Help Yuna Walk Again: Support Her Recovery
Donation protected
It always felt like Yuna would run forever. I've never seen a dog that loved fetch more than her, and I've taken her to countless park days, watched her chase her ball uninterrupted for an hour. She was so strong and so athletic that I just dismissed it whenever someone told me that dachshunds have back problems. She's not a pure dachshund; she's in great shape; she's a survivor.
When she started to get lethargic, and stopped eating or drinking, my mind raced to a thousand horrible possibilities, but a slipped disc was not one of them. As her condition deteriorated and the vet visits piled up, it eventually became clear - she had hurt her back, somehow, and while we hoped that pain medication would help, she just got worse and worse, until she lost the use of her back legs.
At that point, I knew that surgery was the only option, and as a teacher on summer break who doesn't get paid for two months, that option absolutely terrified me. I knew that an MRI alone could be $4,000, with surgery costing an additional $12-$15,000. Fortunately, Yuna's vet was able to perform imaging and surgery for only $7,500, which at least put her care within the realm of possibility.
I got her into surgery as soon as I could, and while the operation has gone well, her recovery is uncertain. After everything they've done, there is a 50% chance she may never walk or fetch a ball again. My heart breaks every time I think of this possible outcome, but all I can do is trust that I've done everything that I can for her. Of course, this has still devastated my finances, and I'm reaching out for any help I can find to recover the cost of her procedure so that I can continue to afford physical therapy, follow-ups, and medications, as well as strollers, slings, ramps, playpens, and toys to both keep her comfortable and aid in the healing process. With your help, I can afford to give my girl her life back.
Organizer
Joshua Conner
Organizer
Irvine, CA