Eight years ago, an 8-month-old pup from Antigua named Nelson came into my life and stole my heart. He has been my healthy, happy, and rambunctious companion ever since, truly the dog of a lifetime. I never expected everything to change so fast.

On March 17, Nelson suddenly became deathly ill. What started as a fever quickly spiraled into a week of ICU stays, life-threatening symptoms, and a terrifying three-hour emergency drive to a specialist hospital.

The hospital was able to stabilize him and rule some things out but ultimately were unable to provide a definitive diagnosis without an invasive liver biopsy. There best guess was Cholangiohepatitis based on his symptoms. At this point we are not exactly sure how much damage was done and how much will be irreversible. He is back home and improving with each day. He is on aggressive medication and most likely will be for the remainder of his life. His most recent blood test showed all positive signs of him responding to his current medication and that is the best news we could have hoped for. It is a long and unknown road ahead but I will be right by his side for every step of it.

I am doing everything in my power to give Nelson the chance to heal, but the financial toll has been overwhelming. His medication alone will be costly, and his vet visits will be frequent. If you are able to donate toward his medical bills, no matter the amount, it would help us breathe a little easier and focus entirely on his recovery.

If you can’t donate, please consider sharing Nelson’s story. Your prayers and support mean the world to both of us during this terrifying time.

Thank you for loving Nelson as much as I do. ❤️