Help Huxley's Surgery Costs

Meet Huxley. He is an almost 1.5-year-old dog (Husky/Staffordshire Terrier/Labrador Retriever/Bulldog). He enjoys lots of things, but ice cream from the local shop, hikes, the dog park, and long walks down to the river are his favorites. He is a solid 70 pounds of pure love and charisma, charming everyone he meets, whether he passes them on one of his adventures or he is seen in the car, head out the window, happy as he can be to be included on whatever adventure his family is taking him. He is so excited for the summer to come! There is nothing more he would love more than to spend every day doing all his favorite things. However, this summer is a little different.

                As of March 16th, 2021 Huxley, has been diagnosed with megaesophagus. As of March 25th, 2021, it has been confirmed that this is caused by PRAA (Persistent right aortic arch), a common vascular ring anomaly in dogs resulting in the failure of a fetal vessel to regress as the neonate develops, and in Huxley’s case, it has entrapped and constricted his esophagus to a point where the opening leading to the stomach is only a centimeter wide.  While we always knew something was wrong with Huxley internally (he has issues eating, and his meals must be soaked and fed in small portions, and he gets exhausted exercising quickly, his tongue turning purple), we never knew quite what. While it is finally a relief to have an answer, especially after a year of research and seemingly worsening issues including him not being able to hold down meals more frequently, it is also scary, as to potentially save his life, and restore his quality of life to him so he can be a dog without worry or concern. To correct this condition, he will need open chest surgery that will cost us upwards of $6,500 dollars. This cost covers not only the surgery, but aftercare in the veterinary hospital (he may have to stay for a day or two), as well as travel, as we may have to travel from Pittsburgh PA to Ohio State University to get the surgery at the most affordable price for us, as my mother is a single working parent, raising me as well as my little sister, Huxley, and three cats. As a high school junior who does not have the ability to work full time, the financial burden of Huxley’s surgery falls solely on my mother. While it would be possible for her to pay for the surgery alone, it would take a year to save the money, by which point Huxley’s condition can potentially worsen to the point of malnutrition and potentially death.

                We do not want to take the risk of losing our baby. He has brought us so much joy, and helped us through so many hard times, we cannot imagine our life without him. More so, we would feel eternally guilty if something happened to him on our account of waiting. I want to be picked up from school every afternoon and see him in the back seat, tail wagging as hard as it can, and get kisses when I get in the car. I want to take him on hikes and to the creek and play with him in the water. I want to take him on walks with my cat in his travel backpack in the evenings under beautiful skies, to take him for ice cream, to go home and go to sleep holding him. Please help us save our boy.

                All donations are appreciated; please consider opening your heart and skipping the next few mornings coffees. In the case you are reading this and unable to donate, please share on your social media pages, to your friends, and to your family. It helps more than you know! We and Huxley appreciate it!

                Thank you for reading, as well as your help

                Silas Fabyanic