Poppy suddenly became very ill, developing a high fever, shaking, vomiting, and extreme lethargy. We rushed her to multiple vets and emergency clinics, but despite being seen at three different locations, we still didn’t have clear answers while her condition continued to worsen. Initially, doctors thought it could be a number of different issues, but nothing fully explained how quickly she was declining. It wasn’t until the fourth and final emergency hospital that they were able to identify how serious her condition had become. At that point, they determined that Poppy was septic and took her into emergency abdominal exploratory surgery to find the source. During surgery, they discovered she had a mesenteric torsion, a rare and life threatening condition where the intestines twist and cut off their own blood supply. Because of this, a large portion of her intestines had lost blood flow and could not be saved. The surgeons had to remove approximately 80% of her small intestine in order to keep her alive. Poppy is now in the ICU in critical condition, where she is being closely monitored as she recovers from surgery. The next several days post op are extremely critical. With such a significant portion of her intestine removed, her body now has to work much harder to digest food, absorb nutrients, and maintain hydration. Right now her care team is focusing on keeping her stable, preventing infection, and supporting her body as it begins to adjust. Although she has been stable post surgery, she remains at risk for serious complications, and her recovery will depend on how well her body responds over these next several days.

Funds will go toward Poppy’s emergency surgery, ICU care, medications, and the tests that were run to diagnose her condition. This support will help cover the costs of her life-saving treatment and ongoing recovery. In addition, once Poppy’s needs are met, any remaining funds will be used to start a nonprofit called Poppy’s Promise, dedicated to helping other dogs like Poppy who need lifesaving surgery. Our goal is to pay it forward and support families facing similar emergencies in the future.

I know it may seem unusual for a professional athlete to ask for help through a fundraising platform, so I want to provide some context.

The reality is, not all professional athletes are millionaires. Just like anyone else, an unexpected emergency—especially something as serious as this—can put you in a very difficult financial position. A situation like Poppy’s, with over $30,0000 in  medical costs, is something that would challenge anyone.

This page is for Poppy, but it’s also the beginning of something bigger.

Going through this experience firsthand has opened my eyes in a way I never expected. It’s inspired me to create something meaningful—Poppy’s Promise—a foundation aimed at helping other dogs and families facing these same kinds of hardships.

I started this to give anyone who felt moved to help Poppy and me a way to do so. But Poppy’s story has already become more than that. She’s sparked something that I truly hope will grow into a mission that helps many others overcome moments like this.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for any support—whether that’s a donation or simply sharing our story. It truly means the world to us.