Help Athena, My Baby Girl, Recover After Emergency Lung Surgery

Athena, my baby girl, Auroras daughter, is truly my heart.

Athena means the world to me, more than part of my fur family. She has been a baby I have raised since the moment she was born in my college house. The only girl of the litter and only one of Auroras babies that clinged to me instantly and has slept with me every night since. I helped bring her into this world, and after losing her mom Aurora, last year, she has been a daily reminder of the love and beauty of sweet Aurora that I miss so much.

Her love and sassiness has brought so much love and joy to my days, especially through the hard years, the dark times through last year. Death, sicknesses and so many trials, she has been there. Athena sleeps beside me every night, follows me everywhere and has been my constant source of comfort, love, and strength. She isn’t just my dog….she’s my family, my shadow, and a living piece of Aurora still with me.

A few days ago, everything changed.

Athena suddenly began struggling to breathe. I rushed her to the ER vet, and I was faced with the same place that I had once brought Aurora… this time with another life on the line. She was diagnosed with pneumothorax, a life-threatening condition where air leaks into the chest cavity due to a rupture (bleb) in the lung, causing the lungs to collapse.

There were no easy options only urgent, invasive surgery to save her life.

To move forward, she first needed a CT scan to assess the damage and rule out cancer. Then she underwent a major open chest surgery (median sternotomy and lung lobectomy) to locate the rupture and remove the damaged portion of her lung.

I didn’t hesitate… I just said yes to saving her.

The total cost came to $15,953, so far which I had to put on my credit cards immediately.

I am so blessed that Athena made it through surgery, and I am beyond grateful she is still here with me. But this moment has come on the heels of another heartbreaking loss. Just last year, I lost Aurora to cancer an unexpected journey that cost over $25,000 in care.

Between losing Aurora and now fighting to save Athena, I have been emotionally drained, heartbroken, and overwhelmed this past week. I do not have pet insurance, and these back-to-back emergencies have created a significant financial impact on my life.

Right now, I’m doing everything I can to stay strong for Athena as she heals.

I’m asking for help to cover:

* Emergency CT scan and diagnostics

* Life-saving open chest surgery

* Hospitalization and aftercare

* Ongoing recovery support

If you’re able to donate, even a small amount, it would truly mean the world to us. And if you can’t, sharing this page would help more than you know.

Thank you for helping me save my baby girl.

Thank you for giving Athena a chance to keep living, loving, and staying by my side.

With all my heart,

Shelby