So the last few days have been a ridiculous roller coaster for Rosie and me.

I took her to the vet thinking she just had some stomach irritation related to a surgery she had a little over a month ago to remove a (benign) tumor from her intestines. The next day we found out that she actually had a foreign body obstruction and needed emergency surgery.

Her previous surgery ate up all my savings as well as those of the people who love me and allowed me to borrow from them to take care of her.
So I put down all my money and all the credit I qualified for and it wasn’t enough. I tried to wait and see if she would get better without surgery and she got worse.



I was faced with the impossible reality of having to put her down simply because I couldn’t afford to make her better. I felt (and still feel) like an enormous failure.


 
Right before this was set to happen, a vet came in and said that her parents would be willing to adopt Rosie and pay for her surgery. 
I immediately agreed even though the folks who would be saving her life and adopting her lived all the way in Delaware and I’d likely never see her again, I had to give her a chance. 

I can’t describe how difficult it was to think about Rosie being someone else’s dog. I get that everyone thinks their animal is special (and they’re right) but for me, Rosie is so much more than a pet. 

I started raising her for Guide Dogs for the Blind when I was 17. She was by my side every single day of my senior year of high school and walked across the stage with me when I graduated. When I had to take a year off from college to recover from post concussion syndrome, she was there. As I dealt with (and continue to deal with) chronic depression related to post concussion syndrome, she was right there helping me grow and push forward even when my brain wanted me to believe that it was impossible. She’s been with me all through college and the transitions that followed and has seen me through more than I could ever express in words.








I guess the bottom line is that I have rebuilt myself enough times with this incredible friend by my side that she feels irrevocably woven into the foundation of who I am. Maybe that’s unhealthy, but I don’t really care.



Signing the paper relinquishing ownership of Rosie was the hardest easy decision I’ve ever made. I am so grateful that that option was given to me, because the alternative is too awful to think about.
But it tore me in half. 

The good news is, my parents are absolute heroes and decided last night to spend money they don’t actually have to buy my dog back for me.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the sacrifice they were willing to make for me and Rosie, but all I really know right now is that I have to do everything I can to pay them back.

Which is why I’m here. I feel ridiculous and small and embarrassed asking people for money when there are humans who can’t pay their medical bills on Go Fund Me. 

Rosie got the surgery she needed and is recovering well and she is going to be my dog for the rest of her life which will be long and very happy if I have any say in it (which I plan to)

But the reality is that I really need some help. So I’m gonna ask for it I guess.

Her vet bills are at about $5,500 right now.

If you have anything at all to spare, I would appreciate it more than I could possibly say! 

Thank you in advance,

Olivia