We’ve spent over $20,000 saving Braxton, now we need help

Update: The ultrasound went well, it is an obstruction (no tumors or cancer) and he is fit for surgery. I misunderstood the doctor however and the cost of surgery was on top of the $6,077 hospitalization. Thanks to some very generous help from our family we have the additional portion for surgery covered.

Update #2: Braxton is back at home resting and on the road to recovery! I’ve updated the total GoFundMe amount from the initial $6,077 to reflect the remaining balance of $5,708.36 on his bill

After racking up just over $20,000 in medical bills for our sweet rescue dog last year for hospitalization and stereotactic radiation on an inoperable brain tumor, my fiancée and I are desperately and humbly asking for help with his new ongoing hospitalization for what appears to be an intestinal obstruction, currently estimated at $6,077 with the potential to go up to $8-9k if he’s fit for life-saving surgery. We’re his third family, and will continue to do everything the hospital recommends, we just could really use some assistance.

Full hospitalization story and adoption story below:

Sunday night Braxton spit up, and then several hours later he threw up again, only this time he threw up a giant bezoar. We immediately took him to his primary, had X-rays done, and got him subcutaneous fluids, an anti-nausea shot, and a b vitamin shot. At the time, we were told that the X-ray didn’t show an obstruction, but did show loads of gas in his intestines (stomach looked good). We were told if he shows signs of nausea later in the day, take him to the ER (Veterinary Emergency Group, where he was hospitalized last year for 4 days to get him stable for stereotactic radiation). Over the next few hours he rapidly deteriorated, drooling everywhere, restless, swollen chest, and so we brought him to V.E.G. More X-rays were performed, a blood test was done, and a feeding tube was inserted up his nose so they could ‘suck’ the fluid out of his intestines while he was admitted. In total, 1,200ml of fluids were sucked out of him last night, and a follow-up X-ray showed what ER doctors believe is an obstruction.

We were given an updated quote (around midnight last night) that included an ultrasound which he’s currently undergoing as I type this. If the ultrasound shows he ‘only’ has an obstruction, and no signs of advanced cancer, tumors, etc the plan is to remove the obstruction.

Right now, our quote is $6,077. With surgery for an obstruction it would likely jump to between $8,000-9,000 per the ER doctor.

When he was hospitalized with seizures last year our choice was to either let him go, or dig in and do everything we possibly could to buy him another few years (we were told most tumors of this kind recur around the 2 year mark, and then palliative care in the form of steroids could buy him some more time if he recurs around the 2 year mark.)

If we get the go-ahead for surgery today, we’re absolutely going to take it. Before adopting Braxton we visited him at the shelter routinely for around 6 months before we lived somewhere where we could have a big dog, and then when we did, we drove from AZ back to IL (where we we’re from) to adopt him. He had two families before us, one from 0-1, and another from 1-4 until his owners tied him up in the basement and abandoned their rental unit. When we adopted him at the age of 5 we committed to doing anything for him, and that hasn’t changed. It’s just that commitment has burned through cash and CareCredit over the past year, and as a result, we would greatly appreciate any help.

Braxton’s currently admitted at Veterinary Emergency Group.

Thanks, and give your pups a hug for us. I can’t believe how fast the past 6 years with him have flown by and despite truly appreciating every moment together, it’s gone by in the blink of an eye.