Sydney Needs Our Help - Unexpected Medical Bills

Glenn Gaylord is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi there. Glenn Gaylord here. For those of you who have met my 13-year-old Aussie Cattle Dog Mix, Sydney, then you know she's sweet, hilarious and just wants to do good things. I rescued her from a Puppy Mill when she was 4 months old and we've been inseparable pals on a great journey ever since. She's been the best companion one could ever want.

On December 18, 2023, and out of nowhere, she started vomiting repeatedly. I immediately took her to the ER at the Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital (MASH) and they determined that she needed emergency surgery to remove her gallbladder or she would not survive. Her eyes were yellow from jaundice and her liver values were life-threatining. Things had been touch and go during her hospitalization with the doctors finding a clot in her lungs and her being extremely lethargic and uncomfortable. It was heartbreaking watching her shiver and rasp all week, all of her ecstatic energy completely gone. Although it's challenging for a dog her age to withstand the procedures and recover, she has pulled through and is finally back home with me on December 28,2023. Her aftercare instructions are extensive, requiring feeding through a gastronomy tube where I will also dispense 9 different medications to speed up her recovery.

Needless to say, it wasn't cheap, but worth it for sure. She's got such a joy for life and I have the hunch she has years more of putting a smile on anyone's face who crosses her path. Just to see her prance on her front paws again with her patented helicopter circular motion will be the miracle we all need.

Unfortunately, I did not have pet insurance. I know, I was short-sighted in not having it. My own medical expenses as a person with HIV are astronomical and I'm on disability at the moment, so I could not afford this extra cost, kicking the proverbial can down the road and hoping nothing would go wrong with her health. I've been lucky that this is her first medical crisis ever. I got a CareCredit card a long time ago and figured I'd use it in an emergency and figure it out later.

I have since bought her an insurance policy through FIGO with an unlimited cap, 90% payment, and a $750 annual deductible, so this catastrophe shouldn't repeat itself. My insurance requires 12 months of no illness to forego the underlying condition in this specific case, but will pay for her other needs until that time.

For full transparency, I've attached her two Invoices from MASH which have a combined total of $23,018.61. Thankfully, I've already raised $10,000, so I am setting this crowdfunding at $15,000 to help pay the remaining $13,018.61 plus any expected upcoming costs for lab work, medication and doctor fees.

I have zero expectations and know most people have spent more than they have over the holidays. But, if Sydney has ever had an impact on your life or if you find anything in this story compelling, your donations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this regardless of any action you may take.