Heroes 4 Hudson

           I’ve never done anything like this before, I didn’t even know it existed until this week and I don’t have time to consider how I feel about it, but I am desperate. On the 18^th of April I took my almost two year old adopted Husky/German Shepherd mix, Hudson, to the vet as he wasn’t feeling well. After various tests and an x-ray they found he had eaten a nail. Having no clue how or where or when and being as diligent with him as you would a toddler because if there’s trouble to be found, he will find it, I was horrified. The nail appeared to be 2 inches long, and not wanting to risk any damage as it was moving towards his colon, I had them do emergency surgery and after five hours of grief-stricken waiting, got the call that he had come through. There appeared to be no punctures as they had taken out all of his intestines to examine them, and the vet was shocked to find the nail was smaller than thought, not even a half an inch.

           For the surgery, e-rays, morphine, antibiotics, IV’s, catheters, 2 nights stay and other various tests, I paid a total of $1,611.99 (as if the one cent really matters after that).

           I picked him up that Friday night and the moment he came out the door was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Pure terror was on his face as he didn’t know what was going on, but as soon as he saw me he began to yelp and howl and whine like a child who’s had a boo-boo and is so confused by it that when he sees his mother, he bursts out crying, seeking comfort. I took him home and a day and a half later he was very lethargic and began peeing blood. The next morning I rushed him to back to the vet and it turned out he was severely anemic, his blood cells at 19% when normal is 35% to 55%.

           They put him on steroids but when his cells continued to drop to 15% which any lower is death, and another $900.00 later, I had to transfer him to an emergency vet where a specialist was waiting for me. As I walked in with Hudson, terror found his face again because he thought he had been going home to where my other dog Lola (9yrs, abuse rescue, English Setter) was waiting. I tried to hold it together, but burst out crying. After calming down and talking to the emergency vet, they did a blood transfusion and other various tests. After a week, a feeding tube because he wouldn’t eat, and $2500.00 dollars more, we were so happy to be able to be taking him home.

           Now a month later, his blood cells are up to 36.9% and he has been doing well up until today when I got some test results back. We now know that he has IMHA, an auto-immune disorder where his immune system attacks his blood cells. The nail had just been a red herring. The steroids have been working, but now his liver is beginning to show problems and the vet wants to put him on Cycolsporine, a drug that will help the immune suppressants so we can begin to wean him off the Prednisone (steroids). But (as always there’s a but), the meds cost $250 for 60 tablets that will last 2 weeks, that’s $500.00 a month for six months. The vet would also like him to be on Sucralfate, a liquid that will help the ulcer he’s getting from the steroids and stop the bleeding and that costs $69.00 for 2-3 times a day a month, and 400mg of SAM-e a day, or 2 tablets a day which is a liver supplement because his liver enzymes are showing signs of damage from all the meds. While over the counter, SAM-e costs around $40.00 for a week’s worth. 

            To the point—in total, I’ve spent over $6000.00, giving everything I have for his survival and now I’m broke. The little that I do have has to go to bills or I’ll be on the streets and I fight between that and my Hudson, because he is worth it. I’ve put so much into making him better, I’ve put him through so much because I selfishly love him so damn much and I’m struggling so hard. I’ve cashed all change, I sold all my good jewelry which wasn’t much because I’ve never been the type to buy it, they’re were all gifts and heirlooms. And I’m selling any belongings I can.

            Hudson is a baby, he’s my baby, he’s innocent and I cannot justify putting him down because I’ve run out of money, not when we’ve come so far, not when he’s getting better. I just need some help. I’m desperate for it. To some he’s just a dog, but to me, an only child with no family, my two dogs are my family, my children. I saved them from kennels and abuse and they in return save me. Every day. I need him so badly I cry now. So funny and playful, he’s brought laughter into my life again.   

            As much as I’ve prayed and found money in quarters and jewelry, I don’t see money falling out of the sky anytime soon so I need some flesh and blood help and beg that someone will be generous enough to deliver it. I never ask anyone for anything and if I did I don’t have anyone to ask which hasn’t hurt more than now, so…ideally I would like to ask for around $5000.00 to help pay for the Cycolsporine which he’ll have to be on for six months, some of the other meds, the blood tests they’ll have to do weekly or biweekly to make sure he’s staying stable, but any little bit will help. Please, I ask someone to find it within their hearts to help him and in turn, myself. I’ve lost too much and I refuse to add him to the list because in this situation, I’m poor and don’t make enough money. I’m just so devastated thinking of the alternative.

           To all those who read or help or pray, thank you so very much.