Harley's Heart
Donation protected
Friends -
Meet Harley! Harley is an 11 year young Long Haired Dachshund. He has been my companion and faithful friend since he was 9 weeks old.
Harley came into my life when I needed to feel like life was worth living, and he has saved my life more times than I can count. I know we all think our dogs are special and wonderful and Harley is no less than that. He has been a constant reminder of why I have to fight through my PTSD and my medical issues everyday. Even when I don't think I want to get up in the morning, having this boy snuggled against me through the night and staring at me with his big brown eyes in the morning makes the morning seem all that brighter. I push through everyday because of all of my animals, but Harley not only has my heart, but he has the hearts of my friends as well-- human and fur.
Now it's my time to step up for Harley's heart. On September 16 I woke up to hear his painful cries and he was in the middle of the kitchen floor. Once he saw me coming, he collapsed and I was sure he was dead. His heart had stopped and I performed CPR and wrapped him in a blanket and rushed him to the closet vet.
As I drove as fast as I could I said prayers, and held him in my lap frantically feeling for his heart beat.
I felt his pads and they were cold. I talked to him and asked him to stay with me. That if he stayed with me he could trust me to do the best I could for him. As I pulled into the vet's parking lot, his pads were warming up and there was the smallest amount of spark in his eyes. He seemed more alert and I hoped that it was just a seizure ( I suffer from Temporal Lobe Seizures -- so I know it's not "just" a seizure, but given the alternatives, I would take seizures.)
His blood work was good, but his xray showed an enlarged heart and he also had a level 3 heart murmur that wasn't evident at his last exam. An echocardiagram was performed and it showed significant fluid around his heart and a possible mass - which may or may not be a tumor between the heart and the membrane than encloses the heart ( I'm not a vet, so bare with me.)
At the very least, the fluid around the heart has to be drained so that his heart can continue to perform, and the mass needs to be examined to determine the best action for Harley.
Harley is scheduled to be seen by Dr. Elizabeth Cox at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Matthews, NC on October 2. I would like to have him seen sooner but I need to raise the money for the first visit ($500-$600) and then the procedure to remove the fluid.
As I am writing this Harley and Annie are watching me - having just eaten pancakes for dinner. I don't know how much longer Harley has, because we never know. Perfectly fine pets and people die without notice, but I have been given the chance to do the right thing for Harley.
I am a dog trainer and a behaviorist by training and I will be more than willing to give a significant discount for donations to Harley's Heart, and I am also designing some "Harley's Heart" T-shirts that any donations of $20 or more will receive as a thank you.
I am also posting the address below for Carolina Vet Specialists if you would like to make a donation directly to them in Harley's name for his appointment (Harley Alford). His consultation and new echocardiagram and blood pressure evaluation fee is $500 - $600 and additional procedures such as the fluid removal will bring the total close to $4000-5000. Any additional money received and not used for Harley will be donated to NC State Veterinary Medical Foundation.
All of Harley's updates will be listed here as well as copies of his veterinary invoices.
Carolina Veterinary Specialists
4099 Campus Ridge Road
Matthews, NC 28104
Attn: Harley Alford/Dr. Elizabeth Cox
http://www.carolinavet.com/veterinary-services/animal-cardiology/
Meet Harley! Harley is an 11 year young Long Haired Dachshund. He has been my companion and faithful friend since he was 9 weeks old.
Harley came into my life when I needed to feel like life was worth living, and he has saved my life more times than I can count. I know we all think our dogs are special and wonderful and Harley is no less than that. He has been a constant reminder of why I have to fight through my PTSD and my medical issues everyday. Even when I don't think I want to get up in the morning, having this boy snuggled against me through the night and staring at me with his big brown eyes in the morning makes the morning seem all that brighter. I push through everyday because of all of my animals, but Harley not only has my heart, but he has the hearts of my friends as well-- human and fur.
Now it's my time to step up for Harley's heart. On September 16 I woke up to hear his painful cries and he was in the middle of the kitchen floor. Once he saw me coming, he collapsed and I was sure he was dead. His heart had stopped and I performed CPR and wrapped him in a blanket and rushed him to the closet vet.
As I drove as fast as I could I said prayers, and held him in my lap frantically feeling for his heart beat.
I felt his pads and they were cold. I talked to him and asked him to stay with me. That if he stayed with me he could trust me to do the best I could for him. As I pulled into the vet's parking lot, his pads were warming up and there was the smallest amount of spark in his eyes. He seemed more alert and I hoped that it was just a seizure ( I suffer from Temporal Lobe Seizures -- so I know it's not "just" a seizure, but given the alternatives, I would take seizures.)
His blood work was good, but his xray showed an enlarged heart and he also had a level 3 heart murmur that wasn't evident at his last exam. An echocardiagram was performed and it showed significant fluid around his heart and a possible mass - which may or may not be a tumor between the heart and the membrane than encloses the heart ( I'm not a vet, so bare with me.)
At the very least, the fluid around the heart has to be drained so that his heart can continue to perform, and the mass needs to be examined to determine the best action for Harley.
Harley is scheduled to be seen by Dr. Elizabeth Cox at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Matthews, NC on October 2. I would like to have him seen sooner but I need to raise the money for the first visit ($500-$600) and then the procedure to remove the fluid.
As I am writing this Harley and Annie are watching me - having just eaten pancakes for dinner. I don't know how much longer Harley has, because we never know. Perfectly fine pets and people die without notice, but I have been given the chance to do the right thing for Harley.
I am a dog trainer and a behaviorist by training and I will be more than willing to give a significant discount for donations to Harley's Heart, and I am also designing some "Harley's Heart" T-shirts that any donations of $20 or more will receive as a thank you.
I am also posting the address below for Carolina Vet Specialists if you would like to make a donation directly to them in Harley's name for his appointment (Harley Alford). His consultation and new echocardiagram and blood pressure evaluation fee is $500 - $600 and additional procedures such as the fluid removal will bring the total close to $4000-5000. Any additional money received and not used for Harley will be donated to NC State Veterinary Medical Foundation.
All of Harley's updates will be listed here as well as copies of his veterinary invoices.
Carolina Veterinary Specialists
4099 Campus Ridge Road
Matthews, NC 28104
Attn: Harley Alford/Dr. Elizabeth Cox
http://www.carolinavet.com/veterinary-services/animal-cardiology/
Organizer
Fran Iwanicki
Organizer
Statesville, NC
