Help Us Save Jewelz: Her Heart Needs You

My name is Janelle, I'm Jewelz' mommy! Jewelz is a Merle Frenchie. She and her brother Beanz were born on May 4, 2022 making them almost 3 yrs old. We adopted Beanz first from a wonderful friend and then we adopted Jewelz. Beanz definitely needed his sister as a playmate! We had no idea that these two dogs would steal our hearts and literally take over our family. We have two young boys who are smitten with the pups! They are overall lazy love pups that get the zoomies and are hilarious.

OUR Jewelzy girl is a tiny little thing! She is a wiggly butt girl and about half the size of her brother! She has suffered from seizures since about 1.5 years old. After many hospital visits, her seizures are under control with 2 medications. We weren't sure what caused the seizures all this time.

In February, during her last hospitalization at Solano Pet Emergency, they realized that she had a heart arrhythmia and a possible heart block. We were told it could have been secondary to her 45 mins of seizure activity that brought us to the hospital.

I took her to UC Davis Emergency (she was pale and almost lethargic... and I was looking for a second opinion and they had cardiologists). I found that indeed she does have a very serious heart condition. She is in 3rd degree AV HEART BLOCK. This condition is only treatable with a pacemaker placement. We had hoped that we could put her on medication or something of the sort. Unfortunately, this procedure is extremely expensive and will cost somewhere between $8,000-$12,000 (even $15k if it were to be an emergency procedure). After the news, I took Jewelz home thinking that we would only have another month with her and that we were going to spoil her until the end... make her comfortable and she would eventually go into heart failure and cross the rainbow bridge when the time came.

Talking with my husband Pete, we decided we couldn't accept that! That's our baby!

So,

I did some research and read we could possibly get a used human pacemaker. I had hope! I had to find a way to help her! Our family would not be the same without her!

Today, UC Davis confirmed that although they were one of the first hospitals to do the donor pacemaker back in the 90s, they no longer performed them due to the lack of knowing the actual battery life remaining in the pacer.

After making a post on my personal Facebook page, I was given lots of resources to look into... I've spent the day calling only to be turned down since we aren't low enough income. These organizations are wonderful and help many pets in need and during emergencies. We just don't qualify. Over the last few months, we have spent well over $5,000 and maxed out our care credit financing.

Our friends have encouraged us to start a GoFundMe. We know that times are tough for all, but if you are able to help our sweet Jewelz, we would appreciate it so much! We want her in our lives, so we are raising funds to save hers. Thank you so much for listening to our story whether you can help or are unable to at this time. Welcoming prayers as well.

Jewelz is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, April 23rd. She will spend one night in the hospital and come home to us the next day!!! We pray that she stays strong enough to make it till then.