Hello, I’m Lisa. I’m a single mom, and these last few months have been incredibly hard. It feels like one challenge hits right after another, and while I’m doing everything I can to keep moving forward, I’m reaching a point where I need to ask for support.

I’ve recently gone through several major life changes, and with PTSD, it’s been overwhelming. My therapy dog, Hanzo, has always been a grounding presence for me. But recently he became severely lethargic and struggled to breathe. Because I had just moved, we didn’t have a regular vet yet, and I ended up at an emergency clinic that made everything worse.

I was never shown the X-rays they claimed to see. Instead, I was told my dog was dying, that he had an obstruction, and that he needed immediate surgery. I wasn’t told they hadn’t even taken X-rays of his lungs—the very reason I brought him in. They kept him for nearly a week, cut him open, found nothing, and later diagnosed him with pneumonia—something that could have been treated with antibiotics instead of an emergency surgery.

Out of fear for his life, I opened a CareCredit account and the full $8,000 I was approved for was charged instantly. I’ve tried to dispute it, but every attorney I’ve contacted says they don’t handle animal malpractice. With my father recently passing, I’m also carrying court fees, lawyer costs, bills, and property taxes. The financial strain is becoming too much, and I’m honestly struggling to keep up.

I’m doing everything I can to hold things together for my child, especially with the holidays coming up, but it’s hard to admit that I can’t do it alone right now.

If you’re able to offer any kind of support—whether it’s advice, resources, community connections, or even just understanding—I would be deeply grateful. I’m not looking for pity. I’m just a mom trying to stay hopeful and do right by her family in a season that’s been unbelievably heavy.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support, big or small. It truly means more than I can express.