Friends:
(This is an updated campaign description)
As most of you know, Bridget - my Korean Jindo dog - and I have been companions since October 2007 when I adopted her from Mrs Jun’s shelter in Daejeon. She was recently diagnosed with, then operated onfor a brain tumour called a meningioma. Following surgery June 16th: complications. She had pressures sores from before the surgery, a bladder infection, likely from the catheter, then vestibular syndrome (lack of balance, head tilt, circling), and sudden deafness. She apparently developed pneumocephalus. I spent more than $3000.00 USD to this point, the last of my savings.
Bridget needed a second opinion and MRI on the mainland so we could know what's going on, and what our options are. I'd do anything for Bridget, which is why I'm asking for help.
She had seizures so we had to leave for Barcelona and arrived at the clinic Thursday night. The MRI on Friday showed signs of meningitis. They also did a puncture for CSF. Now we are waiting for the results of the cultures. (July 27 - Please see update. It is MDR klebsiella pneumoniae. We hope to start amikacin.)
A bit about costs and currency (since many of you don't use euros often). $1111USD =1000 euros. In Korean won, 1.26 million is equal to 1000 euros. So, for example, a donation of 50 euros would cost approximately $55USD and 63,000 won, respectively.
It is usually senior dogs that get meningiomas. Disease-free survival time varies, but a range of 7 to 30 months has been reported in studies. Individual dogs have lived longer than 30 months. No guarantees, of course, but for Bridget, at 10-and-a-half, that means she has a shot at living close to the normal lifespan for a Jindo dog.
After being downsized from my Mideast job a year ago, I have been taking courses and doing the occasional small freelance job. That's not really by choice. I have applied for dozens of jobs this year with no result. I did have enough savings to pay for Bridget’s MRI, treatments, surgery, prescriptions and hospitalizations after surgery, approximately 3000 euros, but now I’m tapped out. Unfortunately that happened before we got clarity and credible options. But a better outcome for Bridget is possible. The MRI this campaign has funded has already shown that.
I value my privacy, and I consider Bridget to be my responsibility. But we often say to ourselves “I’d do anything for my dog.” Well, this is the anything. Bridget needs care that I can’t afford, so I’m asking my friends for assistance.
Current status, July 27th - the pneumocephalus resolved, and ultrasounds did not show any source of infection internally except for the urinary tract infection. We hope to treat that with IV then injectable amikacin. Current charges at the clinic are about 1600 euros, not counting the MRI. We can expect another 400 euros or so before she can be released if all goes well.
You’ll be kept updated on results and expenses as they come in. (Occasionally I'll have issues with wifi so there will sometimes be hours of silence...)
Just give anything you feel comfortable giving. I’ll appreciate it forever. I’ll pay it forward when I can. Bridget deserves a second shot at recovery.
If you have questions or concerns, let me know. I'm happy to respond.
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