Help save Rhys with an MRI and Spinal Surgery.
This is Rhys. He's a 4 (nearly 5) year old Labrador Retriever. He is the most friendly and loving dog you will ever meet. A few times over the last few years he has appeared to strain his neck, usually because of all the playing he does. However, the most recent time, we decided to look into it as it was a recurring issue and other little worrying things were starting to creep up. The news was devastating. He has something severely wrong with his neck, something is building pressure on the nerves and causing him to lose feeling and control of his limbs. He needs an MRI for a definitive diagnosis and then will need a neurological surgery to correct whatever is found.
The cost was so much more than we had planned for, as we'd never been in this situation before. We thought we were covered, but our insurance only goes up to £2000. This won't even cover the MRI for a diagnosis. So I've come here in the hope that strangers will take him into their hearts as so many who have met him have done, to get the treatment he needs to go on and have a full and happy life. If we go over the target by some miracle, then the funds will be used for post-surgery aftercare, and anything left after that I will donate to other Go Fund Me's to help save other pets in need. Should the worst happen, then every single penny that was donated will be re-distributed to other animal Go Fund Me's, hopefully saving someone else's pet if Rhys can't be. I will be honoured to do it in his memory, if it comes to that.
He urgently needs the MRI and surgery, we have been given a very short timetable for how long he can tolerate his current condition, weeks probably, a month or two if very very lucky, but it's currently not looking like he's lucky. And it's breaking my heart and my fiance's heart watching this usually bouncy, friendly, boisterous dog barely able to stand enough to go to the toilet. He's only 4 years old, this shouldn't be the way his life ends.
The advice here is to talk about what my pet means to me. I don't know how to put what he means to me into words. When I'm sad or depressed, he cheers me up. When everything seems too much and overwhelming, he wants his walk and just taking him out lifts me up. He's made me more social, more outgoing. Just taking him down to the local park has done wonders for my mental health, not just during this pandemic but before too. I'm trying to improve my life, I'm in education, I'm working towards a goal, and I genuinely think this is in no small part down to Rhys' influence on my life. I don't think it's an understatement to say he has given me the strength to make everything in my life better. I can't say anything stronger than this; I love him, the idea of being without him so soon is almost too much for me to think about. I can't imagine what the reality will be.
Finally, I want to say a huge thank you. I know that everyone in the world is having a difficult time at the moment, and that giving anything is a hard decision. All I can say is you will have my enormous gratitude if you can help, and that I will do my best in the future to pass on the generosity that you have shown to Rhys. From Rhys, and from the bottom of my heart; Thank You.
