Please Help Paris Get A MRI/treatment #ParisPatrol
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Campaign Update: Thank you to Pet Memorial Parks for a decent burial service. Special Thanks to everyone who contributed to our campaign for Paris. On August 9th 2019 Paris passed away. Our hearts are broken, but your support helped us during this difficult time.
Rest In Peace Paris. Daddy will forever love you.
Hello. My name is Lance and I'm an activist in Richmond, Virginia. Normally my campaigns are about helping other people, but this time it's about my Paris. To me she's my baby.
Words can't express what I'm going through inside currently. Let's rewind for a second. July 24th I woke up around 8am and went to feed my dogs. The first thing I noticed was Paris (2yr old Yorkie) leaning as she walked to me. Previous night she was playing and all seemed fine. Thinking she was just waking up was my 1st thought, but something didn't feel right. This highly active dog who normally tries to jump in my arms couldn't keep her balance and was too quiet. She ate all of her food which also made me think she was cool. Now I'm worried & eager to go on our morning walk, because I needed to see that same Astro Dog energy from the previous day. Her walk was still wobbly and her eyes unfocused. At this point I must see her veterinarian, which turned into a trip to Dogwood Veterinary ER & Specialty Center.
It seemed like Paris was slowly falling into a slump. She was having a hard time holding her head up and I could feel her body trembling (she gets held a lot) so I could really feel the difference. Doctors did tests and bloodwork was fine. They told me it seemed neurological. At this point I'm freaking out because I immediately googled the symptoms & similar stories. The doc said he couldn't provide an answer and insisted on a MRI.
July 25th is when everything really hit me. I paid $1k only to be told Paris couldn't get a MRI until I paid $5k upfront? This is when the helplessness set in. My fear, the tears, and promises to pay if an arrangement can be made was ignored. They gave me a few prescriptions for her, but left me feeling like the worst pet owner on the planet. I simply didn't have $5k to give them, I'm not rich!!!!
The neurologist didn't care about my community work, #SaveFlintChallenge or my Paris it seemed. It was all about money. After painfully having to pick up my pup, I researched and found they are the ONLY ones in my city who do MRI's on pets. Making their high fee seem intentional. While seeking/googling resources to get the MRI done, I ended up on an Emergency Help page within GoFundMe's website. That information unfortunately wasn't helpful for Paris, but it was an eye opener for me. After all I've done to help others, here I am being the one in need.
No pet hospital should allow any pet to suffer, or make any pet owner feel this helpless. My once bouncy Yorkie is now silent, and shaking. I'm in full blown depression mode, crumbling inside each time I look at her now. This unexpected situation literally has me feeling like John Q & John Wick at the same time (people who love their pets understand). Last night wasn't Paris jumping up on the bed to fall asleep beside me, it was me getting on the floor just to sleep next to her. I'm scared she might have a seizure while I'm sleeping, or might fall from the bed stumbling. I have no answers right now, and it's heartbreaking.
We're humbly asking everyone to join the #ParisPatrol and help us get this MRI done. I didn't want to do a GoFundMe, please know this. But we have no other choice. I love my dog, and I'm going to fight right along with her. Thank you for any contribution.
Sincerely,
Lance, Liz, Kay & Paris
Rest In Peace Paris. Daddy will forever love you.
Hello. My name is Lance and I'm an activist in Richmond, Virginia. Normally my campaigns are about helping other people, but this time it's about my Paris. To me she's my baby.
Words can't express what I'm going through inside currently. Let's rewind for a second. July 24th I woke up around 8am and went to feed my dogs. The first thing I noticed was Paris (2yr old Yorkie) leaning as she walked to me. Previous night she was playing and all seemed fine. Thinking she was just waking up was my 1st thought, but something didn't feel right. This highly active dog who normally tries to jump in my arms couldn't keep her balance and was too quiet. She ate all of her food which also made me think she was cool. Now I'm worried & eager to go on our morning walk, because I needed to see that same Astro Dog energy from the previous day. Her walk was still wobbly and her eyes unfocused. At this point I must see her veterinarian, which turned into a trip to Dogwood Veterinary ER & Specialty Center.
It seemed like Paris was slowly falling into a slump. She was having a hard time holding her head up and I could feel her body trembling (she gets held a lot) so I could really feel the difference. Doctors did tests and bloodwork was fine. They told me it seemed neurological. At this point I'm freaking out because I immediately googled the symptoms & similar stories. The doc said he couldn't provide an answer and insisted on a MRI.
July 25th is when everything really hit me. I paid $1k only to be told Paris couldn't get a MRI until I paid $5k upfront? This is when the helplessness set in. My fear, the tears, and promises to pay if an arrangement can be made was ignored. They gave me a few prescriptions for her, but left me feeling like the worst pet owner on the planet. I simply didn't have $5k to give them, I'm not rich!!!!
The neurologist didn't care about my community work, #SaveFlintChallenge or my Paris it seemed. It was all about money. After painfully having to pick up my pup, I researched and found they are the ONLY ones in my city who do MRI's on pets. Making their high fee seem intentional. While seeking/googling resources to get the MRI done, I ended up on an Emergency Help page within GoFundMe's website. That information unfortunately wasn't helpful for Paris, but it was an eye opener for me. After all I've done to help others, here I am being the one in need.
No pet hospital should allow any pet to suffer, or make any pet owner feel this helpless. My once bouncy Yorkie is now silent, and shaking. I'm in full blown depression mode, crumbling inside each time I look at her now. This unexpected situation literally has me feeling like John Q & John Wick at the same time (people who love their pets understand). Last night wasn't Paris jumping up on the bed to fall asleep beside me, it was me getting on the floor just to sleep next to her. I'm scared she might have a seizure while I'm sleeping, or might fall from the bed stumbling. I have no answers right now, and it's heartbreaking.
We're humbly asking everyone to join the #ParisPatrol and help us get this MRI done. I didn't want to do a GoFundMe, please know this. But we have no other choice. I love my dog, and I'm going to fight right along with her. Thank you for any contribution.
Sincerely,
Lance, Liz, Kay & Paris
Organizer
Lance Cooper
Organizer
Mechanicsville, VA
