Hello, my name is Leena. I’m a low-income student asking for support to treat my beloved Milla for her suspected Fibrocartilaginous Embolism (FCE), or spinal stroke. As a full-time student, I do not have the funds for Milla’s diagnostic MRI and rehabilitation. For dogs that suffer from spinal strokes, it is imperative to stay active and receive physical therapy to restore their ability to walk. I want to give my best friend the quality of life she deserves.

Milla has always had hip problems since she was a puppy, but we managed it with gentle exercise, accommodations, and pain medicine.

Everything was okay until 2-3 weeks ago. Sometime between her last walk and spending time at home, Milla lost the ability to bear any weight on her rear left leg. Without someone supporting her hind legs, she would collapse on the floor. Because she never sharply cried out in pain, I presumed her condition was a typical hip pain flare-up. I thought maybe her tolerance to the pain medicine went up, so she’d just need an adjustment, nothing serious. I scheduled a vet appointment at my earliest availability to sort this out.

At the vet, I received devastating news that Milla lost the ability to walk independently because of a neurological issue. The doctor suspected she suffered from a Fibrocartilaginous Embolism (FCE), or spinal stroke, given the acute onset of her neurological symptoms. I was recommended to schedule an MRI for Milla to confirm her diagnosis of FCE, assess the extent of damage to her spinal cord, and rule out other potential conditions.

Please help my girl recover from her stroke so that she may be able to walk, play, eat, and drink independently. Any amount helps, and I would be so grateful for your contribution. Thank you.