Support Judee and Maggie's Medical Journey

Dear Friends and Friends of Friends,

I, Mindy Bell, am asking you all to help out one of my best friend’s, Judee Slicklen Burrell.

This is a position of which she is always on the giving end, not the receiving one. Sadly to say, Judee is a widow, having lost her husband 7 years ago. Her mastiff Maggie is her sole companion.

Now, Maggie is sick. It started 2 months ago when Maggie “wasn’t acting like her jovial self.” Maggie is a sweet, loving, happy, happy girl, whose tail never stopped wagging in all her 6-1/2 years!

Just over 2 months ago, Judee noticed that Maggie was very lethargic and immediately brought Maggie to her vet.

Lab work found her platelet level at 2. Maggie was put on oral medications which includes Prednisone and a script for an anti-immunotherapy drug. After 2 visits a week, then down to once a week for labs, the platelets increased to 66 (still extremely low). During this time, her red blood cell count has gone down to a low number as well.

As of now, Maggie’s diagnosis is Thromboytopenia TLP.

Maggie continues to be very lethargic, but is eating, drinking, peeing and pooping fine.

The cumulative vet bills for the past 2 months have already amounted to well over $2,600.00 (office visits, lab work, and medications). I was with her this past Wednesday where the charge for the day was $375.00 and repeat labs will be done this Saturday (another office visit and lab work fee).

It is still questionable if further, more invasive testing needs to be done at Cornell Vet Center, i.e. CT scans, bone marrow testing, biopsy testing if something is found. Maggie’s vet suggested a possible diagnosis of neoplasia which would show as a result of the preceding tests.

Even if that’s not needed, and the current treatment eventually eradicates whatever is going on, Maggie will have to be monitored closely (office visits, lab work) and medications decreased slowly as she is hopefully weaned off of them. Time frame if all goes well, is still a minimum of 3 or more months!

With all this being said, it’s our turn to help Judee with Maggie’s vet bills.

PLEASE donate whatever you can to show support and love to this incredible woman and her sweet girl!