Help us pay for Ice's life saving surgery

Story

On Tuesday the 27th of August Ice shocked us all by going into severe gastrointestinal distress, known as Colic. Horses intestines are over 20 meters long, and when inflamed or impacted can twist and flip back on themselves, causing the intestine to die, and can only be resolved by emergency surgery. Meghan & Ice in WestVets Hospital We are so lucky that surgery was even an option, the only other alternative was to euthanize. The decision was made to operate, to save Ice's life. Meghan & Ice in WestVets Hospital He is now healing well and nearly out of the woods, however the stress and financial burden on his family is unplanned and potentially devastating however to fully appreciate this story please read some words from Sarah's mum, Meghan. On 28 November 2014, Icey’s owner Sarah lost her best friend and teacher during a horrific accident during an overseas school trip to NZ. The then 15 year old girl came back to Australia and tried to pick up the pieces and continue with her life. She suffered however from profound and debilitating PTSD and, unable to continue at school as a result, sought help through counselling which led to acquiring a therapy dog she named Vincent Van Gogh (her friends favourite artist) and Equine Therapy. Sarah & Vinnie She fell in love with the horse that worked with her, Smiley, and we brought him home in 2016 as their connection was such an indispensable part of her healing. The Halversons family & Smiley After only a few short months he, too had a tragic accident where he lost his eye and needed a lot of care. I would say that they began at that point to heal each other as they worked together through the rehabilitation process. For a few years Smiley did well & Sarah was able to take on new challenges as a result. Eventually a second injury to Smileys leg meant for his and Sarah's safety he was retired from riding to live his days in the paddock. Sarah worked hard, saved up and eventually was able to acquire another horse, Icey in June of 2020. He was a young off the track thoroughbred with a lot of potential. Sarah & Ice Icey has a big heart (and one blue eye) and has been incredible in his training - and he too has helped Sarah and her entire family during a period of ongoing and unrelenting stress and hardship. Late last year Sarah saved and worked up the courage to travel overseas and work in Canada for a year and leased Icey to an incredible rider in Marburg - and Icey has been living there happily training and working with Bec Smeaton. Bec & Ice Sarah is about to come back from Canada and will be back in Australia in one week, just in time for the 10-year Anniversary of her tragic accident. She has been keen to pick up where she left off and continue Icey’s training to help ease the emotions and memories, she will be reliving with the other survivors soon however tragedy has struck once again. Icey suffered severe colic on Tuesday 27 August just days before Sarah’s birthday and he underwent surgery to save his life. It has all been just too much and she will be seeking therapy again to heal her heart as well as to support Icey as he heals. Her family is also under a great deal of stress and financial duress and have hit their limit with few places to turn. Unfortunately none of us have disposable cash and therefore are reaching out to ask for help as we care for Sarah and Icey in this tragic circumstance. The outstanding need is approximately $20,000. If you can donate, please do so. Any amount is helpful and is greatly appreciated. Whatever we cannot raise, we will find a way (her father just started working a new weekend job to help out) but we are hoping in these difficult times that community spirit and altruistic compassion will bring a miracle to aid in the mental health support and healing of our beloved girl and her horse Icey. Thank you, Sarah’s Mom, Meghan" Thank you for taking the time to read out story and help us save our little man. We did have vet bill insurance, but the costs have blown up past the $7500 max covered by the policy. His vet bill is currently sitting at $24 000, we have an itemised invoice should anyone wish to see. Ice will be out of ICU any day now. The vets are amazed by how quickly he is bouncing back. Thank you, Bec, Sarah, Meghan & of course, Ice