Help Jimmy & Me support trauma sufferers

This is Jimmy & me.

We are running 100km from Ipswich to the Gold Coast on the 18th of October 2021 over a week, to raise awareness for miscarriage, PTSD and loving a dog with a disease. Why?...

I have secondary infertility. I’ve endured 7 miscarriages in the last 18 months and 8 surgeries related to that. I’ve developed a permanent bladder (IC) disease from fertility steroid treatment and repeated fertility surgeries. We lost all income for a year thanks to covid and my husband is once again on stand down from work. 8 weeks ago I got diagnosed with Complex PTSD from all the trauma.

My husband is a pilot and worked away a lot so we made the decision to get a dog to support me and also give our beautiful little boy a new best mate. Jimmy is a pure bred border collie and a re-home situation. I took him to the vet 4 days after owning him and they were concerned he had lupus. Biopsy’s unfortunately confirmed that diagnosis. Ironically, the treatment Jimmy needs is the same steroids that has given me permanent bladder disease. Every dog responds differently to treatment, but there is no cure and long term steroid treatment if required will shut his organs down. Further to that, Jimmy’s face can never see UV light as it not only makes the condition worse, it increases his chances of skin cancer. How do you keep a working line dog inside all day. You can’t. Our vet is hopeful she can get a couple of years out of him for us.

I’ve felt beaten up and bruised more times than not over the last few years and Jimmy being sick didn’t help the situation, but I’ve learnt...
You unfortunately can’t go around struggles, you’ve got to go straight through.  I hope to help show people that you are stronger and braver than you know.  I hope to help people know it's ok to not be ok.  You're not alone. 

Jimmy and I both love to run and after approval from our vet and approval to use special UV protective gear, we are going to run 100km to help those struggling as well. Miscarriage isn’t spoken about - that needs to change. PTSD isn’t confined to the battle field. You can still love a dog with a fatal disease.

Our goal is to raise $10k. I want to give 7 people $1000 towards their psychology treatment to help them heal, and 3 owners of dogs with fatal diseases/expensive health care requirements $1000 to go towards their dogs care.  All funds will be paid directly to specialists of choice and vets. 

In the meantime, I hope to normalise pregnancy loss, trauma and mental health.