My dog, Bogey, is an 8-year old cocker spaniel mix and the furry love of my life. I got Bogey when I became suddenly sick and disabled in 2017 thanks to a neurological autoimmune disease. I was mostly home bound, unable to work or care for myself most of the time. The original goal was to train Bogey as a disability service animal. Instead of fetching and delivering items to me, though, he ransomed them for treats, so his days as a service animal didn't last long.

Instead, he became an emotional support animal, accompanying me through treatments, doctors visits, medical travel, and daily life - all of which became much harder after a life-changing diagnosis.

Bogey has been through every monthly IV infusion and injection treatment I've had for the last eight years, making friends with all of my home nurses and care providers.

Having to care for him got me out of bed on bad days, when I struggled to stand for even a few minutes. Over the last 8 years, he’s come with me as I recovered my life, piece by piece. He's been next to me every time I've managed to do something I never thought I'd do again - work, travel, live alone. He even came on a business trip and met all of my colleagues. I wouldn’t have survived the last eight years without him.

A couple of weeks ago, Bogey suddenly began having trouble walking - his back legs were wobbling and he was falling down a lot. Later the same day, he lost control of his bowels. Then his bladder. He was confused and scared as his control of his back end got progressively worse. I rushed him from vet to vet trying to find an answer, but none of the local vets had a working MRI machine, so couldn't diagnose him. Ultimately, I drove him three hours away to Brewster, NY where he was hospitalized. After two traumatic days in the hospital, Bogey was diagnosed with immune-mediated myelitis - an autoimmune neurological disease, just like me! His immune system is attacking his spinal cord, impacting his movement, bowel and bladder control, and causing severe pain.

After a few days on steroids, Bogey has regained most of his functionality, though he's still having accidents around the house. As I know too well, he can't stay on steroids forever, and we'll need to start trying various immunosuppressants to keep his symptoms at bay - a long road that we're more than familiar with. But his vets and I are optimistic about his longterm prognosis. Most of all, I feel lucky that I understand what he's experiencing - the pain, the medication side effects, the exhaustion - and that I get the opportunity to show Bogey the same love, compassion, and care that he's shown me for the past 8 years.

But pet care is expensive - two days in the hospital cost $11,000. Although I have pet insurance that should cover most of the costs, there are costs it won’t cover - the deductible, co-insurance, financing and interest fees until I can get insurance reimbursement, and his increased costs with his new diagnosis: furniture ramps, dog diapers, regular neurologist visits, expensive immunosuppressive drugs, and a significant increase in his insurance premiums. With my own normally high healthcare costs, it will be difficult to manage.

I know everyone is struggling right now, but I would appreciate any help you can offer, so that I can take care of Bogey as well as he has taken care of me.