The Wonder-dog Stella's Vet Bills

Meet Stella Blue, a powerful healer in a dog's body.  She came into my life 5 1/2 years ago by accident.  I hadn't intended to adopt a dog, more to have a viewing, and there she was, full of stitches, and mysteriously quiet in a pen of rowdy dogs who wanted to be selected.  When I picked her up, she let out a huge sigh and fell asleep on my shoulder.  I never put her down.  She didn't make a peep, even when they microchipped her.  The person at the rescue said she'd been through terrible abuse.

Stella Blue became my teacher.  She didn't know how to do so many things, but she trusted me, so she kept trying.  She has been my best friend, confidante, child, and soul-mate.  Her health history hasn't been super-solid.  This has been a terrible year for both of us--with a divorce, loss of a beloved job, my grave health issues, the declining health of parents--and she's been a bright spot, a constant.  A month ago, she started having accidents in the house, and I thought it was due to all of the change.  She kept having them, and the vet thought it was a UTI.  Then, two nights ago, her nose started gushing blood, and I rushed her to an emergency vet in the middle of the night.  

I would never wish that on anyone--sobbing and holding your pet and frantically calling people to help so that your dog can get the testing and answers she needs.  Her regular vet performed a series of tests yesterday--all of the testing so far is $1,700.  The X-rays showed Stella Blue has bladder stones and  shadowy lungs, which the vet thinks means there is fluid build-up there.  We are waiting for our answers.  To remove the bladder stones, Stella would need anasthesia, and that's necessary as she's in great pain.  When she has accidents, I quietly clean them up and try to take her on even more walks.  She can't have a single walk without going at least 10 times.  :(

To investigate the bloody nose, they need to sedate her and insert a probe to see if it's related to the cough and the fluid in the lungs.  Dog noses are difficult to use traditional imaging on, so often a CT scan or probe is needed for issues there.  All of this costs a great deal.  Her vet has been as generous as she can be, but there are still real costs.  My elderly parents have helped with some of this, and I am selling personal possessions to try to come up with the funds also.  This has been heartbreakingly slow going, and I feel I've failed her as a pet parent when she's never failed me.  Last night, she started vomiting uncontrollably and I lost it.  I've been going through my own struggles quietly, but I don't want her to struggle.  It is difficult for me to even tell this story.  Everyone who meets her says that she looks into them as if she's a wise seer.  She seems to know whose heart is broken and stays near to them.  

She deserves a fighting chance because she's fought death two times already before.  I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to her, and I'm trying to do the right thing by her.  Anything would help.  As the testing needs to take place as soon as possible, there is a window on how quickly I need the funds.  This isn't a campaign that can go on for weeks.  Anything you can spare, even if it's the cost of a daily coffee would help.  I wouldn't ask for myself, but have to ask for her.  She is my world and I would be incredibly grateful to have some belief that there is good in the world and that people do see when other members of their community are hurting and try to be there, to see them, instead of letting them suffer alone.  We have been so alone during this, and Stella deserves more.