Gina's Story

Hello,

My name is Jen Straskulic and I am fundraising for my best friend Elie Zajac who has a heart of gold and is too stubborn to ask or receive help. Elie is a health care worker for UPMC and has helped so many people over the last 1 1/2 during Covid. She is someone who would give the shirt off her back for anyone or any animal for that matter. She has helped to raise money and donated her time in the past to the local Beaver County Humane Society over the years with her beloved dog Gina.

This is Gina's Story. . . . .

Almost 8 years ago, Elie was shopping at Rogers Flea Market and there she was! Cute as ever sitting in that hot baking sun. She just knew instantly that she had to get her out of there so she adopted her right on the spot. She was not only a good dog but her best friend. Everyone who met her fell in love with her. She was a princess. She really was. . . even has outfits to prove it. She even had her own room with a daybed and therapeutic mattress. Oh and let’s not forget her own Minky Blankets! Gina was loved my anyone that she met. She volunteered at the Beaver County Thrift Store. Even had her own staff shirt.

She would have annual birthday parties for her and all of the neighborhood's dogs. One of her gifts was a portrait of her "boyfriend" Bear which sits in her room on her dresser. She was the smartest dog I have ever know. She was never on a leash but ran the neighborhood. Well I should say she owned the neighborhood. She was able to go 2 houses away on either side of her home. She would sit and wait for the neighbors to come home and she would run and greet them to get her carrots/snacks. Then she would go lay in her Nanny’s (Janice's) yard which was right next door.

Janice would take care of her everyday while her mom was working or away. Gina loved laying in her nanny’s yard but when it was time to potty she would jump up and run home to use her own yard and then run right back and lay down in the neighbors yard. She had manners. This was her daily routine.

Unfortunately on Sunday June 27th, everything changed. Gina was vomiting and not really wanting to eat so Elie tried to get her into the vets on Monday. They had an emergency appointment for 1:30pm.

That morning as she was going to work Gina glared at her and her eyes were jaundice. Went to Center Animal Clinic where they ran tests and X-rays. The labs showed her liver enzymes were through the roof. They were at first not even registering they were that high. She suggested to get her to an Emergency Hospital immediately.

She tried multiple ER’s which were not taking any new patients unless they were lethargic or seizing, which Gina was not. She tried another ER in north Hills and was turned away. They stated that you need an appointment for an emergency! Long story short, after hours of calling and searching for places that would take her, she ended up at AVETS in Monroeville, Pa. As soon as they saw Gina’s eyes and gums were jaundice they took her back immediately. They suggested that she stay overnight for testing, ultrasounds and fluids. They kept saying that no news is good news overnight!

Elie kept praying that the phone didn’t ring, unless it was time for her update. Her heart sank every time her phone rang whether it was them or not. Gina's labs were still elevated and her Bilirubin kept climbing. So after 4 days they decided to take her gallbladder out. She did well with the anesthesia and pulled thru the surgery fine. She wasn’t as stable as the vet would have liked but what choice did we have. The next day her labs showed that her bilirubin went down and things were maybe headed in the right direction.

She was not eating a thing. Elie went up and brought her favorite treats and chicken and rice to see if she would eat. She wasn’t interested in any of that. Elie just laid on the floor with her mom's rosary laying on her telling her that she need her home and she needs to eat. That was their main concern before getting her home. She has to eat to be able to take her meds. They had a NG tube down her nose so she was at least getting some nutrients. Elie had all hopes after speaking to the Vet Saturday that she was going to turn around.

Sunday July 4th morning, Elie received the call that no pet owner ever wants to get. Gina had a rough night and around 4 am she was regurgitating her feeding and that her labs showed they were headed in the wrong direction. The vet said it could just be a bump in the road and that tomorrow’s labs may be better. She suggested that she come up and talk with her and assess Gina to see what she thought. To Elie she looked worse than yesterday. There was no good outcome unfortunately.

Her liver was severely damaged and small. She couldn't let her suffer anymore. So she had to make the hardest decision that any pet owner will ever make. She decided to let her go peacefully. She laid with her until the very end telling her how sorry she was and that she couldn't save her. She refused to be selfish and let her go. Gina went peacefully in Elie's arms.

Elie: "That dog was my life, my heart and my soul. I do not have any children or a husband so this is one of the hardest things I ever had deal with. She was my shadow, my constant, my best friend. Everywhere I look and everywhere I go I see her. I never made a move without her and she never left my side. My heart is broken. My soul is broken."

With being in the Emergency Vet Hospital for almost a week, Gina's medical bills have hit Elie very hard during this time of grieving. As a pet owner myself, I know we would do anything for them no questions asked. Even without bringing Gina home, her medical bills are still due: $10,724.89 to be exact. Most people don't have extra laying around so I set this up to help lessen the financial burden on her.

Any amount will help even just sharing this post is much appreciated.

We appreciate and thank you so much for reading Gina's Story.