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Sofie's Medical Expenses

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On January 4th Sofie was hit by a car.

We (myself and Sofie) were on a quick visit to Ithaca where I lived for three years preceding my move to the UK to start a PhD. My plan was to pick up my other dog, Rex, then return to New Hampshire where we would then fly back to Scotland with dog(s) in toe.



Just prior to leaving Ithaca some friends and I took a long hike near Lic Brook near the southern end of route 13. Following the hike both dogs were loaded into the car and my friends and I were hugging goodbye.

I'm not sure what got into here idiot puppy brain, but-out of nowhere-Sofie bolted out of the back of the car, up the hill and across the highway. She ran across the road twice and was struck by an oncoming vehicle traveling ~40mph. The sound of her body striking the front of that vehicle is not something I will soon forget, nor her cries of agony or the way she crumpled in a heap on the side of the road as I tried to pick her up.

I fully expected Sofie to die in my arms right there. But she is a fairly stubborn animal and, miraculously , she didn't. So I threw her in the back of my car and raced to Cornell Veterinary hospital where my friends were there too meet me. [Incidentally, if anyone from the Ithaca police is reading this, I sincerely apologize for running red-lights and speeding through town.] Amazingly, she survived the trip and was admitted to the ICU.

Even more amazingly, she seemed not to have ruptured any vital organs nor was she even in severe shock when she arrived to the hospital.

Unfortunately, physics rules and what took the majority of the impact was her pelvis. When she was struck, the head of her femur (the ball joint) acted like a hammer and smashed through her hips-shattering, well, everything.


I am fortunate now to be blessed with the problems of (1) figuring out how to pay for the surgery she needs to repair her pelvis and (2) how to now afford the cost of getting my dogs to the UK.

The estimate for her surgery is ~$6000. After a what can only be described as a catastrophic 2013, I was just getting to a place where my life was coming back together personally and financially. Now, as a PhD student, I am unsure how I will be able to afford to pay back the loan for her surgery and what/where Rex will go now that I won't be able to bring him to the UK with me.

A few of my friends expressed interest in chipping in a few dollars/pounds to help with this new hardship. While I am loathe to impose my hardship on others, I am fortunate enough to have people in my life willing and able to help in whatever small way they can. I am also humbled by the outpouring of kind-words and well-wishes for both Sofie and I. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, regardless of what form it takes.
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $72 
    • 9 yrs
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Organizer

Kaitlin Palmer
Organizer
Ithaca, NY

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