Saving Stella

Stella is back at MSU fighting a relapse of IMHA with ITP (Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia).  She was readmitted on Friday, July 9th, after her platelets had dropped to 12k.  The incredible staff at MSU were able to increase her steroids again, add another medication (mycophenolate), and treat her with an injection of a chemotherapy medication (Vincristine) to help stimulate her platelet production.  The steroids and mycophenolate would help suppress her immune system to try and prevent it from attacking her body again.

This was all very sudden and unexpected, as Stella has been doing SO well in her recovery.  We were on a controlled and slow ween on her prednisone and very hopeful for her full recovery from this ugly disease.  I was in shock when the numbers came back so low on her normal vet visit Friday, as she had not been displaying any signs of being unwell.

On Monday night, her platelets were back up to 69k and she was showing great signs of improvement.  Her PCV (total red blood cell count) was up to 30% and they were looking forward to discharging her on Tuesday morning.  

Unfortunately, Stella's RBC fell to 25% - her doctors were a little perplexed, as her platelets were "essentially normal" and she was not showing any signs that her body was attacking her blood cells.  They checked her levels again at 4p, and she had dropped to 23%.  Stella would need to stay another night to make sure she was doing okay.

This morning (Wednesday, July 14th), I received her update that was completely the opposite of what I was expecting.  Her PCV totals had dropped to 18% and she was in need of another transfusion.  They were concerned because her body seems to continue to destroy her cells even with the high doses of steroids and mycophenolate.  The next step her doctor recommended was to potentially remove Stella's spleen, as that is where a large portion of the destruction of red blood cells occurs.  

He mentioned that there is a 70% chance that this would solve the problem, and since she was still doing well besides the lower RBC count, he thought it was worth pursuing. 

We are pursuing all options to raise the money for this emergency splenectomy to help give Stella another shot at life.   She will turn 8 years old on October 16th and we are praying hard that we will be able to celebrate that birthday and many others with her.  

We have already paid $3500 for her stay and treatment at MSU since Friday, and they have provided a quote of $4000-$5000 in addition for the removal of her spleen.  We are pursuing help through a charitable grant that MSU also offers, which may help with around $1000 of the total bill.  

For those who have donated previously, shared Stella's story, sent up prayers or reached out to check in on her - thank you from the bottoms of our hearts.  She is the best friend anyone could ask for and she has been through so much already.  We are so incredibly moved by your support and well wishes.

If you are able to help share or donate to Stella's ongoing story, it would be such a blessing.  We appreciate each and every one who reads these and keeps Stella in their thoughts and prayers.  <3  We love you all.

With a heavy but hopeful heart, I'm sitting here telling a story I never wanted to tell.  And asking for help for a situation I never wanted to be in.

Our 7.5 year old Pembroke Corgi, Stella, has been diagnosed with Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) as of late last Thursday (4/15) night.  She is currently receiving treatment at Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center.  The team at MSU are hopeful in her prognosis and believe that Stella's body is working to fight this disease so she can come back home and continue being the sweet girl we know her as. 

We're working hard to help support Stella's growing medical needs while she is being treated by the best MSU has to offer.  This is her second hospital stay since Thursday night, when Dr. Allison O'Neill helped rush us up to Kalamazoo's VCA Emergency Center, where Stella received her first blood transfusion and began the steroid treatment that will help to get her immune system back on track.  Friday morning, I came to pick her up from Kalamazoo's hospital at the urging of the doctors there to take her to MSU, seeking a more advanced treatment plan with a staff that was more qualified to handle her needs.

This is where Stella received her second blood transfusion in as many days, and has continued to receive her medication while being monitored 24/7 and labs performed multiple times a day.  She also had a second ultrasound performed at MSU, which helped to rule out cancer as the reason for her enlarged liver and spleen.

We're reaching out to our family, friends, and pet lovers for during this stressful time to help with Stella's growing bills as her treatment continues.  We have already reached the $4000+ mark out of pocket, and Stella is still not yet ready to come home and continue her treatment plan outside of the ICU.

MSU has given us an estimate of $2000-$4000, but have advised that this could increase depending on the length of stay that is required to get Stella's immune system under control and seeing her levels improve to a point where she is stable enough to come home.  

Our bill at the Kalamazoo VCA Emergency Clinic was over $2000, and we were required to pay in full at the time she was admitted.  We have also paid $2000 to MSU, as they required 50% down when Stella was admitted.  We are currently on Day 5 of her steroid treatment, and we were told this morning that she had to have 300 CC of fluid removed from her chest.  We are now waiting for the results back to know what is causing the fluid to accumulate, and praying that is not due to more blood clots.

Stella touches everyone she meets.  She is such a sweet soul and has so much personality, and I know the world would be a lot dimmer without her.  We are praying so hard that she continues to fight and come out this, as she is a little trooper and stubborn as can be.  

For anyone who has offered prayers or has asked to help in any way, we are extremely grateful and so moved by your hearts.  Please continue to lift Stella up and keep cheering her on as she is in the fight of her life.  We love our munchkin to no end, and we love all of you.