Jimmy B Neutron's Spinal Surgery

"He Dachschun’d too hard" the doctor said.

On October 26th during an otherwise normal play session consisting of several laps of zoomies around the living room, Jimmy B. Neutron ran towards the hallway, lost traction and careened into the corner of a wall. Maybe it was his long haired paws that slipped on the hardwood or a miscalculation in torque and speed, either way, it was a collision that was like a Formula 1 driver hitting the barriers at full speed.

That day with his discomfort clearly increasing, I took Jimmy to the ER for an inconclusive x-ray. I assumed the pain medicine would help with what we thought was just a nasty bruise. The next morning I woke up to find Jimmy paralyzed from the waist down.

At the veterinary specialist, an MRI revealed that Jimmy had compacted a disc in his back and the pressure was pushing on his spinal cord, causing immobility in both legs. The doctors strongly suggested immediate spinal surgery, as waiting even a day longer could continue to injure or even sever the spinal cord.

I was heartbroken, deeply distressed and in pain myself having to watch my pup in so much agony. I know every one says that their pet is an angel, but truly, Jimmy is one of the sweetest souls, and anyone who's met him can attest to his loving nature.

So I made the split decision to go ahead with surgery, I'd do anything to save the rescue dog who saved me through one of my most difficult years.

The surgery was a success. It was reported back to me that disc material "exploded" out of his spinal column when the surgeon went in, meaning it would have been a slim chance of recovery if we hadn't gone through with the surgery on my wee weenie.

Unfortunately, with emergency spinal surgery comes the cost of saving your best friend. The surgery and MRI scan, along with an overnight hospital visit and outpatient medicine came to just north of $15,000. This was after an ER visit the night before that cost $1,600 for x-rays. This came as an unexpected, staggering amount to me.

Jimmy is now safely home recovering, and although not out of the woods yet he is in much better spirits as he recovers and waits for his suture removal and mobility check up.

As for me, I come here with my hat in my hands asking for any kind of financial support. I'm fairly prideful and went back and forth and back again on asking for this kind of help from my friends and community...But ultimately decided right now this is what I need to do. I plan on paying it forward in the future when I'm in the position to do so. In this way I hope to bring the karma full circle.

All donations will go directly towards repaying medical bills for Jimmy and for any follow up appointments, aftercare and medicine required for his rehabilitation.

I am already so deeply moved by the messages of compassion and support that I received after Jimmy's accident. Every note, call and text has been deeply felt. Thank you all so much.

You can follow along at:

http://www.instagram.com/jimmy.b.neutron

Much love, Steph and Jimmy