Nykky's Emergency Lung/ACL Surgery
Donation protected
Hello. This is my dog "Nakyta" (Nykky). 
Nakyta is my Service Dog and my constant companion, she is family. Nykky is presently at Cornell University Hospital for Animals as she had to have emergency surgery on February 15th for complications stemming from lung surgery previously performed in 2012. Once she has recovered from this surgery, she must have a second procedure done to repair a torn ACL and maniscus in her right hind leg. Please read the following background on Nykky. She is not only my dog, she is my life.
I adopted Nakyta as a three month old puppy from The Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue in 2007 while visiting my parents. I am no longer able to work - after having done so for many years in management, loss prevention, and auditing - due to having a chronic illness, Systemic Scleroderma. Scleroderma is a progressive disease accompanied by other diseases and emotional turmoil as it progresses. I have always wanted a dog, but as my work schedule did not accomodate the time or attention one would require to be happy and healthy, I refrained from getting one. Once I became disabled, I had too much time on my hands and knew the dog for me was a husky as we had one when we lived in Alaska when my dad was stationed there. Oddly enough, I wanted a black and silver, female puppy and Nykky is the only husky I found that I was able to get my hands on her. She was brought to the rescue at The "Bear Paw" festival at Eagle River, AK with her "white" brother and "red" sister that morning. The two of them were both adopted out earlier in the day leaving Nykky there for me to find. As soon as I spotterd her I knew she was mine. Love at first sight and the best $130 I ever spent.
Little did I know that in adopting and "saving" Nykky, she would someday return the favor to me both physically and emotionally. When I had to stop working I became depressed as I had measured my self-worth and self-esteem by my success at work. Becoming disssabled stripped me of that and I had terrible bouts with depression and such - guilt, self-doubt, feeling of worthlessness, no purpose... Enter Nykky, a sixteen pound, lovable, huggable,bundle of wet nose, sloppy kisses, and loads of energy. She demanded my attention and care 24/7. What a joy, after having seldom leaving my house alone for nearly two years, she gave me reason to venture out. I started taking her to "dog friendly" businesses - Lowes, Home Depot, TSC, and some local establishments that welcomed her,... to socialize her. It was in Lowes one day that she demonstrated she had holding out on me that she was talented in a way I never imagined. As my disease has progressed I have had an increase in Panic attacks - both in number and severity. Here she started circling my legs (I call it "sharking") and pushing me towards the counter. I had no idea what was going on until the attack hit me and dropped me to floor. There she waited with me until a couple came into the opposite end of the isle upon which she ran and summoned them and then returned to me. when this happened, we threw ourselves into training mode for her to become a service dog for me. Nykky and I worked diligently throughout about a year to complete course requirements, behaviors, and manners to work to get certification qualifications satisfied for her to become my service dog. Close to completing the requirements, Nykky's training was interrupted by the need to have emergency lung surgery. the doctors at Cornell University for Animals, removed a lobe and a half from one of her lungs. She spent a week there and made a full recovery after several weeks of "r & r". Once back on her feet we resumed her service dog training and she soon got her certification. Simultaneously, she was completing qualification hours of volunteering at a local nursing home and a psychiatric rehab facility to become certified as a therapy dog. In 2013, Nakyta completed all her requirements to become my service dog via The National Service Animal Registry and also completed the requirements of Love on a Leash to be certified as a therapy dog with which we go and visit , do shows,...where Nykky directly interacts with other individuals.
When I take her to the nursing home the residents gather at one of the dining halls and Nykky performs for about a half hour doing many tricks. She then plays ball and poses for pictures with the residents. Before we leave, the residents get to select a wallet size photo of Nykky to keep and share with thier visitors. The residents seem to "glow" while my little girl struts her stuff for them. It makes me feel good to see them enjoying thier time with them. My friend and I often time set up displays for the facility in a 20' showcase. Nykky visits the residents that come down to talk and visit with us as we work. She's quite a hit. When I take her to the rehab facility, I know who seems to be having the worst day when we get there as Nykky must sense it and goes and sits with them. She has a very calming effect, when a person's anxiety increases they go and sit with her aand calm themselves by just stroking her fur. It's amazing.
