Help Support Kalie-Ann's Service Dog, Leonard

Hi friends and family,

My name is Samuel Braslow and I’m helping to raise support for my partner, Kalie-Ann.

In April, Kalie-Ann’s darling dachshund Leonard began struggling to breathe and after a trip to the emergency room, he was diagnosed with a rare disease called idiopathic chylothorax. The illness presents randomly in young, otherwise healthy dogs, and is fatal unless treated with surgery. Thankfully, we found a veterinarian who specializes in a new surgical procedure with a considerably higher success rate than the traditional approach. A successful surgery promises a full life for the three-year-old pup, and indeed, Leonard rocked the surgery and initial post-op recovery.

Like every dog, Lenny is special—a smart, self-possessed service animal who frequently remembers where we park when I don’t. Kalie-Ann waited for him on a list for three years and now Leonard plays an essential part in her life (and my own), accompanying her to rehearsal, on outings, and even across the country on tour.

Suffice to say, this has all been expensive, with bills totaling over $25,000. It has also come on top of an already very challenging time for both us and our families as I was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma, forcing both myself and Kalie-Ann to take time off of work to focus on my treatment and recovery from multiple surgeries and aggressive, side effect-laden therapies. I cannot overstate how critical her time and attention has been to my care, nor can I ever adequately express my gratitude.

While pet insurance offset a small portion of the bill, Kalie-Ann has been left with nearly $20,000 in out-of-pocket costs which she has borne herself. At this point, with Leonard mostly out of the woods, my hope is to raise enough money to assist in post-operative care and relieve her of at least some of the financial burden this episode has placed on her.

I know that Kalie-Ann would appreciate any assistance, however small, but also that no one should feel obligated to give.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this (and remember to reapply your sunscreen every 1 to 2 hours).