On the afternoon of August 2nd our beloved dog Kaia J was acting strange. Unbeknownst to us it was severe pain. Within hours she was limping. Then unable to walk at all. Her rear legs became limp, she looked confused, sad, helpless. All of this happened within an 8 hour period. We are still trying to wrap our heads around this. The neurology team evaluated Kaia and said that based on their assessment she will most likely never regain motor function of her rear legs again. Her front right leg is weak as well; her rear legs completely paralyzed currently. What we do know is there is some sort of lesion on her spine. A lesion is anything, cyst, tumor, infection, that is compressing on the spinal nerves. Today they performed x-rays to rule out any METs on her lungs before moving onto an MRI. If she had cancer in her lungs that metastasized then obviously we wouldn't talk about an MRI and we would go a different course. All that to say, the x-ray is clear and she's currently in an MRI scan as I type this. The MRI will tell us where and what is causing her so much pain and paralysis. If the MRI findings come back that the injury is operable, I have given the go ahead to perform surgery. Surgery will give Kaia J a 50/50 chance at walking again. If things don't go the way we hope they do, Kaia will forever be paralyzed, wearing a diaper, and I will have to care for her bladder needs until she grows old. I elected for the surgery because it gives her a chance. If I didn't elect for surgery or the MRI, then the chances of her walking again at all were less than 50% and I couldn't live with making that choice. Ever. She has been my baby for over 9 years. She was there when I became a mother. She is in every memory and in every picture.
If she never walks again, what would her quality of life be? Will she be in pain? Will I have to manage her pain? For how long? Cost of diapers. Cost of a wheel chair. Time to care for her while I'm in school, working, and raising a family. This is pet ownership. This is my reality of loving my dog unconditionally. I don't expect anyone to understand it. Dog lovers and true animal lovers will though. I don't know what the future holds but I prayed to God. To give me the strength to make the best decision for Kaia. To stay strong and selfless in these decisions. I don't want her living in pain. I have no idea what is to come.
I'm asking for your help. A little or a lot. That's up to you. At the end of the day, I hold the "burden" of a $16,000 vet bill. (The MRI is $8k. If they can operate, it's estimated at $16k. I will update! I will post photos of the bill.) I maxed out one credit card and put $3k on another. I hope to balance transfer it to a 0% APR credit card and pay it off that way. Care Credit you have to pay within 12mo. Balance transfer will give me 18-21 months. If that doesn't work, there is always bankruptcy. No, for real. I'll do anything for Kaia. Anything. If the rolls were reversed today, she would do the same for me.
Thank you all,
I love you.
My support.
My army.
Now I need to head home and talk to Kaia's two favorite friends, Coda and Caleb. All the whole holding it together. We are warriors🤍
Xoxoxo
Nicole
