This is our princess Leia, our loving Frenchie–Maltese mix. We adopted her when she was only 4 weeks old, and since then she’s been the heart of our family. She was born on February 24, 2020, and has filled our home with love, laughter, and her playful energy ever since.

On the night of October 17th, we noticed Leia limping after we got home from work. By the next morning, she had completely lost the ability to move her back legs, so we rushed her to the emergency vet. After several tests, she was diagnosed with IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) A painful spinal condition that can cause paralysis if untreated.

Our vet referred us to a neurologist, who confirmed that Leia needs urgent surgery to relieve the pressure on her spine. The estimate for her surgery and hospitalization came out to $13,257, an amount we unfortunately can’t afford at this time. We brought her home with medication and are carefully following all instructions, but surgery is her only chance to walk again.

The good news is that because we caught it early, her doctor says Leia has an excellent chance of recovery, if we can get her surgery soon.

We’re asking for any help you can give, whether it’s through donations or simply sharing Leia’s story. Every bit helps bring her one step closer to walking, playing, and wagging her tail again.

We also hope that by sharing Leia’s story, other pet parents can learn the early warning signs of IVDD Such as being less active, hesitating to jump or climb, shivering, or crying from pain. IVDD can progress quickly, especially in small breeds, and early treatment makes all the difference.

Leia is family to us. We love her deeply, and we’re doing everything we can to help her get back on her little paws. Your kindness and support mean the world to us. Thank you for helping our princess Leia fight her way back to walking again.