12/02/2024
Tomorrow is GivingTuesday. I've never done this before but I am begging for your help. Last year was bad but this year has been awful regarding donations. Our intake has been closed all year due to lack of funds.
This year started off bad. Even though we were in debt we were faced with a huge bill due to medical/surgical emergencies.
Scarlet suddenly collapsed and was diagnosed with a massive abdominal bleed. She needed immediate surgery and was found to have a ruptured tumor from her spleen. The emergency surgery and post op care ended up costing over 10K....too much for one baby????? Yes, but that is what we do. Where does one stop? Without knowing what went wrong, do we say just let her die or do we seek answers and try to help? no one can predict the cost of seeking answers and a solution. But we must try.
Well, it turned out that the tumor was cancer. Her sleep was removed and a portion of her liver. Since then she has been treated for the cancer, is still receiving treatment...expensive? YES. But she is doing great. She lives a happy, energetic, pain free life. But her medicines and therapy are a continuing
expense.
Next emergency was Ken. He had unstoppable, chronic diarrhea. He was declining, stopped eating and getting more and more lethargic. He was diagnosed with a protein losing enteropathy, pancreatitis and early nephropathy. Of course, that diagnosis came after trying to treat the immediate problems without success. He was referred to an internist. And then the real expense began and continued. He needs continuous monitoring with frequent blood work, repeated ultrasound, medicines, special diets and expensive appointments with a specialist. Is it worth it? YES. It's what we do. Ken is an ongoing concern and has to be constantly monitored. But he is happy, functional and doing much better.
Toby was the next victim. He began having black out spells. He would quickly recover but what was the problem? My vet discovered a recent onset of heart murmur. We were referred to a cardiologist for an echocardiogram. Severe pulmonary hypertension was discovered. He was started on medication immediately with the recommendation to consult with an internist for follow up. Well, here we go again!!! Diagnostics confirmed systemic hypertension, gallbladder sludge, age related nephropathy, liver nodules and anemia (probably related to kidney issues). He requires a special diet, medicines, blood work, frequent BP monitoring (by vet). Follow up ultrasound and another echo are recommended. Good news...Toby is doing great!
So, this was the beginning of our year. Along the way we had many other issues including Cookie's big surgery, and nine deaths with the accompanying end life care. I will cover these later.
I know that lack of donations is largely my fault because I have not posted much. I promise to do better next year. I just don't seem to have enough hours in the day. Also, I hate getting on any social media platforms. My algorithm seems to send me only animal related posts. My heart cannot take it when I know I cannot help others in need. I have done all I can to to minimize expenses without compromising the care of the babies. I have utilized my personal funds as much as I can but it's not enough. So I am begging for support for these special elders.
PLEASE help us. You can help by donating AND sharing our fund raisers. Thank you.
https://www.givinggrid.com/tbnoyj?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR24Wid422XYPa9jRrxyjs29qdekLlkHntBUGyxXUvB0E1XKhIjuMcNVOqQ_aem_HcQwLDnOIqVMaKO7coqxdQ
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