Support Recovery after Tragic Dog Attack

On January 9, 2024, just as The New Year started my life changed forever. I was at home and my family dog that we had for five years since he was eight weeks old, attacked me and partially bit a piece of my nose off. Never did I think this would ever happened to me with it being my family dog, that even slept in the bed with me and my kids. I’m a mother of four and me and my husband are private chefs. With this unexpected tragic event I was rushed to the emergency room at AdventHealth in Wesley Chapel, Florida, where they had me transported to Tampa General Hospital in Florida, to attempt a skin graph using, the piece of my nose that was bitten off that my oldest daughter quickly put on ice when she seen it in a pool full of blood on my floor that I was unaware of until I got to Tampa General Hospital.  Unfortunately the first skin graft attempt didn’t work, considering all the trauma surrounding the area of the nose and after months the first of the first procedure, we’ve learned that it had indeed failed, and it died and fell off, and my heart just broke with all that waiting for months and for that to happen hunt me so much. The next step after talking to the plastic surgeon would be a procedure that would be an expensive and long process to build the missing piece of the nose, called a “forehead flap” nasal procedure, which takes the surface of the scalp and forehead. It’s skin pulled down to the nose area. That’s missing, the procedure has taken me out of work with it being an open wound and constant pain during each procedure so far five of them had to be done, with the first one had me in the hospital for three days and needing a blood transfusion. I have been out of work for seven months so far and it could take up to a year or longer for everything to be done. With medical bills and financial strain on my family I’m asking for help. I am still sad, hurt and in shock that this has happened to me and just want to cry everyday but it could’ve been worse. I see the sadness in my kids eyes when they see me and wish that it didn’t happen to me. Me and my family are taking the recovery one day at a time but time and life don’t stop for anyone to recover and that’s the hardest and saddest part.