For Leslie

My dearest friend has had a series of setbacks in her life beginning in 2007. She lost her long-time job; her father; her house, and survived ovarian cancer. She has a new lower paying salaried job that requires extensive overtime; with no extra pay. She is carrying a large stress load; something that worries me because of her previous cancer.

 She has two long-time; deeply beloved pets; Buzz and Teddy Bear. Last Saturday; (April 6^th.) Buzz had to be rushed to the veterinarian, and was then taken to a specialist's hospital in Montreal (Canada.) he had developed severe acute pancreatitis.  Once stabilized in the ICU; he had an operation; hospital treatment for other complications, and went home on April 13.

 Today is April 18^th.  Buzz needed a second, emergency surgery. The total cost for all of his medical care, tests, medications, and two surgeries has climbed to fifteen thousand dollars.

 Buzz wasn’t eating, and had to have a third surgery to insert a feeding tube.  The following day; a doctor noticed that his tube had fallen out; exposing the small surgical hole in his stomach. He had become very sick, and we were beginning to lose hope. On Monday; April 22^nd’ Leslie got a call from the hospital: “Please come to the hospital and say goodbye to Buzz. He is very, very ill, and there is no other treatment we can give him.” Leslie and her sister gathered at the hospital, lay on the floor to hug him one last time, and then held his head as they said goodbye.

 I feel a burden to help, and have been trying to find a way; beyond what I have been able to give. The final cost has reached eighteen thousand dollars. Her family and I helped her with as much as we were able.  She still owes eight thousand dollars to fully pay for Buzz’s treatment. This expense is only the latest in a long series of bills that are adding to her debt load. She is a very private person; values self reliance, and would be the last person to ask for help; but the first person to step forward to help someone in need. She said that she would "Get a second job." That just isn't realistic. She has precious little time for herself; her evenings and weekends are spent on her current job. The stress she is under is not healthy--especially for one who has had cancer.

 Leslie has a deep love for Buzz, and did everything humanly possible to help him. As long as there was some hope of  recovery; putting him to sleep was not an option. She did everything in her power to help him, and cared for him until he took his last breath.

My name is Brian, and I am in South Korea teaching English. If you can help with some of the cost of Buzz's hospitalization and treatment; it will go a long way toward providing some much needed relief for Leslie.

 Thank you for your kindness.