In November 2013 I took on a volunteer position at The FaithCentre, a local thrift store in Bellefonte, PA. Proceeds from the store help support 800+ residents in the community as well as 200 pets. I love working here as it makes me feel good to be able to give something back in the community. The people that work there are wonderful, staff and volunteers alike. Nykky has gone there with me from the start. She moves around the building with me wherever I need to be. She is very popular with everybody there, workers and customers alike. Several customers tease me when they come in asking "Where's my dog at?" Sometimes we take a break and do a little performance of various tricks - she sits, sits pretty, shakes, gives high five, crawls, dances, chases her tail, sneezes on command, says "I want some", holds treat on her nose endlessly, rolls over multiple times, and gives Lovin's. She is so popular I have a scrapbook for her containing life events, accomplishments, awards, holidays, family, and friends. there are some 150 people with thier picture taken with Nykky in it - doctors, dentists, co-workers, counselors, business owners, directors, managers, volunteers... I'm going to show a couple of the pages from her book:
Previous Lung Surgery 2012
Credentials.
Name Badge for another volunteer position at State College, PA . 
A birthday card from her friend, Bobbie and a picture of Nykky that the bank Branch Mgr's 10 yr
grand daughter drew of her,
First place in Cutest Pet Contest...and door prize at The Bellefonte, PA Food Bank 5k/10k run/walk.
Second place "America's Pets Got Talent" contest at Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA.
Service Dog pictures day of her certification.
Just a page for fun of her being off duty lazy.
In September, Nykky began experiencing discomfort in the area of her surgical chest scar. She licked it until she had a "seepy" soft spot. A trip to our vet brought RX and ointment home. Didn't work. Next trip to the vets it was determined that she was experiencingdiscomfort due to one of the stainless steel wires used inside her chest cavity to close her up after lung surgery. Scheduled surgery to remove. Situation improved some, but not completely. Problem complicates the situation with fixing her torn ACL/maniscus as her chest must be 100% healed and free of all infection before they can operate on her leg. My vets at All Creatures, Centre Hall, PA and those at Cornell worked diligently at getting Nykky in asap. Monday late afternoon we took her through Cornell's ER. This is where we found out about the chest issue being first on thier agenda. She had surgery after a cat-scan and another wire with its drain tract were removed on Tuesday. I get progress reports from Cornell three to four times a day. They also put a "block" in for her injured leg so she doesn't experience so much pain. as of this morning's report we will be going to pick her up this afternoon to finish recovery at home. I CAN"T WAIT TO SEE MY BABY!!!
After about three weeks and a clean bill of health, she will need to return to Cornell for them to repair her leg. Based on the films that have been taken of her leg it has been determined that the injury is too severe to heal on its own and if not corrected she will damage her left leg from carrying all her back weight. Cornell has explained that they will cut her bone and insert a plate into it. I don't understand it all, but i believe she is in the best care she could have.
I could go on and on (which I'm sure I have already) about Nakyta as there is no end to the support and help she is to me. God and fate brought us together with a special bond and silent understanding of each other's needs. She has touched so many other's lives as well - whether it be through her volunteering or just her happy disposition as customers encounter her in our day to day functions. She is one smart and remarkable dog. She is my happy, constant companion and at the same time alert to my needs at any given moment. I love her with all my heart and would be devastated and lost without her.
Nykky's situation is not life threatening to the extent that she cannot make a full recovery. She is expected to do just that and return to the happy, playful / working dog she has been for so long. Anyone who knows Nykky and I can vouch for how much she means to me. In the past I have been able to handle her hospital and vet bills. Such is not the case at present. I have pulled all my available resources together and presently gathered and paid $2700 upon her admission Monday night. This was sufficient to get treatment under way. However, we are in dire need to raise the additional funds to cover the remainder of expenses from this procedure as well as those for the necessary repair of her leg. I'm not accustomed to having to reach out to others for help, but my love and dependency for this dog are never ending. She had that special intuition to know my "triggers"/symptoms of impending difficulty long before I do. With her being able to do this, I am able to do much everything I need to independently. If you are interested an able to help, we would be much appreciative. Thank you so much for your interest and support.
