JAX GET HEART SURGERY NEEDED TO SAVE HIS LIVE

Hi my name is Tracy Lewis. I am fundraising for my best friend, Christina Marshall. Christina is a wonderful person. She is loving and kind. Especially to animals, Her animals are her children. I have never known someone with a heart for animals like she has.

That being said not long ago, tragedy struck her little family. Little Jax, who is literally the core of their family once so full of light and love, is now suffering, struggling and in desperate need of our help.

So I have asked Christina to put in her own words what happened that led to Jax's serious Heart condition and explain what they are now going through as a result.

And finally, with a little luck and a whole lot of love from all of US what we can hopefully do about it to save his very precious life.

I encourage you to read on. You won't be sorry. JAX IS WORTH IT !!!

2020 - 2021 was a difficult time for everyone, and it was especially difficult for us, as I had just been forced out of my home after (25) twenty-five years. This was the only home my animals had ever lived. Faced with few options due to my limited means and disabilities. I chose to purchase a 32' School Bus that had been converted into a tiny home on wheels. I knew this would allow us the freedom to experience nature and our country.

But, soon after purchasing what I lovingly named "The Animal Love Fest Bus". My kitty "SKY" (4 yrs old) was hit by a car on one of his first of many escapes from the bus; the vehicle kept going and leaving "SKY" lying in the street with a broken pelvis that needed to be re-attached to his hips. It was terrifying not knowing if he'd survive for many hours waiting at the emergency hospital. Then I was hit with "the surgeon is asking for $10,000 to do the surgery". Fortunately, I have wonderful friends who helped me pay for the emergency visit of $1,500.00, and I was able to take “SKY” to a low-cost animal clinic primarily staffed by volunteers whose surgeon asked for $2,200.00. I was signed up to pay $115.99 a month with ScratchPay. This put a big dent in my monthly expenses, but I was making it work at the time.

During this time, I found myself figuring out how I would produce the necessary power needed for us to live on the bus comfortably. I had done lots of research and found that purchasing a generator would be required as a backup to what my solar panels and batteries couldn't provide. I purchased the top-of-the-line Honda 2800-watt generator after reading a bunch of reviews since I knew I would be using it for our daily power source. One evening I noticed that all of my pets were asleep and found it odd at the time; while chatting with a friend, I went to check on my rabbit and noticed that I was highly light-headed and had lost my balance. It wasn't until then that we noticed it was from the fumes coming from the generator outside. My friend immediately rushed me outside, and within minutes I began to feel better with the fresh air. Then we both went back inside the bus to open every window to let out all of the deadly gas. My friend went home, and at 1 am, suddenly my doggy "JAX" began to cough, but not like any other cough I've heard. Instead, it was like he was struggling for just a breath. I scooped him up and took him to the emergency hospital, where they put him on oxygen for (18) eighteen hours, then diagnosed JAX with heart disease and gave him (6) six months to live; this was June 21, 2021. How can this be?! JAX was born with a heart murmur, which never became much more during vet appointments until now! I was devastated and began to sob! The nurses gave me (2) two heart medications to give him for the rest of his life. They told me to follow up with his regular vet, who added another heart medication that was even more expensive than the other two put together. Because it's new on the market and difficult to locate, it's called Cardalis, but it's supposed to help JAX. He seemed to be doing fine for about a month, and then one day, JAX started bloating, and I mean severely bloating, and no one had ever explained this was a possibility or prepared me for what to do. So, I was highly concerned and made an appointment for JAX. The doctor informed me that JAX was in bad shape, the cause of the bloating was fluid build-up from a leaky valve in his heart, and he would have to endure “weekly” fluid draining for $100, but said he would feel better for the time being. I would have to keep doing this to take the pressure off his heart so he could breathe somewhat better. And one day, JAX will either pass away in his sleep, or I will have to end his possible suffering. I was crying and stopped him right there and said “firstly my dog is very smart, and knows exactly what you’re saying since I’ve spoken to him, and all of my animals their entire lives, and you’re scaring him (JAX was on the floor cowering in the corner, with his head and tail down - my poor baby!). Secondly, our Angels are watching over him and caring for him”. The doctor said, oh, ok. He changed JAX’s diet to boiled skinless chicken breast only, stating he was concerned about his kidneys and digestion. JAX started dropping pounds immediately, even though I started mixing in dog food and Omega 3’s for vitamins and flavor when he's tired of eating plain chicken. He continues to lose an excessive amount of weight to this day. It’s hard for my family and friends to pet him without acknowledging the feeling of his spine, sadly.

JAX had been doing very well with his weekly draining; however, after each one, he is always lethargic and comes home to rest for the balance of the day. But, sadly, he no longer wakes up to being his happy little self. Instead, he spends his days laying under the seat of the bus, no longer wanting to go outside or having the energy to do much of anything. When I try to take him out to use the restroom, he just finds a spot to lay down. Then I have to pick him up to bring him home. My ex-boyfriend/friend Robert, JAX's dad, recently purchased him a doggy stroller so he can still get around without too much energy. It’s been great for JAX, and he seems to enjoy the " cruise " he traded in his long walks for.

JAX is a huge part of our family and friends, and we love him so much! He’s been by my side since the day I brought him home at (5) five months old, and I can’t imagine it any other way. It wasn’t until recently that my best friend Tracy moved to Sonoma County and befriended her neighbor Penny, who has a sweet little dog that had just survived heart surgery. I was completely shocked! JAX's doctor had informed me that they did not do heart surgery on dogs, and here I was being told, that not only was the surgery performed on a dog JAX’s size but that she was doing fantastic! This has immediately filled us with the hope that JAX could live many years to come if we could only get him this surgery to repair that leaky valve. But obviously, this kind of surgery is an expensive option. So, this is what brings us to the other animal lovers like us in the GoFundMe community.

We are just hoping and praying that we can find the support that we need so desperately to keep my baby JAX alive and truly living again!

Thank you for your time and reading our story. I know it was a long read but I felt that it was important for you to get to know our family to truly know just how much JAX means to us. If you’re an animal lover and have furbabies only as I do, you know…

God Bless you & yours,

Christina, JAX & The Animal Love Fest Family