Stewie Saved My Life. Now I’m Fighting to Save His. (NOTE - SEE UPDATES BELOW THIS POST)

The below is going to be deeply personal, but I’m sharing it to convey the absolute importance of getting care for Stewie.

Hi everyone — I’m raising funds to help my wonderful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Stewie, through an unexpected medical emergency. He’s been diagnosed with a large bladder stone that requires urgent surgery. The procedure estimate is currently at around $1700. Beforehand, he’ll need echocardiograms and blood pressure checks to ensure his heart can safely handle anesthesia, since he also has a heart murmur. These initial screening procedures are quoted at $868.

Stewie and his brother, Griffin, have been my steady source of comfort through every hard moment. After the life changes of the past few years, I’m still figuring out what my new normal looks like — but those two Cavaliers keep me moving in a positive, forward direction. They’ve been my reason to get up each day and find hope when life feels uncertain.

I’ve lived with lifelong depression, but it wasn’t until a genetic test in May 2024 that I learned the medication I’d been prescribed for over a decade was actually harmful to me. Back in 2021, my world completely shifted — I felt like I’d lost my identity, my sense of direction, and even my confidence as a mom. I’m a single parent of a teen with multiple mental health diagnoses, and managing that journey while healing from my own challenges has been incredibly hard. Because of the depression, the life changes, and being on the wrong medication for so long, I often felt like I had nothing left emotionally. It’s only because of Stewie and Griffin’s needs that I’ve managed to pull myself out and keep going.

Stewie is my heart dog — my comfort and my emotional anchor. When he was diagnosed with heart issues and needed Vetmedin, caring for him gave me purpose again. Now, as he faces this surgery, I’m determined to do everything I can for him — just like he’s always done for me.

Recently, I’ve been unable to work while caring for my mom, who was hospitalized for a suspected heart attack and is now preparing for an unrelated surgery to remove a large mass. Between her care, Stewie’s medical needs, finishing my medical billing and coding coursework and among other issues, things have become overwhelming.

If you’re able to donate or share this campaign, it would mean the world. Even small amounts help ease the financial strain until I can return to work (on hold until my mom’s surgery).

If you’d rather donate directly to Stewie’s vet, let me know. I also have Zelle, Venmo (@KLester1983), and Cash App ($NeapolitanMom83) available. Anything helps — thank you so much for your kindness and support.

✨ Update on Stewie 11/1/25

A huge thank-you to everyone for your wonderful donations toward Stewie’s medical expenses. Your generosity is such a blessing — a living reminder that compassion and faith are powerful forces when life feels overwhelming.

On Wednesday (10/29/25), Stewie had his full round of diagnostics, which came to $868.50. This does not include the approximately $500 spent the prior week on his annual care — including his well visit, x-rays, lab work, and purchasing the first round of newly prescribed medications and special food. On Friday, we picked up an additional set of new medications for around $78 (I’ll confirm once I get the receipt, since Davee picked them up and forgot to grab it). I’ll also be needing to refill his Vetmedin and Hydrocodone prescriptions in the next two weeks or so, which will add to the ongoing costs. Altogether, Stewie’s medical expenses have now reached approximately $1,446.50.

I spoke to one of the vets at Stewie’s clinic Halloween afternoon (his primary vet is off Fridays and performs surgeries on Mondays). This vet was kind enough to call and give me an overview of Stewie’s latest echocardiogram results — his second one in life, almost exactly a year after the first.

The GOOD news: Stewie does not appear to be in congestive heart failure yet, which we’ve been monitoring closely.

The HARD news: His heart defect remains significant, and elective surgeries are now considered too risky. Unfortunately, the procedure he needs isn’t truly elective — it’s only a matter of time before the condition worsens without it.

This is not 100% the finalized plan yet, but it seems like the current direction is for Stewie to start a blood pressure medication and a mild diuretic, with plans to recheck in 2–3 weeks once the medications have had time to take effect. I’ll be speaking with the surgeon early next week to better understand what options remain and what might be safest moving forward.

Through all of this, I’m holding onto faith — trusting that clarity, timing, and healing will meet us where they’re needed most. Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, prayed, or simply held space for Stewie and me in your hearts. Your love is carrying us through this chapter. ️

With endless gratitude,

Kristi & Stewie