Sincerely,
Debby & Nykky Jones
Nakyta is my Service Dog and my constant companion, she is family. Nykky is presently at Cornell University Hospital for Animals as she had to have emergency surgery on February 15th for complications stemming from lung surgery previously performed in 2012. Once she has recovered from this surgery, she must have a second procedure done to repair a torn ACL and maniscus in her right hind leg. Please read the following background on Nykky. She is not only my dog, she is my life.
I adopted Nakyta as a three month old puppy from The Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue in 2007 while visiting my parents. I am no longer able to work - after having done so for many years in management, loss prevention, and auditing - due to having a chronic illness, Systemic Scleroderma. Scleroderma is a progressive disease accompanied by other diseases and emotional turmoil as it progresses. I have always wanted a dog, but as my work schedule did not accomodate the time or attention one would require to be happy and healthy, I refrained from getting one. Once I became disabled, I had too much time on my hands and knew the dog for me was a husky as we had one when we lived in Alaska when my dad was stationed there. Oddly enough, I wanted a black and silver, female puppy and Nykky is the only husky I found that I was able to get my hands on her. She was brought to the rescue at The "Bear Paw" festival at Eagle River, AK with her "white" brother and "red" sister that morning. The two of them were both adopted out earlier in the day leaving Nykky there for me to find. As soon as I spotterd her I knew she was mine. Love at first sight and the best $130 I ever spent.
Little did I know that in adopting and "saving" Nykky, she would someday return the favor to me both physically and emotionally. When I had to stop working I became depressed as I had measured my self-worth and self-esteem by my success at work. Becoming disssabled stripped me of that and I had terrible bouts with depression and such - guilt, self-doubt, feeling of worthlessness, no purpose... Enter Nykky, a sixteen pound, lovable, huggable,bundle of wet nose, sloppy kisses, and loads of energy. She demanded my attention and care 24/7. What a joy, after having seldom leaving my house alone for nearly two years, she gave me reason to venture out. I started taking her to "dog friendly" businesses - Lowes, Home Depot, TSC, and some local establishments that welcomed her,... to socialize her. It was in Lowes one day that she demonstrated she had holding out on me that she was talented in a way I never imagined. As my disease has progressed I have had an increase in Panic attacks - both in number and severity. Here she started circling my legs (I call it "sharking") and pushing me towards the counter. I had no idea what was going on until the attack hit me and dropped me to floor. There she waited with me until a couple came into the opposite end of the isle upon which she ran and summoned them and then returned to me. when this happened, we threw ourselves into training mode for her to become a service dog for me. Nykky and I worked diligently throughout about a year to complete course requirements, behaviors, and manners to work to get certification qualifications satisfied for her to become my service dog. Close to completing the requirements, Nykky's training was interrupted by the need to have emergency lung surgery. the doctors at Cornell University for Animals, removed a lobe and a half from one of her lungs. She spent a week there and made a full recovery after several weeks of "r & r". Once back on her feet we resumed her service dog training and she soon got her certification. Simultaneously, she was completing qualification hours of volunteering at a local nursing home and a psychiatric rehab facility to become certified as a therapy dog. In 2013, Nakyta completed all her requirements to become my service dog via The National Service Animal Registry and also completed the requirements of Love on a Leash to be certified as a therapy dog with which we go and visit , do shows,...where Nykky directly interacts with other individuals.
When I take her to the nursing home the residents gather at one of the dining halls and Nykky performs for about a half hour doing many tricks. She then plays ball and poses for pictures with the residents. Before we leave, the residents get to select a wallet size photo of Nykky to keep and share with thier visitors. The residents seem to "glow" while my little girl struts her stuff for them. It makes me feel good to see them enjoying thier time with them. My friend and I often time set up displays for the facility in a 20' showcase. Nykky visits the residents that come down to talk and visit with us as we work. She's quite a hit. When I take her to the rehab facility, I know who seems to be having the worst day when we get there as Nykky must sense it and goes and sits with them. She has a very calming effect, when a person's anxiety increases they go and sit with her aand calm themselves by just stroking her fur. It's amazing.
