In the predawn hours of Sunday, November 2, 2014, Rusty's breathing was so loud and raspy it actually awakened me. I drew him closer to me and listened more intently. Instinct and seven years of ownership told me this was serious. This was not normal. This was not good. That's when my mental anguish began. My thoughts catapulted into an intense battle of voices:
Finally, my heart won over my bank account and we were at a clinic in minutes, I'd call on my wits for the monetary resources at a less stressed moment later."Get him to an emergency vet!" "You have zero extra money, Barbara!" "God, I've lost so much in the last 3 years, don't take Rusty!" YOU are unemployed!" "Lord, he's suffering, he's not breathing right!" "YOU are in survival mode, get real woman!"
It was not good. After six agonizing hours in the waiting room with Rusty on the other side of a wall in an oxygen tent the vet came laid it out. Rusty had 20% enlarged heart . . . and a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Pomeranians can live up to 20 years. He now needed medication to take home, and equally important, a complete "work up" by a canine cardiologist to more accurately determine his needs. These first medications were for dogs in general. Rusty needed would better benefit from medications more specifically calibrated for him, based on information from an electrocardiogram and an ultrasound; then he could live most of those years.
The tears flowed so freely. The cars around me on the ride home were surely less safe that day. My mind was entrenched in conversation with the God I serve and adore. We were talking about cardiologist funds for Rusty. Ten years earlier I had to hold our family cat and watch her be put down because I didn't have $800 extra dollars and that time either. (Life is never easy on the "extras" when you are a single mom.) I pleaded for God to please not let me go through that again. Slowly, after arriving home, ideas began to emerge.
My youngest son told me years ago, "Mom, you have got to be the most resourceful person I will ever know. " I guess situations just bring out the adrenaline of financial prayer and ideas then flow because I had my epiphany of how to help Rusty in about an hour.`I would have to humble myself and call upon the use of internet "crowd funding". I would have to come clean to my Facebook friends that at 62, I didn't even have the tax shelter annuity funds I once had, that I consider myself a financial failure after a thirty-five year professional career....that I. needed. help. Shoot, I would admit to anything to get help for this helper of mine.
It is important to me to give this chance to Rusty because his seven years with me he has given service only only to me, but to my work community. I confirmed with his San Jose vet that, indeed, Rusty had evolved into the ability to alert me to hypoglycemic episodes coming on by licking my ankles or my chin if I'm seated or lying down. I then take my glucose count and discover he'd just alerted me before uncomfortable and debilitating symptoms had yet "kicked in". What a gift Rusty had become to me. Additionally, when I was in an accident that resulted in three surgeries, two where I had to learn to walk again, Rusty walked patiently beside my walker and later my cane until we’d evolved to two miles daily!
Additionally, when I worked at an assisted living facility, Rusty went to work with me daily spreading his smile and delighting and calming Alzheimer’s and dementia residents. I recently had to leave that position and return to my hometown and haven’t yet been able to find reemployment in that arena. But, every weekend, Rusty and I faithfully volunteer & visit three assisted living and skilled nursing facilities... where I am barely noticed as he struts his smile down their halls. He spreads his special docile demeanor with residents and lets them cuddle him like a baby. He does his 3 tricks faithfully and every week the residents think they are new tricks! He loves them and they love him.
I’m working towards my reemployment while working as a substitute teacher as often as I am called. Rusty’s canine cardiologist appointment will include at least three office visits and his new specific medications. This is all prohibitive in my present life situation. Rusty has given to me and others all his life. I so badly want to gift him with the ability to continue to be a blessing to not only me, but to our community's seniors and developmentally disabled adults. If you are reading this.... consider enabling me to do this. You can click to : http://www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/rusty-s-big-heart-fund/256845 and enable me to make an appointment with a canine cardiologist, get his ultrasound and any other tests as well as possible different med prescription to sustain his presence in our lives. If you would like copies of the expenses I incurred at the ER visit last Sunday as proof of need, comment below and I'll send them to you. I'm not going to the moon and back with open heart surgery for Rusty. I can't believe I've even evolved into one of "those" kind of people that would consider putting thousands into an animal's care. But, clearly, I have evolved. Yet I'm stopping my request for donations at $3,500. Not $10,000...no, just enough. Heck, my whole life is about "just enough". Just think about it. If you are in a better financial place in life than I'm in right now. And if you are in a place in your own life's journey where you cannot donate to Rusty's Big Heart fund....then please....consider giving us the very best anyone could ever give....your prayers. It would also help if you would put the above donation site link and our story on your own Facebook or Twitter.
Hey! Just got a call to substitute teach today! Hugs....
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