The day before my birthday, my beloved soul dog, Nico, started showing worrisome symptoms. A lengthy visit to the ER along with multiple tests showed possible liver failure, but additional and extensive tests were needed to confirm. By the morning of the 22nd, she woke up showing further decline. Rushing to the ER, she spent the full day being put through testing, scans, and blood work to identify the cause. It took a lot of effort on behalf of the staff that treated her, there were a lot of factors that made it hard to identify the root issue. Her gallbladder needed to come out, and she was experiencing liver failure. Considering the risk and need of first needing to get her stabilized for gallbladder surgery, the doctors expected a 7-day hospitalization for the full procedure, upwards of $10,000 in fees or more. With 14 years on this planet and 13 of them with me, I knew what had to be done. Nico hated the vet and those bright lights. She was a soft and warm aesthetic kind of girl. I brought her home and was able to make arrangements for her transition. We laid her to rest, in her home, on her favorite dog bed, surrounded by a bounty of flowers and herbs. Some flowers were gifted by loved ones for what we thought was my birthday, but ended up being unintentional ceremonial adornment. Herbs such as rosemary, yarrow, lavender, and tulsi from the yard. Wrapped in remembrance, love and protection, comfort, and soul cleanse.

The costs at the time made no difference in an effort to provide ease and relief to one of the sweetest, wisest dogs many have met. But the aftermath reality is a steep bill was piled, one that proves to provide financial strain and stress during an already somber time of grief. Any help in relief of the accrued fees is graciously welcomed and in ways would be like your last love letter, pet, or kiss on the boop to Nico. I love you, I love you, I love you.