In November 2013 I took on a volunteer position at The FaithCentre, a local thrift store in Bellefonte, PA. Proceeds from the store help support 800+ residents in the community as well as 200 pets. I love working here as it makes me feel good to be able to give something back in the community. The people that work there are wonderful, staff and volunteers alike. Nykky has gone there with me from the start. She moves around the building with me wherever I need to be. She is very popular with everybody there, workers and customers alike. Several customers tease me when they come in asking "Where's my dog at?" Sometimes we take a break and do a little performance of various tricks - she sits, sits pretty, shakes, gives high five, crawls, dances, chases her tail, sneezes on command, says "I want some", holds treat on her nose endlessly, rolls over multiple times, and gives Lovin's. She is so popular I have a scrapbook for her containing life events, accomplishments, awards, holidays, family, and friends. there are some 150 people with thier picture taken with Nykky in it - doctors, dentists, co-workers, counselors, business owners, directors, managers, volunteers... I'm going to show a couple of the pages from her book:Previous Lung Surgery 2012Credentials.Name Badge for another volunteer position at State College, PA . A birthday card from her friend, Bobbie and a picture of Nykky that the bank Branch Mgr's 10 yrgrand daughter drew of her,
First place in Cutest Pet Contest...and door prize at The Bellefonte, PA Food Bank 5k/10k run/walk.Second place "America's Pets Got Talent" contest at Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA.Service Dog pictures day of her certification.Just a page for fun of her being off duty lazy. In September, Nykky began experiencing discomfort in the area of her surgical chest scar. She licked it until she had a "seepy" soft spot. A trip to our vet brought RX and ointment home. Didn't work. Next trip to the vets it was determined that she was experiencingdiscomfort due to one of the stainless steel wires used inside her chest cavity to close her up after lung surgery. Scheduled surgery to remove. Situation improved some, but not completely. Problem complicates the situation with fixing her torn ACL/maniscus as her chest must be 100% healed and free of all infection before they can operate on her leg. My vets at All Creatures, Centre Hall, PA and those at Cornell worked diligently at getting Nykky in asap. Monday late afternoon we took her through Cornell's ER. This is where we found out about the chest issue being first on thier agenda. She had surgery after a cat-scan and another wire with its drain tract were removed on Tuesday. I get progress reports from Cornell three to four times a day. They also put a "block" in for her injured leg so she doesn't experience so much pain. as of this morning's report we will be going to pick her up this afternoon to finish recovery at home. I CAN"T WAIT TO SEE MY BABY!!!
After about three weeks and a clean bill of health, she will need to return to Cornell for them to repair her leg. Based on the films that have been taken of her leg it has been determined that the injury is too severe to heal on its own and if not corrected she will damage her left leg from carrying all her back weight. Cornell has explained that they will cut her bone and insert a plate into it. I don't understand it all, but i believe she is in the best care she could have.
I could go on and on (which I'm sure I have already) about Nakyta as there is no end to the support and help she is to me. God and fate brought us together with a special bond and silent understanding of each other's needs. She has touched so many other's lives as well - whether it be through her volunteering or just her happy disposition as customers encounter her in our day to day functions. She is one smart and remarkable dog. She is my happy, constant companion and at the same time alert to my needs at any given moment. I love her with all my heart and would be devastated and lost without her.
Nykky's situation is not life threatening to the extent that she cannot make a full recovery. She is expected to do just that and return to the happy, playful / working dog she has been for so long. Anyone who knows Nykky and I can vouch for how much she means to me. In the past I have been able to handle her hospital and vet bills. Such is not the case at present. I have pulled all my available resources together and presently gathered and paid $2700 upon her admission Monday night. This was sufficient to get treatment under way. However, we are in dire need to raise the additional funds to cover the remainder of expenses from this procedure as well as those for the necessary repair of her leg. I'm not accustomed to having to reach out to others for help, but my love and dependency for this dog are never ending. She had that special intuition to know my "triggers"/symptoms of impending difficulty long before I do. With her being able to do this, I am able to do much everything I need to independently. If you are interested an able to help, we would be much appreciative. Thank you so much for your interest and support.
Sincerely,
Debby & Nykky Jones
Organizer
Debby Jones
Organizer
Bellefonte, PA
