Service Dog needed for MAJ (R) Kurt Cook

Why Donate?

One of my best friends needs your help to get his service dog. Kurt was medically retired due to massive injuries both overseas and at home. The Army decided that in order to save money, it was best to push out those wounded earlier than their retirement date in order not to pay retirement pay. Kurt was medically retired at 17 years, just short of the 20 years to get full benefits. Kurt has been denied funds from the Veteran's Administration even though he is 100% disabled (Permanent & Total). This has happened to many other Service Members as well. Thus denying Servicemen the assistance they need for life afterwards. The service dog for Kurt will provide him the companionship and attention he needs not only for injuries sustained from multiple IEDs, but with a life-threatening disease, Systemic Scleroderma with Rheumatoid arthritis throughout his body, and later Raynaud’s Disease was later diagnosed during his treatment, and subsequent surgeries were the order of the day. Kurt’s initial symptoms included white fingertips and ulcers forming on his right thumb.

Kurt’s service dog will be able to pull him to a 90-degree angle if he falls, sense his migraines and disposition for pain, provide emotional support, pick objects up, shut doors/cupboards, give hand & arm signals, and get out of those blah days for a walk or playtime. Additionally, the service dog will vigorously protect if that event becomes necessary. The hand & arms signals are a necessity in the training because Kurt undergoes surgery on his esophagus every 18 to 24 months due to the effects of Scleroderma. Kurt will be restricted from talking for 96 hours (four days) during recovery, making the hand & arm signals paramount. The emotional support mentioned previously is half of why a service dog is needed for Kurt, who cannot love a puppy! Kurt has had over 24 surgeries in 10 years and several more in the upcoming years. Having a service dog will significantly benefit Kurt’s life by having him with him 24 hours a day. At first, Kurt had no hope, as scleroderma has no cure, and the continuous operations left him mentally and physically exhausted. The need for service dog is crucial for my friend.

(Right Thumb partially amputated, will need more amputations)

The doctors performed “sympathectomy.” In Raynaud's disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to the skin narrow limiting blood flow to affected areas. The operation left him with over 50 sutures on his wrist, thumb, and forefinger on his right hand. This accomplished nothing to limit the ulcers or pain emitting from the ulcers; the only feasible net step was amputation. So, Kurt’s infected thumb was partially amputated, distally from the mid-first joint. That made the pain stop, and all he had to do was to get used to 9 ½ reasons instead of 10. Unfortunately, Kurt’s left thumb and right forefinger show signs of ulcers and pain. These fingers will eventually need to be removed for the same reasons as the first amputation.

(Sympathectomy post-op from Raynaud's disease)

So, Kurt’s infected thumb was partially amputated, distally from the mid-first joint. That made the pain stop, and all he had to do was to get used to 9 ½ reasons instead of 10. Unfortunately, Kurt’s left thumb and right forefinger show signs of ulcers and pain. These fingers will eventually need to be removed for the same reasons as the first amputation.

About Your Donations and Where the Funds Go:

Your donations will go to pay for a professional dog training service provided by Professional Dog Training | Rivanna K9 Services LLC (https://www.rivannak9services.com/). located in Virginia. The trainers and owners are Armin and his wife Tazzie, both Norwegian military veterans who came to the States to continue their dog training skills. Their web page depicts the military, law enforcement, and civilian groups and has the certifications/official recognition documented. All donations are for the service dog and training only.

(MAJ Kurt "Cookie" Cook before and after stem cells treatment back into his heart)

Kurt will not ask anyone nor complain about the daily issues he runs into, so this is for him...

Kurt is and will always be a Green Beret and Ranger. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised by hard-working and loving parents. Kurt started wearing a uniform at Fishburne Military School at the age of 12. Kurt already knew that his calling was to serve our country.

As an Airborne Ranger-qualified Infantry officer in the 10th Mountain Division (LI) in Afghanistan in 2003, deployed as platoon leader. Upon return, Kurt applied for and was selected for the Army Special Forces Officer Qualification Course (SFOQC).

Kurt commanded a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA) in the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (7thSFG(A)) in Afghanistan and South America.

During one of his deployments, Kurt’s neck was broken in an incident in Iraq in April 2010 that left him without the ability to feel his arms. Post-surgery and rehab, it was determined that his injuries precluded him from further service in the U.S. Army Special Forces and was medically retired due to extensive injures sustained while in theater and home.

In 2019, Kurt was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening, terminal autoimmune disease called Scleroderma, specifically Limited/Diffuse Systemic cutaneous scleroderma affecting the internal organs.

Only experimental Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago saved his life. During the initial week of testing in September 2018, to determine if Kurt was a candidate for the Stem cells, the results were that Kurt would not make it through July 2019. The next step was to get this paid for and since Kurt was a 100% disabled veteran, it would not be a problem, well it was and was declined two times by Tri-Care and the VA. The reason given; the procedure was experimental.

He entered Northwestern Memorial Hospital in early March 2019, not knowing if he would ever live. A week of highly intensive dosages of chemotherapy, drew his body down to almost dead to get rid of any harmful cells in his body. The day came when he received his stem cells back into his heart, appropriately called “Second Birthday.”

Kurt's days to live are literally numbered, It’s estimated that about 300,000 Americans have scleroderma, worldwide the numbers are less than 800,000 cases. About one third of those people have the systemic form of scleroderma. Kurt is one of 100,000 living in the U.S. that contracted this autoimmune disease.

There is no cure.

Kurt resides in Aberdeen, NC and been promised a therapy dog from the VA. Just as he was denied by Tricare, the Veterans's Administration denied his working dog. Currently Kurt continues to work around the physical issues,Kurt continues receiving amputations to slow to spread. His internal organs are hardening. Kurt needs a service dog to help him in his daily cares both physically and mentally.

No one wants to ask others for most things, Kurt gave up his body and mind in order to protect our country All we are asking for are donations to help Kurt get his promised service dog. The dog is already at the training facility, but we need $25,000 to get it out and to Kurt to regain the happiness and companionship he requires and needs.

Thank you!