On February 1st we found out that Tobi has been struggling with various heart issues. His life expectancy without surgery or treatment is less than 1 year. With successful treatment, his prognosis is at least a longer, if not a complete, lifespan. We will be moving forward with treatment but any bit helps.

The diagnosis was a level 5 heart murmur caused by the following:

—Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a heart defect that occurs when the ductus arteriosus fails to close down at birth. This has also made his heart significantly enlarged, and could result in fluid leaking to his lungs.

—aortic stenosis: Narrowing of the valve in the large blood vessel branching off the heart (aorta).

-3 leaky heart valves

-irregular heart rhythm

treatment:

-echocardiogram ($575)

-blood work ($175)

-cardiologist examination ($185)

- PDA transvascular closure surgery (est. cost - $7,100-8,800)

-x rays (est cost $350)

-medications (est. cost $130/month/for life or unless surgery is 100% successful in resolving all of his symptoms)