I honestly don’t even know how to write this. This morning Walter went in for surgery to remove his bladder stones. I thought we were finally going to fix the problem and bring him home feeling better. Instead, I got a call I wasn’t expecting. They had to stop the surgery. The vet couldn’t safely reach his bladder because he has too much soft tissue, and they had to close him back up and refer him to a specialist hospital in Memphis. I walked in thinking his surgery would be manageable. I walked out being told the new estimate is much higher. I just sat there trying to process how things changed that fast. Walter is only 3 years old. He’s still a baby to me. He should not be hurting like this. Bladder stones are painful and dangerous if they block him from being able to pee, and now he needs a specialist to fix what we thought was already getting taken care of today.

Some incredibly kind people have already helped. Donations have helped cover today’s visit, and I’m holding onto every other dollar that’s been given so far to put toward his specialist surgery in Memphis. What makes this even harder is that this is happening at the same time I just got hit with a major car repair. I am trying so hard to handle everything, but I can’t do this alone. Walter isn’t just a dog to me. He’s my comfort on hard days. He’s the one who stays close when my anxiety is bad. He’s the goofy face that makes me laugh when nothing else does. And right now he needs me to show up for him the way he’s always shown up for me.

If you can donate, share, or even just help get this story out there, it would mean more than I can explain. Every single share helps give Walter a better chance at getting the surgery he needs. I just want my boy to be okay.