I'm initiating this Gofundme for my yougest daughter, Kristen, whose story in her words follows... <3

Asking for help has always been a challenge for me. If you know me, you know that I pride myself in being self-sufficient, but right now I am in a dire situation and I simply cannot do this by myself. Many of you know my dog Emma, who has been by my side through every adventure for the last 12.5 years. She is now fighting for her life, and I am reaching out to my community to ask for help in any way possible.

Emma is suffering from a severe respiratory issue that is making it very difficult to breathe. She is physically weak and she can no longer walk on her own, and she has lost the strength to eat. To add to the complexity of her condition, the vets have found that she has an enlarged heart and a heart murmur, making her care incredibly delicate and expensive. Emma's body is working extremely hard even at rest to stay stable, and without immediate and intensive medical intervention, I’m facing the reality of losing my best friend.

I am doing everything in my power to fund her care on my own. I am selling my van, my bicycles, and many of my personal belongings to cover the mounting costs of her diagnostic work and initial empiric treatment. However, the vet bills are already far beyond what I can provide in the timeframe she needs. Emma has been my constant companion for the last 12.5 years, and I’m not ready to give up on her just because I've reached the limit of my resources.

If you are in a position to donate, even a small amount, it would mean the world to us. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this link. Thank you for supporting us during this difficult time.