Help Sierra Survive

John Jackson is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hospitalization:

Several weeks ago, Sierra was brought to vet as she was having trouble walking up and down the stairs, her ear was drooping, she was drooling and generally fatigued. The vet believed that she may have a neurological condition, changing the scope of her diagnosed-Megaesophagus from a primary condition, to a secondary condition. She was due to follow up with neurology on the 19th of August, but could not make it that far.

It's with great sadness, that today, I ask for financial help for Sierra's medical treatment. Sierra fell ill and was just checked into the Emergency today at 9:30 PM MST. The onset of sudden symptoms such as refusing to eat (even steak and chicken as a bribe) coughing, and mucus discharge making it difficult for her to breathe urged the need for an ER visit. The hospital told me that she has Aspiration Pneumonia, resultant of the disease she was diagnosed with several months ago, Megaesophagus. Sierra was running a fever nearly 5 degrees over normal temperature, and with everything currently going on, she will have to be hospitalized for a minimum of 24 hours. Being that Megaesophagus is a condition she has been treated for before, my pet-insurance will only pay for a part of her treatment (and a small one at that)

A normal 24-hour hospitalization visit would not be bad, considering I have put roughly 2,000 dollars aside. In addition to that, my CareCredit limit allows me to go up to 2,600. That's a combined total of 4,600 dollars - 2,600 which would be considered money that I do not have. Nonetheless, I would do anything for Sierra. However, the case is not that simple.

The Hospital wants to keep her for a minimum of 48 hours. Due to the severity and amount of symptoms she's showing, she could need emergency medical care and at a minimum, she will have to go through a full suite of tests and possible treatments.

Pricing:

**Option 1: 24 Hour Stay**

Minimum Price Range: 2600-3600

Maximum Price Range: Depends on her status and the testing that will occur. This price range only includes stabilization, antibiotics, IV fluids, bloodwork, and monitoring until release, as well as emergency oxygen if needed (the max part of the range). This does not include x-rays, an ultrasound, or any sort of further diagnostics, or testing. This also does not include a neurology consult.

Summary: It is not recommended that Sierra be released at 24 hours. Her condition was considered critical enough to warrant a 48 stay minimum. I was instructed that it is my choice, as this is the budgetary option, but it may result in her needing to come back to the ER shortly after and needing more treatment anyway. I'm listing this as an option because if I can not meet the minimum goal of fundraising at least 3,000 in 24 hours or less, she will only be able to get the basic level of care and I may not even be able to take her back to the hospital.

**Option 2: 48 Hour Stay**

Minimum Price Range: 6000-7000

Maximum Price Range: Unfortunately, this is also unknown. However, the 48-hour pricing option would include further testing including Xrays, an ultrasound, and a neurology consultation, as well as continued oxygen monitoring and treatment if needed and IV fluids.

Summary: This is the recommended length of time that Sierra should stay at the Hospital to (Hopefully) regain a lot more stability and not have to be brought back to the Animal Hospital for a while.

The Problem:

The above price ranges and options only cover either a basic diagnosis and stabilization or a more-advanced diagnosis and stabilization at a minimum. The reality is, any treatment that Sierra will have to face post-diagnosis will be costly, it may even extend past the 12,000 fundraising goal depending on the severity of her condition. Even if Sierra were to come home after stabilization, she will undoubtedly have to return to the Animal Hospital sometime this year or next year.

This year alone I've likely paid over 8,000+ dollars towards Sierra's medical bills and treatments, and I have now reached a point where I need assistance.

Background and Initial Diagnosis:

Sierra is an incredible dog. She is the most well behaved, friendly, and helpful dog that you would ever meet. I first met her a little over a year ago, when Faithfully K9 Service Dogs paired me with her. We became a team and were inseparable. She made my life better, easing my Physical Stability and Mobility issues & PTSD accrued due to my injury sustained during my service in the United States Marine Corps.

Several months after being paired with her, unusual issues started popping up. She started vomiting frequently and itching. Months of bringing her in and out of the vet resulted in allergy diagnosis. Hydrolyzed food appeared to ease the issues, and we continued on. Spoiler alert, that wasn't the end of the line. She fell ill throwing up worse than she ever had and between the trips to the Vet and ER they thought that it could have been Irritable Bowel Disease.

IBD was not the case. After a month of mild symptoms, Sierra's condition became severe. Wheezing, mucus, and throwing up resulted in another Emergency Room visit. Luckily, with the videos and photographs that I had taken, the Vet knew right away to take Xrays. It was now clear that Sierra had Megaesophagus. The prognosis for Megaesophagus is poor. Most dogs have recurring episodes of Aspiration Pneumonia until they pass away. However, there were things that could be done to manage the ailment.

The first was managing her ailment with a Bailey Chair:

Dogs with Megaesophagus have issues with food and liquid getting stuck in their esophagus because it is permanently dilated. This seemed to work for a little while. Several weeks later, symptoms started to return, but nothing too severe. Regardless, I knew it was time to hang up Sierra's vest and retire her from Service. She helped me a great deal before we ultimately reached her megaesophagus diagnosis. This was difficult for me to do because I had regained so much freedom back into my life with Sierra by my side. Giving up the flexibility of not worrying so much when I go to sleep, or when I go on a walk has been demoralizing. Still, her health is important to me.

Eventually, the warning came subtly that something was amiss when she started limping. I thought she may have hurt her leg so I took her to the Vet once again. It immediately recovered weeks later. I wouldn't have guessed that it would be connected to a possible neurological disorder and that her back legs would start to have issues.

Why I'm Asking for Help:

I've endured three years of painful financial and emotional circumstances including severe and agonizing domestic violence committed against me, as well as animal abuse committed against my Service Dog. It's still exceedingly difficult to talk about these traumatic experiences. Luckily I have gotten out of that situation, and have spent the last couple of years repairing my emotional health and financial health, however, lingering financial difficulties from alimony and child support I'm required to pay my abuser have driven me to ask for help.

Even when I didn't have the means, I've found a way to make things work. This time, it's different. I'm currently backed into a corner where Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital is quoting me at far more than I can afford, with no options for any payment plans. The last thing I would ever want to do is ask for help, however, I'm swallowing my pride because this isn't for me - this is for my best friend, Sierra.

Summary

Personally, the idea of a fundraiser is embarrassing.

Anyway, here is the plan:

If 12,000 gets me to where I need to be, or closer to staying within my means of ensuring Sierra receives the best possible chance of surviving, Great!

If 12,000 isn't enough, I'll have to suck it up and figure out other means. However, that sounds unlikely and unless she has to receive an absurd surgery or treatment outside of my means, it should hit the mark.

Lastly, if 12,000 ends up being too much money, I will put it in a separate savings fund. Sierra will undoubtedly need to go back to the vet if she makes it through this, and I would be eternally grateful to be able to offset the cost of any future emergency care that she may need.

The Elephant in the Room

If Sierra does not outlive the amount of money set aside for Emergency Veterinarian care, I will donate all of it to Faithfully K9 Service Dogs. They deserve so much for everything they have ever done for me.

Tracking

I already feel like absolute garbage for asking anyone for a cent. I am a firm believer that fraudulent activity should be met with an appropriate punishment. That's why, I will keep all of you updated on her treatment, the bills, proof of paying off any accrued veterinarian debt, etc. You will know where every cent and donation goes, and I will be willing to provide proof at any time upon request in the event there's any overage money that goes into savings for future care.

I don't want your money. I seriously don't want your money. I want Sierra to get care. That's what I want.

Pictures

I'm not going to spend all of this time talking about my beloved Sierra without showing you pictures. If you've bothered to read all of this, you're a champion.