Isla came into our lives two years ago at a time when our family desperately needed her. My mother had recently passed away, and she always dreamed of us having a dog, knowing the love and companionship they could bring. My daughter, Maddie, who has type 1 diabetes, needed more than just a pet—she needed a companion and a potential diabetic alert dog. Isla, a beautiful Portuguese Water Dog, was the perfect fit. She was smart, loving, and came from a great lineage, with the potential to be trained to assist Maddie with her health needs.

Everything was going well until last spring. After returning from a family vacation, Isla began suffering from severe gastrointestinal issues. We tried everything—medications, ultrasounds, and diet changes—but nothing seemed to provide long-term relief. After months of testing, the vet ruled out pancreatitis, and just when we thought we were in the clear, Isla had her first seizure. That moment was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. I held her in my arms, helpless and unsure if she would make it through. That was the first of many late-night emergency vet visits.

Since then, Isla’s seizures have become more frequent, evolving into terrifying clusters. Despite multiple tests, medications, and visits to emergency vets, the cause remained unclear until we saw a neurologist who is confident that Isla’s seizures are most likely due to Idiopathic Epilepsy. However, to rule out any other contributing factors—whether metabolic, cancer-related, or spinal—we need to perform more tests, including an MRI and spinal fluid analysis. The costs

of these treatments have become overwhelming, and while I never thought we would need pet insurance, it’s now too late as Isla’s condition is considered pre-existing.

We love Isla dearly—she is not just a pet but a part of our family. She’s Maddie’s best friend and companion, always by her side. Watching her go through this is heartbreaking, and I feel helpless not only emotionally but financially as well. I’ve never been one to ask for help, but we are reaching a point where we have no other options. We want to give Isla the best chance to live a long and healthy life, but we need your help to afford her medical care.

If you can, please consider donating to Isla’s GoFundMe. Any contribution, no matter the size, will help ease the financial burden and bring us one step closer to getting Isla the care she needs. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and support.