Kaia's recovery from spinal cord surgery

This precious face is the face I want to see smiling again. It belongs to my dog Kaia who suffered a severe and underserving spinal cord injury.

She is only three years old.

To all dog owners, who do we know to be the first to greet us when we come home after a long day? Our furry friends. They wag their adorable tails out of an expression of love and devotion and run toward us like it's the first time they've seen us in months.

What if that unique moment we share with our dogs is suddenly ripped away?

In Kaia's case, she's lost all sensation in the lower region of her spine – her lumbar and sacrum, to be specific. The nerves were crushed, inhibiting any feeling of her right leg, tail, and control over her bladder/bowel movements. As much as I don’t want to believe in the following, I don't know if she will be able to walk or run like she used to. I don’t know if she will be able to wag that little tail again.

I am not a medical professional, but I'm grateful to be surrounded by ones who helped me understand Kaia’s situation. While there are still some holes in the comprehensive report, the fact is that Kaia had a meager chance of recovering from the herniated disc if she didn’t get surgery. The disc responsible for holding her bones together was already 80% deteriorating. Another devastating fact is that even with surgery, the chance of her ever fully recovering was 10 to 30 percent, according to her neurologist.

The thing about having pets is they can't use words to communicate. They can’t tell you, “Mom, Dad, I’m in pain.” They can’t point to where on their body they need help. You can only make the best guess based on what you see. From one doctor visit to the next, you’re hit with - in this case - a harsh reality. You must decide the outcome of your baby's life based solely on faith and facts. With signs pointing in all directions, I had to go through with the only one with a fighting chance: surgery.

If it meant I could see her run like the speeding bullet she is, witness her infectious energy again, and smile every time she leaves her mark of love in this world, I had to take that chance.

Our poor dogs look at us with those big, majestic eyes as their one and only savior. I must take it upon myself to put her back together again like she's done for me, hoping to do so with extra helping hands.

It's more than a donation. It's an opportunity to pull together all the positive energy that can save her spirit. I ask that if you put in any amount you wish to contribute, you do it with the sole purpose of increasing her chances of being able to function normally again. The exchange becomes more significant than all of us. It's to bring life back into my helpless Kaia, who did not ask for any of this. Her spirit has brightened almost anyone who has come across her tiny paw path, and the least I can do is ask for help from communities who believe in the power of giving. Communities who believe this exchange symbolizes a token of serving a child of God.

Trust me when I say that even the smallest amount strengthens Kaia’s journey. The funds would help towards the costs of her surgery performed by Dr. O’Neill at Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital, the reoccurring visits with Dr. Ramirez at LA Veterinary Center, and the thorough recovery process, including physical therapy. Most importantly, the funds would go towards Kaia's freedom to be the dog she is.

If you are curious about how and why this was brought upon her, I encourage you to ask me any questions and continue learning more, especially if you're a pet owner.

I want to leave you with one last thing. The name Kaia means earth, life and the sea. Like Mother Earth, she’s gentle, pure and beautiful. Her full-of-life energy is unbelievable, something you'd know the instant you meet her. And like the sea, her silent strength is what amazes me the most. She taught me to be resilient, patient, and love wholeheartedly without any expectations. She lifts me high, and now it's my turn to be the wind beneath her broken wing.

Thank you for your time reading her story, offering your gifts, and spreading the word. They are enough to keep the momentum going.

Warmest and heartfelt thanks,

Kaia and Kanika