Please help with Gracie’s surgery expenses

Hey, all!

** Please continue to click, "read more" at the bottom of the page to read a little more about Gracie and to see more pictures.

We want to thank everyone SO very much for your generous donations thus far! We are furrever grateful!

Gracie and I rescued each other just over 7 years ago when she was 3 years old. I am eternally grateful the shelter employees reminded me to turn the corner in the area we were in to check out another dog. She was separated from the other dogs because she had kennel cough at the time :(. Thank you universe and “PAWS Chicago” for bringing me my loving queen, Gracie. 

Gracie overcame so much in her first 3 years on this Earth. At the time, she lived in Mississippi on a farm herding sheep. She came to “PAWS Chicago” and was in the shelter for some time. Then, a family adopted her and brought her back to “PAWS” when they had a baby. 

I quickly put together pieces of the puzzle of what her life in Mississippi was like. During her first vet visit with me the vets found a lump in her ear. They weren’t able to get a biopsy because it was too hard and it was moving around a little. An x-ray concluded that there was a bb in her ear from a bb gun :(. Her theory was that the owner shot her in the field to promote running while she was herding sheep. 

There are many things that frighten Gracie, which became even more clear that it was due to absolute mistreatment from her previous owner in Mississippi. Although certain things (especially loud noises) still spook her, she has come such a long way since I got her. Despite her past, Gracie is the most loving and empathetic doggie. The employees at the shelter told me that she loves playing with tennis balls and giving hugs. I found that to be true as soon as we met each other. She ran around a little with the tennis ball and then came up and gave me hugs. 

This warrior woman seemed to have had puppies in Mississippi before she came to Illinois and was Spade. We don’t know anything about her puppies, but I frequently think of Gracie being reunited with them. I wish I could have seen her as a mother figure in her babies’ lives. I know she was the best momma around. 

It’s been heart warming to see Gracie take on the role of neighborhood momma to all her puppy besties. We are extremely grateful for such an amazing group of neighbors (humans and pups)! Puppy hangs look like: enjoying walks together, playing in the lot, jumping around in the snow, sniffin' around town, having pool parties, and much more. 

Gracie is the best companion, especially as you're going through the challenges that life brings. The  connection we have and the unconditional love she shows is unmatched. I truly don’t know where I’d be today if I didn’t have her throughout the past 7 years. We’ve been through a lot together. She's always looking for snuggles, a lap or pillow to rest her head on, blankie to burry her face in, and belly rubs. She's always reminding her humans that she is there to help with their work or any other activity they are doing, such as reading or opening presents. 

Unfortunately, Gracie needs major surgery. She will be having her left kidney and spleen removed, as well as a biopsy taken of her GI tract (on this coming Tuesday- 1/25/22).

 

Gracie was recently diagnosed with Hydronephrosis in her left kidney, which means she only has one functioning kidney. Her right kidney has been doing the work for both of them. To prevent further serious complications, she needs to get it removed. Gracie also has a nodule on her spleen and an inflamed GI tract that is concerning, which requires further diagnostic testing. The surgeon expressed that Gracie will need to spend at least two days in the ICU for monitoring after her surgery.

 

It has been difficult for me to write this because Gracie is my fur baby, and I wouldn’t typically be asking for financial assistance. I wouldn’t be asking for donations unless it was necessary. I’m going to do everything I can to help my little girl. She still has a wholesome life ahead of her, filled with so much love, pets, friends, food to scarf down, treats, toys, cuddles, and much much more!

 

The estimated price of her surgery is anywhere between $9,000- $12,000. Although I need to pay her surgery costs out of pocket by Tuesday, I will get a portion of that reimbursed through her pet insurance policy once they accept my claim. That price only includes the medical expenses for the day of the surgery/ recovery stay at the hospital afterward.

 

If you have the means to, I would be forever grateful for any amount you’re willing to donate. Every dollar helps!

 

I will post updates, and for now, enjoy some pictures of Gracie that encapsulate her personality. Her light in this universe, especially in my life, shines through in these pictures and beyond. She is still a puppy at heart with many other personas mixed in there.

 

Some of the nicknames she has but are not limited to (ha):

 

*Gracie Girl
*Baby Yoda- with her super soft velvety ears
*Human hands- she uses her paws as if they were human hands
*Yogi/ soccer/dancer dog
*Graceful Gracie

*Baby

*Little One

*Grace

*Gracie-roo/ Gracie-poo

 

Gracie Girl is such a strong pup, and I know she will recover well, especially with all of our help.

 

All the positive thoughts and prayers are appreciated!

 

Thanks for checking out our GoFundMe!

 

 

With so much gratitude,

 

Gracie and her humans <3