not sure what happens next and if she’s going to be okay with the surgery. I’m never one to ask for help. I’ve always been the type to figure things out on my own. But with these unexpected expenses, we’re not sure how to fully cover it and recover after the expenses hit. I’ve been told on my social media accounts to start this GoFundMe in hopes to help pay for her surgery. Any little bit helps, and we would be tremendously grateful.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story about our Charlie girl. She is our world, and we want to do everything possible to help her.

I will continue to post updates as we receive them.

the funds will be going directly to the expenses or her screenings and surgery.