Pre-adoption injury medical costs
Donation protected
When I adopted Missy last August, I knew she had been hit by a car. I found her on Facebook through a non-profit rescue organization in Springfield, Missouri. Although they were honest with me about her history - that she had been in a car accident, had heartworms, and needed a lot of love and attention to become the outgoing, lovable dog she is today - none of us knew how severe her injuries were.
I've been suffering from anxiety and depression since my teen years, a mix of both circumstantial and biological. I was a teenager in lower Manhattan when the Twin Towers fell and the ramifications of that day stayed with me for a long time. After talking with my psychiatrist and doing research, I decided to get a dog to serve as an Emotional Support Animal in an attempt to reduce the amount of medications I was on. When I saw Missy on Facebook, I knew she had to be my dog. Her name was the same as the dog my mother had when I was a baby. More than that, they were both Shiba Inu mixes. My parents agreed. She was meant to be my dog even with medical expenses. They helped me out the best they could, since graduate school doesn't exactly pay well.
In Fayetteville, Arkansas, we were able to find a vet who figured out the source of Missy's pain. What we thought was hip dysplasia (as diagnosed by a vet in Missouri) turned out to be the destruction of a ligament meant to hold her leg in the hip socket. Although it meant dipping into their retirement funds a little, my parents agreed to pay for stem cell and plasma therapy to try and prevent pain and amputation. And it seemed to work. Missy recovered from the minor surgery and even reached a point in which she could reduce her physical therapy visits to every other week.
Everything seemed to be going relatively great until a month ago. While we were home visiting family in NY, Missy's limp started to come back. Worse, she reached the point again where she wouldn't use the leg at all. Missy is a dog who loves to run and play. A mix of Shiba Inu and Labrador Retriever, fetch in the dog park is one of her favorite games. Unfortunately, activity once again comes with a price. Even on medication, the only way to keep her fully pain free would be to deny her the freedom to run. And even then, it might not work.
Today, July 2, Missy saw the veterinary specialist who had healed her hip after experiencing pain at physical therapy the week prior. What was supposed to be a joint doctor visit and physical therapy session turned only into a doctor's visit. X-rays and evaluation revealed that the lameness in her left leg was the result of a small tear near her knee and the displacemnt of the popliteal sesamoid, as well as possible ligament damage in the ankle. Since stem cell therapy had been so successful with her hip, the doctor suggested it could be done for her knee and ankle. Potentially, Missy's left leg might be completely healed without invasive surgery or amputation. But once again, it will cost.
My parents have already dipped into their retirement funds once to help my dog. Insurance, unfortunately, isn't an option. The new complications in the leg are still a result of that same car accident she suffered over a year ago. So, the pre-existing conditions clause rules that out. I have a year left to complete my PhD and in that time, hopefully I'll find a job that will let me provide for Missy's future medical expenses. Until then, asking for help is my option. I don't want my parents to sacrifice more for my dog.
Stem cell therapy will cost approximately $2,500. I'm asking for help with $2,000 of that. Between my limited means and some help from my parents, we can cover the remaining $500. But any little bit would help. It's been almost a year since I adopted Missy and for the first time in 12 years, I'm only taking one regular anti-depressant instead of two or three. Missy has made a huge impact in my life. I'm more outgoing, more talkative, and even more assertive than I was before. I'd like nothing more than to be able to return the favor and get Missy to the point where she can run as much as she wants and not suffer any pain.
If you have taken the time to read this, thank you very much. If you can spare even a dollar, it will be greatly appreciated by everyone in Missy's life, especially Missy and myself. Regardless of whether or not this Go-Fund-Me is successful, I intend on going through with the procedure. She has an appointment for stem cell therapy set for next week (7/9). It would be amazing not to have to go into credit card debt in order to help her.
Again, thank you for your time and for your consideration.
I've been suffering from anxiety and depression since my teen years, a mix of both circumstantial and biological. I was a teenager in lower Manhattan when the Twin Towers fell and the ramifications of that day stayed with me for a long time. After talking with my psychiatrist and doing research, I decided to get a dog to serve as an Emotional Support Animal in an attempt to reduce the amount of medications I was on. When I saw Missy on Facebook, I knew she had to be my dog. Her name was the same as the dog my mother had when I was a baby. More than that, they were both Shiba Inu mixes. My parents agreed. She was meant to be my dog even with medical expenses. They helped me out the best they could, since graduate school doesn't exactly pay well.
In Fayetteville, Arkansas, we were able to find a vet who figured out the source of Missy's pain. What we thought was hip dysplasia (as diagnosed by a vet in Missouri) turned out to be the destruction of a ligament meant to hold her leg in the hip socket. Although it meant dipping into their retirement funds a little, my parents agreed to pay for stem cell and plasma therapy to try and prevent pain and amputation. And it seemed to work. Missy recovered from the minor surgery and even reached a point in which she could reduce her physical therapy visits to every other week.
Everything seemed to be going relatively great until a month ago. While we were home visiting family in NY, Missy's limp started to come back. Worse, she reached the point again where she wouldn't use the leg at all. Missy is a dog who loves to run and play. A mix of Shiba Inu and Labrador Retriever, fetch in the dog park is one of her favorite games. Unfortunately, activity once again comes with a price. Even on medication, the only way to keep her fully pain free would be to deny her the freedom to run. And even then, it might not work.
Today, July 2, Missy saw the veterinary specialist who had healed her hip after experiencing pain at physical therapy the week prior. What was supposed to be a joint doctor visit and physical therapy session turned only into a doctor's visit. X-rays and evaluation revealed that the lameness in her left leg was the result of a small tear near her knee and the displacemnt of the popliteal sesamoid, as well as possible ligament damage in the ankle. Since stem cell therapy had been so successful with her hip, the doctor suggested it could be done for her knee and ankle. Potentially, Missy's left leg might be completely healed without invasive surgery or amputation. But once again, it will cost.
My parents have already dipped into their retirement funds once to help my dog. Insurance, unfortunately, isn't an option. The new complications in the leg are still a result of that same car accident she suffered over a year ago. So, the pre-existing conditions clause rules that out. I have a year left to complete my PhD and in that time, hopefully I'll find a job that will let me provide for Missy's future medical expenses. Until then, asking for help is my option. I don't want my parents to sacrifice more for my dog.
Stem cell therapy will cost approximately $2,500. I'm asking for help with $2,000 of that. Between my limited means and some help from my parents, we can cover the remaining $500. But any little bit would help. It's been almost a year since I adopted Missy and for the first time in 12 years, I'm only taking one regular anti-depressant instead of two or three. Missy has made a huge impact in my life. I'm more outgoing, more talkative, and even more assertive than I was before. I'd like nothing more than to be able to return the favor and get Missy to the point where she can run as much as she wants and not suffer any pain.
If you have taken the time to read this, thank you very much. If you can spare even a dollar, it will be greatly appreciated by everyone in Missy's life, especially Missy and myself. Regardless of whether or not this Go-Fund-Me is successful, I intend on going through with the procedure. She has an appointment for stem cell therapy set for next week (7/9). It would be amazing not to have to go into credit card debt in order to help her.
Again, thank you for your time and for your consideration.
Organizer
Jenny Burgman
Organizer
Fayetteville, AR