Help with my daughter's heart surgery

Hi, my name is Pam and proud owner of a rescue pitty, Philomena. As part of a routine echocardiagram that was done, I was told that her condition- pulmonic stenosis- is terminal. But with a valvuloplasty, this will extend her life and greatly improve her quality of life as well.

Basically, one of the valves in her heart should close all of the way but it does not. This makes getting blood, which carries oxygen, difficult to get out to the rest of her body, causing her difficulty breathing.

Before we went into lockdown, rumors of the world shutting down were circulating. Like most of us, I was certainly sad and scared. I had no real intention of adopting- just went to go look at this one dog I had seen on the animal shelter's site. When I arrived, it turns out he was being adopted out. PHEW! I thought . There would be no temptation. It was a no kill shelter, and in my ignorance, I told the staff trying to get me to look at other dogs in no way would I get a pitbull. The stigma of the vicious creatures terrified me.

I walked past the cage of the dog that was getting adopted, and in a room full of loud, chaotic barks, right next to his cage, the prettiest little girl looks up at me, totally silent. I swear she was staring in my soul.

Ah, what the hell, I thought. I'll go play with her in the yard.

She sprinted away from me as soon as I sat down. Then, without hesitation, she turned and ran straight toward me and jumped straight into my lap.

She chose me. Being a mom in this way has taught me such a sense of responsibility and a love that has gotten me through incredibly dark times. I am so proud of how far she has come herself- her anxiety from a traumatic past. But she shows me everyday what love can help us overcome.

Cornell cardiology quoted me around 6k for an additional ECHO and the surgery itself. Turns out that pet insurance is similar to our healthcare- as in, gross and unethical- so of course theyre denying helping with any of this. For context, her initial ECHO was $500.

This is my kid and she brings so much love and light to me and everyone she meets. I can't wait for her to live the happiest, healthiest life she can :)