Kirby is Stephanie’s English bulldog, her best friend and constant companion since he was a puppy. If you know Stephanie, you know that Kirby is her #1, her everywhere sidekick, and wherever Kirby goes, he becomes a superstar. About a month ago, Kirby’s breathing changed and he began choking on even the smallest bits of food. Concerned, Stephanie took him to the vet, where they discovered fluid on his lungs and a possible heart murmur. After starting medication to clear the fluid, further tests were done, and the vet suspected congestive heart failure. Kirby was referred to the vet hospital at UGA for more specialized care.

After an overnight stay at UGA, including x-rays, bloodwork, and a CT scan, the good news was that Kirby’s heart is strong and his lungs look good—no congestive heart failure. However, the tests revealed a plum-sized benign tumor sitting on top of his heart. While it isn’t cancerous, the tumor is starting to obstruct his breathing and eating, and Kirby now needs radiation treatment. Stephanie will need to take him back to UGA multiple times over the next few weeks for these treatments, hoping to stop the tumor’s growth and possibly shrink it.

The costs for Kirby’s care are adding up quickly, including radiation treatments, travel to UGA, overnight stays, and lost work hours for Stephanie. While it’s not an exorbitant amount, it’s a lot to manage in a short time. Please consider helping Stephanie and Kirby during this difficult time so Kirby can get the care he needs and continue being her loyal companion. Even the smallest amount helps, and prayers are just as appreciated. Your support means the world to them.

***UPDATE*** So they have a short window once they give him the sedative to get the IV in to begin giving him anesthesia and then intubate him.

Intubating him keeps him breathing.

They struggled to get a vein to get the IV in and it scared them because he was having difficulty breathing from the sedative and they couldn't get him intubated until he was under anesthesia. Long story short, they needed to put a pic line in his neck. Putting in a pic line eliminates them having to get the iv in a vein. Therefore, he is unable to come home and will remain at UGA for 2 weeks until his treatment is done. Ugh… not the best news but it’s definitely not the worst. Keep praying please.