OKRA UPDATE:

I am sorry to report that Okra’s condition is turning out to be much more serious than we first thought. Her initial bloodwork last week showed concerning signs of liver infection or disease. On Saturday we brought her in for her ultrasound, and her blood panel in preparation for that test showed a severe decline in her condition in just four days.

The ultrasound revealed severe inflammation and fluid accumulation in the body cavity. What was appearing as a "mass" in her initial radiographs may in fact be a grossly swollen and inflamed organ. The ultrasound specialist told us that Okra was on the brink of liver failure and that we were catching it at a critical moment. Both the cause and the precise condition of this inflammation are still unknown.

As I write this, Okra is being held in the ICU where she is receiving IVs of medications, vitamins, and fluids. Multiple tests and panels are being performed.

Our best hope is that this is a case of Leptospirosis, a treatable condition, and not cirrhosis of the liver, which is incurable. Only a liver biopsy, under anesthesia, will give us the answers we need. The critical care she is currently receiving is to make sure her compromised liver can endure the toxins and trauma of those procedures.

As you can imagine, we are utterly wrecked with worry, foremost for our beloved Okra -- but also for how we are going to pay for the rest of the care she needs. Our initial GoFundMe fundraising has already been gobbled up by nearly $5,000 in medical costs. We could not have made it to this point without everyone’s generous support. Thank you again to everyone who donated, from the bottom of our hearts.

We do not know what the costs moving forward will be, but it's obvious we underestimated both the medical and financial severity of this situation. We don’t want to exhaust our immediate circle of friends and family by asking for more, especially if you’ve already given -- but we are asking you to please circulate this message to kind-hearted dog-lovers who might be moved to chip in to save a sweet, floppy, four year-old Lab in Los Angeles named Okra who is fighting for her life.

Thank you for sharing this message on your platforms, and for your continued love and support.

Love,

Georgia, John and Okra

TLDR; Okra has a mass preventing her from keeping food down, she requires at least $2500 of medical care in the next month. Any donations + shares are deeply appreciated.

Hello Friends, and Friends of Friends,

 

If you don’t already know us, we are Georgia and John. Three years ago, we rescued Okra, our bouncy, good-natured, lab/hound mix. Okra has brought so much joy and laughter to our lives – and all our friends agree she is one of the sweetest, funniest dogs they've ever met.

 

In addition to being a kook and sweetheart, Okra at almost four and a half, has been one of the most vibrantly healthy dogs we have ever known. All of her vets have been impressed by her sporty physique, soft, shiny coat, and overall state of good health.

 

Recently, Okra started regurgitating her meals. At first it was only a couple of times a month, so we assumed we had overfed her or maybe we hadn’t left enough time between meals. But in the last two weeks, it had become far too frequent. Okra was losing weight, and her usual boisterous, happy energy became frantic and off-key. We decided it was time to see the vet.

 

Coincidentally, Okra had a tooth that was giving her trouble, so we were hoping the doctor would tell us that her tooth was the source of the problem. The vet confirmed the tooth needed to be extracted, but she didn't think that was what was causing her to regurgitate. They took numerous X-rays of Okra's throat and abdomen and sent them to a radiologist.

 

The radiologist found a soft tissue mass above Okra's abdomen that is pushing against her organs, causing her to reject the food we give her. The next steps for Okra are an ultrasound, and removal and biopsy of the mass. We are praying the biopsy will rule out cancer.

 

The initial vet appointment, X-rays, and radiologist examination have already cost us $600. Her tooth extraction will be $1200. The lowest quote we have received for an ultrasound is $500 but it can potentially cost more. After the ultrasound, we will receive the estimate for the mass removal + biopsy. At this point we don’t know what lies ahead for our little family, or how much it will end up costing us.

 

Normally, when we have been faced with life events that come with a price tag, we have gone into savings mode and resolved our problems privately. But Okra does not have time for that -- we have already booked the soonest available ultrasound appointment.

 

We both work in the service industry and know how tough times are for everyone right now, so please know that any amount you can spare would be deeply appreciated by us. If you are unable to donate, please share this message with your dog-loving friends and family.

 

Okra is still a baby, and we want to do everything we can to see that she gets to have a long, happy, healthy life.

 

In gratitude,

Georgia, John, Okra <3