MRI for Joni

My sweet Joni is in need of community help. As some of you already know, she had a neurological episode in July of 2021 that lasted 15 minutes. She recovered well, yet her primary vet as well as the neurologist suggested she get an MRI because the episode did not present as a seizure, which left two potential options - stroke or brain tumor. Of course there could be other causes, yet these were the most likely. I was told that if another episode happened, it would rule out a stroke. On Christmas night, Joni had a much more severe episode that lasted for over an hour and a half, followed by 24 hours of not gaining back motor function/ability to walk. It was horrifying. After her evaluation at the vet this time, she has a suspected brain tumor, and the MRI will let us know the size and location. The MRI will also show if it’s something less expected like a brain infection or disk issue. The MRI needed can cost anywhere between $3,600 and $7,000 depending on how much of her body they need to scan, and they will most likely want to add her neck and part of her spine in addition to her brain. Once we get a diagnosis, we can seek treatment, or at least know how much more time I may or may not have with her.

 

Joni came into my life when I was 24, 6 months after I had a traumatic abortion, on Mother’s Day. My heart was broken, she was broken, and we saved each other. She was traumatized, terrified, and hid even in the house. I still do not understand how she made her body small enough to hide in the tiniest places. She was afraid of everything - every sound, every human, walking on the street, etc. I showed her that I was trustworthy, and she showed me the absolute greatest love. I am her person, her rock, and her place of reassurance and comfort. She is my guiding compass, my best friend, my soul mate, and my partner in life (for however much time she has). Joni is tough as fuck, yet has the gentlest, sweetest heart. She stares at me for hours on end with her soulful, wise eyes. When I have bad dreams, she comes and sits by my head in the middle of the night to wake me up and comfort me. She loves listening to Joni Mitchell (hence her name), and she loves to watch me and others dance. Joni spends her time chasing bunnies, watching the birds, digging dirt holes, and running free - she's a wild one. She is also incredibly goofy and wiggles her butt while whipping her head around in circles every night (I think out of pure joy and for my amusement). She makes me crack up, and she nuzzles me when I cry. She brings so much joy and solace to my life.

 

This past summer, over 6 years after I rescued her, we did a DNA test and found out that Joni is 25% wolf. I knew she was wild, yet my head always said “she’s too small in size”. I cried when I found out because it made so much sense. In addition to her shyness and anxiousness, Joni was nocturnal, never barked (with the exception of her bark/cry/howl when playing), and has ultimately always been a weird ass dog. We love her weird ass. She inspires so many of us.

 

Joni has been through housing insecurity and displacement on-and-off with me for 5 years now, due to my extreme environmental illness. She has endured with me through the most trying time of my life. Let’s give her a proper diagnosis, so that I can give her the most comfortable life I can for the time she has left.

 

We are asking for 5k, as we have already spent a tremendous amount at her primary vet, the emergency vet, and the neurologist. If the MRI she needs exceeds that amount, we may ask for more. We are so grateful for any donation and/or passing this around. Every dollar adds up/helps. Thank you for the outpouring of love and support, now in this time of need, and on a regular basis on Instagram.