My dogs are my family, and they have carried me through some of the hardest moments of my life. Baeja, my two-year-old Cane Corso mix, came into my life while I was recovering from a domestic violence shooting. I raised her from my bedside, and she became my source of comfort, companionship, and healing. Recently, Baeja developed pyometra, a life-threatening uterine infection that required emergency surgery. Thanks to the incredible veterinary team who cared for her, the surgery was successful, and she is recovering amazingly. While I am beyond grateful to have her home and healing, the emergency expenses created a significant financial burden. My older Cane Corso, Judah, is also facing serious medical challenges. In November 2024, Judah saved my life by jumping in front of the man who shot me multiple times. He took bullets to his head and shoulder while protecting me. Veterinarians initially advised leaving the bullet fragments in place, but they have since begun to shift, creating a painful mass near his eye that now requires specialized treatment and possible extraction. The truth is that our story didn’t end the night of the shooting. I was in what I believed was a loving relationship with someone I trusted completely. We were only days away from getting married when he betrayed that trust and nearly took both my life and Judah’s. The justice system provided no restitution, leaving me to rebuild my life alone while carrying the physical, emotional, and financial consequences. As a result of my injuries, I live with permanent nerve damage and partial paralysis in my right leg. I need surgery to decompress the nerve and improve my mobility, but I have no realistic way to save for the procedure or support myself through recovery. I don’t qualify for disability benefits, yet my limitations make it extremely difficult to work full-time and remain financially stable. I am doing everything I can to move forward, but I am navigating this journey in a city where I have no family nearby and very little support to rely on. Asking for help is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but right now it is what I need to do. Your support will help cover Judah’s medical care, the debt from Baeja’s emergency surgery, and the basic expenses that allow us to stay safe and housed while I continue healing. Every donation, share, and kind word makes a difference. My hope is that one day I can turn my experience into something bigger. I dream of creating a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping domestic violence survivors and their pets find safety, healing, and support. Right now, I am focused on healing myself and caring for the two dogs who helped save my life. With your help, I can continue moving toward that future. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading our story, sharing our fundraiser, and helping keep my heroes healthy and by my side.