Our Sweet Golden Cambridge Needs Your Support

Hi everyone, this is our sweet boy Cambridge. He’s 4, almost 5 years old and the sweetest, goodest and most friendly boy. He loves people and insists to be acknowledged on every walk, while mostly enjoying a snack and some cuddles. We also have his brother and litter mate Summit, who tends to be a bit more shy and mischievous. They’re the best of friends and two very important members of our family.

On June 26, 2024 our world changed. In the middle of the night we woke up to the most disturbing sound, only to quickly discover that Cambridge was having a violent seizure. We immediately shuffled Summit out of the room as he tends to care so deeply for those around him that we worried he would get to close, and by accident get bit. We knew to record the seizure and between tears, confusion and crying out to God we just prayed it would stop. That night was the first trip to the emergency vet. We also follow up and went to our regular vet the next day. Initially, he was placed on Keppra and we prayed he wouldn’t have another.

July 5th, 2024 another middle of the night grand mal seizure. We went back to the vet and were told to increase the medicine. That same afternoon, another seizure. This time, the vet decided to add phenobarbital in addition to the Keppra. The adjustment period was so incredibly hard on him and it almost broke us. Everyone kept saying to give him time and he would adjust, stop sleeping so much and stop acting so drugged. Turns out, they were right and we thought he was getting better.

August 23, 2024 another seizure, this time during the day. This was also the first time Summit started to alert to something being wrong.

As of today he has had a total of 19 seizures. Between the dates of June 26, 2024-January 26, 2025 we have made every change possible. He maxed out on Keppra. He continued on the phenobarbital and then added Potassium Bromide too. Hilary cooks all his food. He has zero treats, only carrots or blueberries. Absolutely no table scraps, which initially was so difficult with having two toddlers. We have MCT oil and frankincense on hand to help deter or stop a seizure. No flea or tick medication. Hilary did ocular compressions at night before bed. His schedule is very strict, he does not miss a dose of medication and it is always right at his scheduled times. We’ve googled everything and spent more money than we could calculate on medications and vet bills.

In February 2025 we learned that our rental home had 3 kinds of toxic mold, one of which that can cause seizures in animals. We moved to a new area and a new home. Since moving, he’s only had 2, what we believe are focal seizures.

In May 2025 came the pancreatitis. Since the initial onset he’s had 2 other bouts which included more visits to the vet and thousands in bills.

Thankfully now after the third time he has started doing better, but has a new symptom. It began with back end weakness, which we learned can be a potassium bromide issue and were instructed lower the dose. Unfortunately now the weakness is all four legs and he falls many times a day. He also has a drunk look to his sweet face and sleeps frequently.

We tried a few times on our own to lower his medications and thankfully avoided seizures but now Andrew sleeps on the couch with him at night as he cannot sleep in the bed with us for fear he will fall off if a seizure comes. Unfortunately even with the changes the weakness has not improved. Since moving we recently found a new vet here that has really taken a mission to help us. We were previously driving an hour to the old vet for visits and medication refills. With the new vet he’s stopped the phenobarbital, he’s weaning off the potassium bromide, and starting Zonisamide.

We have also been recommended to get him a CT scan as the symptoms and changes could be leaning towards a brain lesion. The CT is expensive, thankfully not as much as an MRI. The test does include some light sedation to ensure he lays still. We were also given some advice from the vet to start this GoFundMe.

Please know this is so hard to even talk about because we know how many people are struggling and going through very hard things themselves. Please also know that we both work full time jobs and each have a second job and are doing everything we can to keep our family going, while also taking care of Cambridge.

This has truly been an absolute awful year for us, but more for Cambridge. We constantly worry we’re doing the wrong thing. Summit is in a constant state of worry and loves on his brother more often than not. Cambridge has had a lot of his facial hair turn white, we honestly believe from the stress.

If you feel led to, we’re trying to pull together the funds for the test, as well as more bloodwork that is needed with the new medication as soon as we can. At very least, if not financially able sharing the gofundme costs you nothing. If you would, either way, keep us in your prayers, especially for Cambridge. He truly is the best boy, and as Hilary likes to say, her dream golden.

Thank you for reading.